If there’s one thing that the NBA 2k series is known for, it’s fantastic gameplay.  Ever since games have made the next generation jump, NBA Live has been playing catch up with the NBA 2k series, and this year is no different.

NBA 2k9, in most areas, is no different.  The title immediately showcases a much needed presentation upgrade, along with menus that are easier to navigate than previous years.  You’ll notice a variety of game modes, including the dunk contest, three point shootout, xbox live arena, play now, and the largely improved Association 2.0.

Where NBA 2k9 shines the most will be for the hardcore Association players, as the overhaul is intense.  Visually, you’ll notice a NBA.com themed Association with top news stories & box scores that all can be viewed more in detail upon being clicked.  Regardless of the sports title, you’re going to be hard pressed to find another title that gives you this depth of control over your oganization in a franchise mode.  The ability to train players, hire & fire staff, set your rotation down to the minute, and editing the prospects all make their return and barely even scratch the surface of the level of control you’re offered.

With the College Hoops franchise gone, for at least now, the development team behind NBA 2k9 took into consideration the college hoops fanbase, and allowed gamers to be able to edit a good portion of each recruit.  You aren’t given the ability to change ethnicity/appearance, but you’re given the option to change just about everything else that you could imagine.  Even without the beloved CH2k franchise, you’re given the ability to bring in the upcoming top recruits in some form or another each year.

When you’re actually on the court, NBA 2k9 is the best playing basketball game that you’ll find.  Every move seems to be perfectly captured, and the signature moves of athletes are incredibly believable.  You’ll be in awe of Steve Nash fighting his way around traffic for his high scoop layup, or seeing how fluid and impressive the alley-oop animations are executed, you’re going to find that it’s the small nuances that make the game realistic.

You’ll notice Lebron biting his fingernails during freethrows, individual player animations on the benches, crowds reacting perfectly, and the small animations characters use to display emotions truly set this game apart.  There are times when you’ll find yourself out of bounds due to your momentum taking you that far, and you’ll find yourself tangled up with the referee screaming that it’s Tim Donaghy doing it on purpose.  With the gameplay being so solid in previous versions, it benefits 2K immensely to be able to focus on the small details to make this the most authentic experience on the market.

The shot stick has also been vastly imrpoved this year, and feels much more responsive than previous versions.  Mid-shot adjustments, Kobe Bryant step-throughs, and a vast variety of other moves are all available at your disposal.  Just because they’re available, doesn’t mean that you’re going to be able to pull them off like it’s nothing, but if mastered, your arsenal of moves feels almost endless.

While 2k9 does shine in most areas, it still has it’s growing area of issues.  While you’re in the vastly improved Association 2.0, you will notice throughout your season that there are some truly inflated stats by players.  You’re going to see Superstars average numbers that would have Lebron James & Kobe Bryant’s love child jealous, and see players that are journeymen sometimes leading the categories.  The inflated stats aren’t going to make you turn off your system, but they are rather annoying when you find your players getting shafted for awards or recognition.

Along with the previously mentioned issues, the rubberband AI that you encounter in NBA 2k9 is absolutely frustrating.  When the computer wants the game to become close, you can almost count the no foul calls & missed layups that are coming your way.  The computer tends to go on Michael Jordan like shot streaks, and you’ll begin questioning if the referees were paid off.  There’s nothing wrong with keeping the game competitive, but there’s a fine line that shouldn’t be crossed, and 2k9 tends to jump it.

Visually, the game is a step up from the previous years, but it still has a bittersweet feel to it.  You’re still going to find the jaggyness that you’ll typically find in 2k games, but close-up, the players look absolutely lifelike.  The only real gripe I have with the graphics would be the incredibly hideous crowd when the camera tends to zoom in on them.  You’ll find that some of the crowd members have a paperplane looking face, and it’s hilarious.  All in all, the development team has made quite an improvement on the previous year’s looks, and fans won’t be disappointed.

2k Sports has made quite a name for itself in the online area, and as of late, it’s not a good one.  If you’re an MLB fan, then you more than likely dread remembering the debacle that was MLB 2k8’s online gameplay.  The performance that NBA 2k9 has received on and since launch has left most gamers unable to experience a true five on five team play match without screaming from the lag.  While the online of player matches has been tweaked and greatly improved over the past few weeks, but being able to host a player match should garner you an achievement at times.

The removing of lobbies was a questionable decision, and if the servers didn’t keep you from hosting matches for yourself and friends, then there wouldn’t be as much of a deal about them being removed.  All in all, 2k should take its own advice and not break something that definitely did not need fixing.  Getting into a match can be a chore, and not having lobbies can sure be frustrating, but the performance of matches has improved exponentially.

If you’re in the market for a basketball title, then you can not go wrong with NBA 2k9.  The gameplay is truly fantastic, and the best you will find, but be ready for a rude awakening when you head online to face off with your friends.  There are workarounds for certain things online (like the lack of flex scheduling in online leagues), but gamers shouldn’t have to say goodbye to things they’ve had in a title for years.

We hope that 2K Sports can address quite a few issues with the online, and a few minor issues with the Association to remove the blemishes on one of the best sports titles you’ll find available.

For more verdicts on 2K Sports latest basketball title, be sure to visit TestFreaks to get all of the expert opinions.