My very first foray into basketball video gaming was with a little title called NBA Jam. To this day, it is till my favorite basketball game. Not only was it one of the first sports titles to focus on player likeness, but the fun and often out-of-control style made it a game demanded to be played (jumping in the air so high you can stand on the basket is still a highlight left to be seen on ESPN). On the flip side, NBA 2K7 is the closest thing to the genuine basketball experience I’ve ever played. The presentation is top notch, the enormous amount of game modifications and modes borders on mind-numbing, and the gameplay, while dated, still puts up a decent game of b-ball.

I must admit, when I first started up NBA 2K7, I couldn’t figure out how to start playing. The menu interface has gone through a complete makeover. That is, if you call a soldering iron and sandblaster to the face a makeover. You navigate using the right thumbstick, which really adds to the confusion, especially with a lack of a main menu (Visual Concepts integrated the central menu into a “pause window” fashion that looks awkward).

Luckily, if you bought this game for the basketball and not the menu surfing, you won’t be disappointed. The developers have added new moves thanks to Isomotion, a precise control system that offers all kinds of spins, crossovers, hops, and more by holding down the Aggressive modifier (right trigger button) and left thumbstick in a particular direction. It may take some time to fully grasp all the dribbling moves Isomotion has to offer, but once you do you’ll be tearing up the courts and leaving the defense scratching their heads.

That’s not to say that the opposing teams plays easily. NBA 2K7 has a very impressive defensive AI system which work toward keeping you away from the hoop. Steals, rebound returns, and double teams occur often … sometimes too often. Because of this, it’s very important to know who you are passing to before pressing the A-button (holding the right bumper button down displays which player is available for a pass). Shooting has also been revamped with advanced techniques controlled by the right analog stick. Called the Shot Stick, flicking it in a particular direction will execute a special toss including layups, dunks, and post ups. Although I applaud the use of alternative controller setups, the Shot Stick is not very advantageous considering the number of missed shots that result from its use.

One problem I ran in to while playing was the unnecessary slowdowns that come from advancing the ball down the court. There is really no such thing as a fast break with NBA 2K7 thanks to a lack of consistent momentum when catching passes. Furthermore, the court can become jumbled up and very hard to navigate through. Teammates compete for the same floor space, passing becomes nothing more than a handoff, and the team generally doesn’t keep in step with the speed of the game. There is also an inordinate amount of foul calls. The D-Pad has found use as a coaching tool for on the fly substitutions, play calls, and setting the pace of the game.

Visual Concepts had a keen eye for player style when developing NBA 2K7. Everything from Steve Nash’s finger-licking dribble sessions to Shawn Marion’s uniquely awful shooting technique is in here! Player-specific moves makes this the most realistic basketball video game I have ever played. This doesn’t necessarily translate well to the free throw line. Simply put, the free throw mechanics don’t work. Instead of basing shot accuracy on a meter or reticule, you must sync up right analog stick motion with how the player sets up and releases the ball. The problem really stems from a lack of consistency; Shaquille O’Neal takes his time aligning himself for an almost certain miss while Peja Stojakovic just steps up and sinks the ball. The game offers a practice mode specifically for free throws, buts it’s kind of pointless.

There are numerous game modes: Association, Tournament, 24/7, and Streetball. Association is a franchise mode that gives you a great deal of team and player controller on and off the court with practices and drills. The more you work your team, the better they get. Pushing them too hard will add fatigue that could affect their performance. 24/7 acts as the storymode of NBA 2K7 where you take on a young streetballer with NBA aspirations. The plot is downright silly: while hanging out with your loud-mouth friends in a Miami park, you run into Shaq practicing and challenge him to a free throw competition. Apparently accepting any fan challenges is a clause in player contracts, so Shaq agrees. When you beat him (if you don’t, you might consider picking up a different game), he hands you a flyer to a gym tryout for an NBA contract. The majority of the mode is spent playing objective-based games with other NBA hopefuls. It got a little boring three hours into the mode, buts it’s a good side attraction to the main game. Online play works for the most part. I experienced lag in some games to a point of being unplayable. But overall, there are multiple options to make your Xbox Live experience a positive one.

The presentation value of NBA 2K7 is incredibly immersive. The arenas are massive and detailed, the effects such as the floor reflection and light illumination is beautifully implemented, and the number of extras (mascots, cheerleaders, ball boys, and spectators finding their seats) makes this one of the best looking titles I have ever seen. Sadly, player likeness is hit-or-miss; well-known players like Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki look amazing while other players have mugs not even their mothers would love.

The sound features quality commentary from Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith. Sure it’s a little repetitive, but their analysis and game breakdowns beat John Madden’s delivery. The half-time report featuring Kenny Smith is cool at first, but his “stamp of approval” gets old. Luckily, you can skip past it. The audience sound effects follow the pace of the game with claps, hollering, and booing. The soundtrack is made up of a variety of hip-hop artists but you barely hear more than a couple seconds of a track each time.

NBA 2K7 puts up a mean game of basketball. Sure, some things need tweaking and other elements just don’t work. But the core gameplay is still solid and the focus on player-specific moves is absolutely amazing. If you are looking for an incredibly realistic basketball game to play alone or with friends, NBA 2K7 is worth your time and money. 

Gameplay: 8.3
Player-specific moves are astonishing and Isomotion work quite well. The shot stick, free throw mechanics, and team AI needs work though.

Graphics: 9.0
NBA 2K7 is presented beautifully. The developers have not skimped on any environmental detail. NBA star players are justly recreated on screen, but the rest look pretty disturbing.

Sound: 8.0
Repetitive but solid game commentary, hardly noticeable soundtrack, and realistic audience sound effects.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard

Concept: 8.0
Some of the new additions don’t work very well, but it’s still a solid title.

Multiplayer: 8.4
Despite lag issues, I’m impressed with what NBA 2K7 has available on Xbox Live.

Overall: 8.4
There is so much to this game, it will take you a little bit of time mastering the gameplay. It’s not as polished as I hoped for and it’s hard not to notice the shortcomings. But playing NBA 2K7 (especially with a high-definition, surround-sound setup) immerses you in the experience of playing real basketball. If this is the beginning of next-generation sports gaming, I can’t wait for the future!