NBA 2K10 vs. NBA Live

NBA 2K10 is still on top--but only by a hair.

With the NBA season in full swing, we thought we'd take a moment to check out this year's offering of digital hoops games, which really boils down to 2K Sports' NBA 2K10 vs. EA Sports' NBA Live 10.

Last year, the contest wasn't even close, with 2K9 trouncing Live in a blowout that made it easy to choose which game to buy. However, this year EA Sports' Canada-based development team delivered a much more compelling game. At the same time, while 2K10's developer Visual Concepts has definitely made some improvements, including a new My Player mode and the usual upgrades to player models and animations, this year's installment hasn't introduced anything truly eye-opening. The net-net is you have two solid games that are hard to choose between.

Here's the skinny:

NBA Live 10

The good: EA's done a good job making this a smoother, more realistic playing game with virtual players who look like their human counterparts. One strong point is the strategy and play-making elements, which allow you to call a wide array of plays to exploit defensive match-ups or pull off pick-and-rolls. In Season mode, the game features an upgraded version of Dynamic DNA that updates player attributes daily to reflect real-world changes (you obviously need to be connected to the Internet for it to work) and gives you some added incentive to play out the full NBA season.

We also liked the Adidas Live mode (it replaces the Be a Pro mode from last year's game), where you play as one NBA player while your buddies or the computer takes control of the other players in a 5-on-5 game. You can also set up an online league with up to 30 teams.

The bad: AI and ball physics are a little suspect at times, and it sometimes seems too easy to turn the ball over; teammates tend not to do all that much unless you're calling a play or manually controlling them; Adidas Live mode could have more depth to it.

What the critics are saying: The reviews on Metacritic have been generally favorable, with many reviewers noting the game is vastly improved and quite respectable now. While a majority of reviewers felt NBA 2K10 retained the crown, a few said NBA Live 10 was better and more fun to play.

Why you should buy it: You like the more strategic elements of the game (i.e., calling plays), as well the concept of Dynamic DNA and playing a virtual season that's impacted by the real NBA season.

NBA 2K10

The good: Fast, fluid play with 2K Sport's usual excellent player models and animations, including spectacular slam dunks. New My Player mode allows you to create your own player from the ground up and have him work his way through the Summer leagues and NBA Developmental League until he hits the big show. While online play has some glitches, it works pretty well overall.

The bad: In My Player mode, the grading system is a bit sketchy (you're graded on your effectiveness as teammate, not your scoring prowess); occasionally choppy frame rates impact gameplay slightly; some bugs; and play calling isn't as extensive as compared with what NBA Live 10 offers.

What the critics are saying: Lots of praise for the graphics and gameplay. Several publications noted that "the best got better" and declared that 2K10 was still on top of the digital hoops heap. But the final score was very close partially because 2K10 does have some bugs (a patch is supposed to arrive soon).

Why you should buy it: You want the better-looking, slightly more realistic game, and value the inclusion of the My Player mode.

Conclusion: Personally, I've been more of a fan of the NBA 2K franchise over the years, so my inclination is to give the nod to this year's installment partially because I'm so familiar with the controls and simply like the way the game looks and plays. That said, I was impressed with NBA Live 10, and enjoyed playing it (and I do like the Dynamic DNA concept because I mostly play the Season modes in sports games). As a result, I think NBA Live fans who were disappointed in the decline of the franchise in recent years, will--and should--give it a shot again. All in all, the good news is you can't really go wrong with either game.

As always, feel free to post your own comments, particularly if you've played both games.

[ellunchboxo]

Thanx David. I've always been a fan of the NBA Live series just because I'm used to the controls. But having bought the last two MLB The Shows', I love the My Player mode. I think I'll try it in basketball too. And the better graphics is a plus.

[sweaty_taco]

When is the patch coming for NBA2k10 for the Xbox 360???

[Brian.Tong]

I love the 2K series, but was pissed by how buggy of a product they released, with all of its framerate issues, that are just unacceptable. The patch is expected to come out in the next two weeks and has already been submitted to Sony and Microsoft for approval this week.

[manu08]

try out the demos on the xbox 360, not sure if they're offered on the ps3. nba live 10 is by far more fun compared to nba 2k10.
nba 2k9 killed nba live 09 but this year i personally am going to go with nba live 10, it is a better game in my opinion.

[espeed623]

@Brian Tong: I never ever played a basketball game other than the 2K's, but yet I haven't had one or bought one since 2K1 on the good 'ol Dreamcast. (RIP Dreamcast, btw)

[the_iceman]

I am a fan of 2K sports/ Visual concepts. In my opinion, the series has been top notch since its debut w/ 2K back in the year 2000 I believe on the dreamcast. Its nice to have competition in sports games, too bad giant EA muscled 2K out of NFL games.

[the_iceman]

however, the choice of putting mr. rapist/ adultery kobe on the cover is questionable.

[JayChiTown]

the_iceman Who da Hezzy are you Jesus Christ as far as I know he was the only perfect man walking on Earth at one point. Who are you to judge Kobe. Unless you fresh out of the wound, you have no RIGHT to judge Kobe silly sally.

[cholloway1]

2K10 is straight trash truck juice. I have been a 2k fan forever, this is hands down the worse release ever. You have Centers leaving their men in the paint to come out and guard a guarded Point Guard....There even has been incorrect names announced after scoring a bucket. They called Ben Wallace, Jason Williams after I made a bucket. This game is unplayable, can't believe they released it. When is the patch being released?

[TheHBK23]

the 2k series has been the best in all sports, except baseball. The Show is incredible! But EA Sports has lost its touch. Madden? That game hasn't been good since 03. NFL2k5 is still the best football game ever made. NBA Live, two buttons for shooting or layups/dunks, thats retarded. I do question the quality of this years game. 08 was great, but it doesnt seem to have gotten better. It is still better than live.

[killa08]

This year I have played Live on PS3 and Xbox(better on the PS3), and 2k on the Xbox. Live is the better of the two I must say. Both have a lot of flaws and really need to be updated especially since the season started.

Never really been a fan of 2k even though the last good Live was 2005(Melo on the cover) but this year Live came back. DNA is an awesome feature, online play is better(minus freezing issues, and people being able to pause the game during matches) and people actually have to play basketball to win and not just dunk the ball and make every and-1. Controls are on par as usual and the free-style pass is amazing once you get the hang of it.

2K would be a great game minus the controls. The direct pass button is a toggle not a hold, dunking with the right stick is stupid, there is no dribble controls(left stick is used to control movement and dribble) and it seems that you have to have shift your hands around to get to the different combinations to do anything(maybe it was just the Xbox controller).

Bottom line Live is the Gran Turismo and 2K is NFS: both great games depending what your in the mood to play.

PS....someone at CNET need to tell someone at EASports that LeBrons stats are too high especially his clutch(99??? yeah right), dribble(90+), block(80) and pass(99)

[Sgr76]

I popped in my copy of 2k10 so my cousin could compare it to live. My game knew it was Halloween and gave us a Halloween presentation.

[ArmyofGoats]

I miss the early days of video games when creativity existed. Every year we discuss the small tweaks that game designers make to the same games. These are both the same game as last year and the year before. They're boring. I haven't completed a season on any sports game since the sega genesis.

[ellunchboxo]

then you have ADD