NBA 2K8

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NBA 2K8
File:NBA 2K8 cover art.jpg
PlayStation 3 cover art featuring Chris Paul
Developer(s) Visual Concepts
Publisher(s) 2K Sports
Distributor(s) Take-Two Interactive
Series NBA 2K
Platforms Xbox 360
PlayStation 2
PlayStation 3
Release date(s) October 2, 2007
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

NBA 2K8 is a basketball simulation video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It is the ninth installment in the NBA 2K franchise and the successor to NBA 2K7. It was released in October 2007 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. Chris Paul is the cover athlete of the game. NBA 2K8 is the predecessor to NBA 2K9 in the NBA 2K series.

NBA 2K8 was well received upon release. Critics mostly praised the aesthetical details, with particular praise directed towards the player animations, as well as the game mode options, and overall gameplay, more specifically, the post play, jump shooting, and well rounded accessibility. Most criticisms were concerning some gameplay inconsistencies, such as the defensive mechanics, and the unrealistic player tendencies, as well as the game's lack of improvements, with some seeing the lack of meaningful changes as a step back from NBA 2K7, and visuals, which some saw as "awful" and "ugly". Some saw the visuals as "gorgeous" however.

Gameplay

One of the new additions to the game is the Slam Dunk Contest game mode.[1][2] During games, Kevin Harlan is the play-by-play commentator, Kenny Smith is the colour commentator, and Craig Sager is the sideline reporter.[3]

Development

Chris Paul is the cover athlete of NBA 2K8.[4][5][6] The developers aimed to create genre diversity when composing the soundtrack.[7][8]

NBA 2K8 was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 video game consoles on October 2, 2007.[9]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings (PS3) 84%[10]
(PS2) 73%[11]
(X360) 83%[12]
Metacritic (PS3) 81/100[13]
(PS2) 72/100[14]
(X360) 81/100[15]
Review scores
Publication Score
1UP.com A-[16]
Game Revolution 3/5 stars[17]
GameSpot 8.5/10[18]
GamesRadar 3.5/5 stars[19]
GameTrailers 8.0/10[20]
IGN 7.9/10[21]

NBA 2K8 was well received upon release. Aggregating review website GameRankings gave NBA 2K8 an average rating of 83.56% based on 17 reviews for the PlayStation 3 version,[10] 72.50% based on 6 reviews for the PlayStation 2 version,[11] and 83.39% based on 35 reviews for the Xbox 360 version.[12] Metacritic, also an aggregating review website, gave the game a score of 81/100 from 18 critics for the PlayStation 3 version,[13] 72/100 from 7 critics for the PlayStation 2 version,[14] and 81/100 from 33 critics for the Xbox 360 version.[15]

IGN's Hilary Goldstein gave the game a 7.9/10 in her review. Goldstein said: "In many ways, NBA 2K8 is an improved game on the court. But there are a lot of minor issues that really drag it down. Over the course of my first dozen games, I was in love. But as the season wore on, the issues began piling up to a point that it became a source of frustration. The Lock-on D gaff is inexcusable and the lackluster defensive AI allows decent players to tear it up on offense. Jason Williams should not be dropping 30 points a game. Yet he won the MVP in year two of my franchise. Still, any hoops fan should give NBA 2K8 a look. It's certainly the best basketball game on any system this year. The Association is a solid franchise mode and, if [Virtual Concepts] can iron out its AI and gameplay issues, next year's model could be something very special."[21]

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The Phoenix Suns have been the team that's "supposed to" win the championship for a couple of years now. Stocked to the rim with flash, dash, and pizzazz, they've made a habit of running roughshod over teams in the regular season only to fail at crunchtime when the fundamentals of defense and toughness have eluded them. For better and for worse, NBA 2K8 shares a lot of those traits with Steve Nash and company. While it's certainly a treat to look at and play, there are some underlying issues that ultimately keep it from being a slam-dunk champ. Or, for that matter, a significant improvement over last year's version.

