NBA 2K2 features all the teams, rosters, and, most importantly, rule changes (like the now-legal zone defense) found in the real NBA. Player faces have been mapped to realistic body types (complete with tattoos), so you can identify a big man like Shaq and a speedster like Iverson without looking at their numbers. The game takes full advantage of the graphics-rendering power of advanced consoles by including better texturing, lighting effects, and facial animations, along with a higher polygon count, to ensure all the jukes, spins, jumps, and dunks are as realistic as possible. The audio is also good, particularly the play-by-play, which is accurate and speedy.

The controls are intuitive--even for people used to the Dreamcast--especially in the area of on-the-fly play calling. The controls let you quickly and fluidly box out your opponent, spin, shoot, pass, fake, and dunk.

There are also eight street-ball courts, and this addition makes for an almost entirely new game. In this respect, it is the equal of the NBA Live series from EA Sports. But NBA 2K2 surpasses EA's titles with its excellent AI. This game is challenging, satisfying, and fun in both single and multiplayer modes. --Bob Andrews

Note: This text refers to the PlayStation2 version of this game.

Pros:

• Gorgeous graphics
• Intuitive controls
• Great AI

• A release date too long after the start of the NBA season

I think this is the only thing Sega has to change for 2k2. The street mode isn't that great; it's basically a regular game with less people. The courts aren't done perfectly, and in Rucker the stands are empty.

I don't really need the street mode though. The franchise, create-a-player, and just plaing gameplay buys this game for me. And if u like good gameplay, franchise, and other features u should buy this game.

This game really deserves a 4.5 but u can't put that in, so I rounded it up to 5.