Speculation: NBA 2K9 Vs. NBA Live 2009
The NBA season starts in October, and aside from maybe Rich, I’m probably the only one on Resume Play that cares. However, it is my job to bring a little bit of sporting games into this nerd fest of a site. Along with the new season comes to releases of NBA Live 2010 and NBA 2K10. I’ve had almost a year of fun and excitement from these games and there is a constant debate about which one is better. Most of the people that side with the live games only play the live games, and likewise with the 2K series. I have owned NBA Live 2009 since the release date, and only just picked up 2K9. I am a dedicated NBA fan and pay attention to lots of small details, so I will take those into count. I think you’ll be surprised by my comparison. I have been a live buyer for the last three years, but before that I was a 2K series buyer, and even before that, I was a live buyer. Here’s my professional Resume Play writer comparison of NBA Live 2009 and NBA 2K9.
Game-play: I make this an obvious first section, because in a sports game, really the biggest thing that makes or break it is the game-play. Both games are similar in the big picture of things. You run the basketball down the court and try to make it in the basket. Simple, huh? That is pretty much what NBA Live does. They keep it simple and unfortunately because of the amount of effort that 2K9 puts into this category it makes Live seem much more boring. You would be surprised how much more fun that game is made by small things like tripping over other players, getting tangled up with a referee, getting injured, getting ejected, or diving out of bounds to save the ball. Not to mention the play running is much smoother, and playing defense is less automatic and more fun. My Vote: NBA 2k9
Graphics: This is probably NBA 2K9’s second strongest category. The player animations are unbelievable. NBA Live’s player molds are good, but the faces hardly move or show any emotion at all. In NBA 2K9, If you miss a shot your player will look frustrated. If you slam it down in some-one’s face, you may beat your chest and scream at them, showing all the emotion on the player’s face. Not to mention, the players kind of look big-headed and awkward in Live. there is nothing worse than a big head character who’s face doesn’t move. The crowd/cheerleader/coach/bench/mascot/camera men graphics all reign supreme in NBA 2K9, making them less automatic and pixelated. My Vote: NBA 2K9
Game Modes: Dynasty mode, Online play, All Star, Slam dunk and three-point contests…these are all pretty standard for both games. Neither of them really out do one another on this section. There are difference which ones play better, but I count that in the game-play category. They both have fantasy drafts, season play, exhibitions, etc. I will however say it is cool that you can play with up to ten people in one game online on NBA 2k9, with each person being a player…but it can get pretty confusing. My Vote: TIE
Presentation: Both games have excellent commentators. NBA Live is a little more repetitive than 2K9, though. I can’t tell you the number of times my room-mates crack up from hearing the word “penetration” 45 times a game…then again 2K9 can glitch and the commentator will say the exact same thing twice in a row sometimes, but pretty rarely. The game presentation is amazing in 2K9. It makes you feel like you’re watching a real basketball game, with feed-in to commercial breaks (no commercials), replays of great plays during time-outs, focusing on different players attributes and plays during the game, and the crowd reactions are awesome. The closer a game is, the louder crowd is. They use real sounds and videos from real arenas, and even say things the announcers say at the arenas. NBA Live does some of this, but 2K9 goes the extra mile and then some, so they get my vote. My Vote: NBA 2K9
Soundtrack: Because most of NBA 2K9 is just background music with a boring metal riff, and once in a while plays a track or two, I have to give this one to NBA Live. Live has a full soundtrack, great tunes, plays them at the menu, and sometimes during the game. It is pretty extensive so you’re not always hearing the same song, and the title song is extremely catchy! My Vote: NBA Live 2009
A.I. (NOT Allen Iverson): Once again, NBA 2K9 blows Live out of the water in this category. Almost a no contest due to players catching the ball while standing out of bounds, being almost impossible to block without fouling, standing under the goal and watching the other team get the rebound. Things that are just silly, frustrating, and make the game far less superior than 2K9, which had none of these problems. My Vote: NBA 2K9
All in all, I really did like NBA Live 2009, and owned it for almost a year before even playing 2K9. But in all honesty, when I picked up 2k9, it blew my mind at how much better it was in almost every single way. It makes me wish I got it a year ago, so that I didn’t only get two months to play it before the next one comes out. I can safely say that I will purchasing NBA 2K10, and although NBA Live 2010 is supposed to be completely re-programmed…I still may just stick to renting that one.
NBA 2K9
NBA LIVE 2009
1 Comment
Yeah, the 2K series has been king for a good long while.
(Righteous anger) As for sports, I'll have you know I'm a ST holder for 3 basketball teams (Cavs, Nuggets, Lakers) and 2 Football Teams (Ravens, Redskins.) (/Righteous Anger)
Good article sir