CREDIT:IGN.COM
May 18, 2006 - Signature shots and animations for every starter in the game.
That's the goal for NBA 2K7. From Kobe's Jordan-esque turnaround J to the way Steve Nash slides his hair behind his ears, if you see it in the NBA, you're about to live it through polygons in NBA 2K7.
At E3 last week, we saw first hand some of these signature moments. On one drive to the hoop, Steve Nash went up against Big Ben Wallace in the lane, flipped up a one-handed bank shot as he hit the Piston and spun down to the ground. The animation and motions were so fluid, it seriously looked like you were watching a real game.
As producer Rob Jones told me: "The NBA is sold on stars, and now we're finally adding that star quality to 2K."
I saw Chauncey Billups toss up a one-handed runner from the foul line. Tayshaun stop and pop from the corner. Even Tim Thomas was grabbing boards and throwing down the thunder like the man who had no place on the Bulls roster but fits perfectly into the Suns rotation of runners. Rasheed's long armed shot. Shawn Marion's ugly chucks to the basket. Rip running around the court and hitting from mid-range. The realism being added to the game is amazing.
In fact, NBA 2K7 was by far the most impressive sports game at E3, and when you think about the fact that the game doesn't even ship until the beginning of next season, 2K Sports has the potential to finally deliver the game basketball fans have been drooling to dribble.
The game is focused on details. Little things like making the gamer feel like they're always on the court, not having to go to a pause menu to make substitutions and even seeing players get up off of the bench during your game and sitting down under the scorer's table. Little things like bringing the camera closer to the action without losing the view of the court. Little things like rewriting the passing system to actually allow users the ability to throw chest or bounce passes on demand. Little things like making defenders smarter, adding more deflected passes, at the same time opening up the loose ball game and finally getting dives on the floor just right.
And you know what, when you add all of those little things together, the summation is not so subtle after all. It's the little things in sports games that go a long way to making you feel like what you're playing is NBA basketball, and that's exactly what 2K Sports is looking to deliver.
Also being added to the game are individual move packages beyond simple shots. I'm talking about the difference in speed of a crossover dribble between Allen Iverson and Baron Davis. In the past, moves like the crossover were just part of generic packages for players, players who were categorized broadly as fast, medium, or slow. Basically, it didn't matter if it was Iverson or Baron pulling off the move, they both looked the same. Now you're going to see more individualization when players dribble and drive to the hole. You're going to feel the speed of The Answer and really tell the difference between the way he crosses you over as opposed to other players in the league. You'll also finally be able to do moves that are effective out of the triple threat position along with an all new post game that features specific post passes and different types of post players including power, finesse, and speed.
Another improvement is going to be found in the Shot Stick. Gamers liked the innovation, but complained that you weren't able to always guarantee the type of shot you were attempting when flicking the stick. That will be fixed as the Shot Stick will be changing, but 2K Sports isn't ready to spill all of the changes just yet. Just know that there will be a new dunk mechanic tied to the stick to help make dunking smoother.
But just because dunking is smoother doesn't mean it's going to be easier to dunk, as last year, people complained about it being too easy to get into the lane. In 2K7, the defense will play more physical and you'll actually get bumped as you drive, throwing you off your clear path to the hoop and making it harder for you to pull off the poster.
There is also a lot of work going into the improved movement and reaction time of players. A team at 2K Sports is working specifically on everything from the way players plant their feet to the way they turn as they run, and while none of this was implemented in the E3 version, word is they're hoping to emulate the movements and style of the Winning Eleven series and bring it to the hardwood.
In terms of The Association, the franchise mode will have at least one new twist, and that's Progressive Fatigue. You'll now have to do a better job of managing your lineups, your practice schedule, and even your team chemistry as players will get tired throughout the season if you practice too hard so you might want to rest your stars (AI must love this game), while at the same time striking a balance between the guys who sell the tickets and the teammates that help him win games.
I know NBA 2K7 is still extremely early, but this is the first sports game that I've seen that makes me think "Wow, this is next gen".
SCREENS
Click To Enlarge
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. VIDEO To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ADD 2 REP 
Linear Mode