— GamesRadar[19]

Richard Grisham of GamesRadar awarded the game a 3.5 out of 5 in his review. Grisham mostly enjoyed the gameplay, but he had some criticisms regarding the controls and fast breaks, which he respectively called "touchy" and "uneven". The visuals were called "simply gorgeous", while the online options and game modes were commended for providing variety. Lastly, Grisham praised the visuals, saying that the designs of the players, coaches, arenas, and gameplay animations make the player feel immersed.[19]

Is his review for Game Revolution, Chris Andrien wrote: "At the end of the day, NBA 2K8 is a pretty fun jaunt." He spoke well of the sound effects, but hated the "goofy" commentary. He liked the addition of NBA legends such as Larry Bird, but disliked certain other gameplay additions, including the "unrealistic" lock-on defense. Lastly, Andrien praised the realistic visuals and animations, but criticized the "wonky" artificial intelligence.[17]

1UP.com's Todd Zuniga awarded the game an A-. Zuniga commended the aesthetics, depth, game modes, and online features, but disliked certain gameplay imperfections that he deemed small and annoying, such as the unrealistic defensive abilities of big men when they are defending quick players.[16]

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It’s rare that a series takes as serious a step backwards as NBA 2K8 has this season. It’s missing modes and gameplay features from last year’s game, while adding subtle changes that few players will notice or make use of. Last year the 2K series was the best roundball game on the market by a landslide. This year, it’s dribbled the ball out of bounds with no defender in sight.

— GameTrailers[20]

GameTrailers gave the game an 8.0 out of 10. In their review, they complimented the dunk contest game mode, praised the "incredible online" play, called the post play "the best in the biz", said the shooting felt "just right", and enjoyed the animations. However, the review cited several "quirks", such as AI issues, players unrealistically missing shots or attempting shots that wouldn't realistically be used, statistical problems, removed features, and the lock-on defense mechanic, as downsides. Lastly, the review also heavily criticized the designs of the players and the menus, calling them "awful" and "butchered", as well as the "repetitive" commentary, but did enjoy the soundtrack and said the amount of animations "makes a huge difference".[20]

Aaron Thomas of GameSpot gave the game an 8.5 out of 10. In his review, Thomas praised the game for having a large amount of content, the CPU, and the new additions to the game.[18]

References

  1. ↑ NBA 2K8 – Dunk Contest Walkthrough. GameTrailers. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  2. ↑ NBA 2K8. NBA.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Difference Between NBA 2k8 and 2k9". DifferenceBetween.net. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ Geddes, Ryan. (July 19, 2007). "Chris Paul Gets NBA 2K8 Cover – The Hornet guard's face hits game boxes this fall". IGN. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Paul dunks NBA 2K8 cover". (July 19, 2007). GameSpot. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Chris Paul Named Cover Athlete for NBA 2K8". (July 19, 2007). GameZone. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ IGN Music. (September 24, 2007). "NBA 2K8 Soundtrack Mixes Rap And Rock". IGN. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "J Dilla headlines NBA 2K8 soundtrack". (September 24, 2007). GameSpot. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ Hayward, Andrew (September 24, 2007). "NBA 2K8 Soundtrack Brings the Hip-Hop". 1UP.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 NBA 2K8 for PlayStation 3. GameRankings. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 NBA 2K8 for PlayStation 2. GameRankings. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 NBA 2K8 for Xbox 360. GameRankings. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 NBA 2K8 – PlayStation 3. Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 NBA 2K8 – PlayStation 2. Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 NBA 2K8 – Xbox 360. Metacritic. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Zuniga, Todd. (October 16, 2007). "NBA 2K8 (XBOX 360) Brilliant by Association. Our review.". 1UP.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Chris, Andrien. (October 25, 2007). "NBA 2K8 Review: Balling For Real". Game Revolution. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Thomas, Aaron. (October 2, 2007). GameSpot NBA 2K8 Review. GameSpot. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Grisham, Richard. (October 5, 2007). "NBA 2K8 REVIEW". GamesRadar. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 (October 10, 2007). "NBA 2K8". GameTrailers. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ahearn, Nate. (October 2, 2007). NBA 2K8 IGN Review. IGN. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
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