2K Sports NBA2K9 hits the shelves ready to take on EA’s NBA Live, both are long time runners but does 2K have enough to beat the might of EA?

This year NBA2K9 has really upped its game, hosting a full roster of teams from the NBA’s current season plus some in-depth modes and some surprising little additions. From the off you can tell the approach is different, the main menu screen is not a list of menus, it is straight onto the quick play screen, allowing you to choose teams and play straight away, if you want the menus just flick the RS button and they will appear with all of the options and modes you would expect including Association mode and of course the Playoffs, both of which offer a high level of options like changing rosters, training and coach decisions. There are couple of little gems hidden away as well, the NBA Blacktop mode is a series of mini games like 3 points challenge and 1 on 1, the presentation is almost like it’s straight off of MTV, with an audience cheering you on and a host introducing each player. Then you have the Rookie Challenge, where you play as up and coming players looking to find their way to the big time. Both these modes are fun distractions from the larger more time consuming modes.

Controls are as easy as ever, LS to move and RS to shoot, hold the RB to bring up icons over players to make court passes and then set up some great attacks.

The online mode is really impressive when compared with EA’s offering, you have the usual quick and ranked games, however also included this year is team up mode, which allows for you up to 10 players, each choosing their own position and battling it out, this makes the game a lot more interesting as it is completely aimed at team play, if you play well together you will earn more skill points and hopefully win a few more games. A surprising addition is the 10 in 10 competition., 2K are offering you the chance to win loads of 2K goodies every week, all you have to do is play ranked quick plays, become the best and you will be placed in the hall of fame and maybe win some 2K titles.

The customisation is quite deep this time around, you have the option to import your hard drive tunes, plus there is a reasonably good choice of songs on the disc itself, you can also play around with your online avatar and slogan, as well as having the ability to upload and rate you own and other players videos on Reel launcher, which is 2K’s little version of YouTube.

Graphically the game looks fairly decent, although it doesn’t quite match the glitz and glamour of the EA offering. In saying that though the crowds look much better than in last years offering and the animations are much smoother than before.

As is usually the case EA and 2k games have both released their basketball offerings at the same time this year and there is very little to split the two, in the end though to me at least, NBA2K9 just shades it thanks to it’s fantastic online modes.