This installment of 2K Sports’ long-running NBA 2K basketball series features Michael Jordan as the cover athlete, with several challenges based on his career. This comes on top of a slew of enhancements to game types like My Player and The Association and a new dribbling and animation mechanic.
Jordan’s involvement is maximized right away, with four modes centered on Jordan’s career. The “Jordan Challenge” allows the player to take control of Michael in ten highlight games from his career. The player must successfully reproduce Jordan’s real-life performance in the virtual situation. In Quick Game mode, players can pit eight Jordan-led Chicago Bulls squads against current-day sides. In “M.J.: Create a Legend” mode, players may take charge of a rookie Jordan and steer him through a modern-day NBA career. Finally, for in-game achievements, players receive pairs of Air Jordans. Players are urged to collect all of Michael’s Air Jordans from his career, and each one provides a stat boost when equipped by the player’s character.
2K11 has updated “Iso-Motion” dribbling controls, letting players do sophisticated movements with the right stick and trigger combinations. These include crossovers, pauses, and moves behind the back. The “Shot Stick” controls allow players to have analog control over their shot, release, and drive to the basket. Combinations of stick and trigger actions enable players to control a layup or dunk while rapidly transferring the ball to the other hand. Alternatively, players can use the face buttons for basic pass/fake/shot controls and icon passing to select their target correctly. An “On-the-Fly Coaching” system uses branching menus on the controller’s direction pad to adjust A.I. strategies or call out new ones in multiplayer. Finally, a new “Shot Branching” mechanism allows players to change their shots in the air without being limited to a preset animation.
The “My Player” feature lets gamers construct a fresh rookie and guide him through an NBA career. Each produced player participates in the NBA Draft Combine (included here, not sold separately like last year) and, hopefully, signs with a team based on their performance. Players will then manage their character on and off the court, accumulating restricted RPG-style stats. Talking to the press after a game (and selecting comments from a few options), communicating with your coach (such as requesting a trade), and obtaining and managing product endorsements are all examples of off-court gameplay. Players are expected to play their team’s role on the court and are rated and rewarded (with skill points) for doing so. Each game has specific goals to achieve, such as scoring a certain number of issues, and some games will be designated as “key” games, increasing exposure and skill points if finished successfully.
In “Association” mode, players can manage a team as both coach and general manager, with authority over scouting, assigning players, negotiating pay, and other tasks. This year, similar to the pertinent numbers in “My Player” mode, a more significant focus is placed on team harmony and player egos. When star players are not given the playing time they believe they deserve, they grow irritated. Up to 30 teams can be assigned to users, allowing several players to participate in a complex fantasy league simulation. Players can either copy an existing NBA team or construct their own.
Players can form groups and leagues online. Clubs resemble an MMO “guild” or a more extensive friends list. Players can utilize a character created by themselves or from the NBA roster. Club stats are tracked as players win and lose games, which feeds into leaderboards that display how the clubs compare. Leagues focus more on multiplayer simulations of seasons, from the draft to the championship game. Players join and compete with other players to get their team to the top. League administrators can kick inactive players. The Sprite-sponsored “NBA Blacktop” feature returns from prior years, putting NBA players in street ball pickup games (like 21) online or offline. This year’s edition is a “Slam Dunk Showdown,” which awards points for the flashy dunks. Of course, standard one-game multiplayer matches are also supported.
The “NBA Today 2.0” system is the game’s final significant new feature for 2K11. Online streaming of live NBA news and game results is available, as is a “living roster” system that updates player data and injuries. Furthermore, this system is a catch-all word for the game’s presentation enhancements. Players’ real-world inclinations and emotions are now shown when appropriate, audiences and shouts are dynamic, stadiums and halftime performances are appropriately reproduced, and commentary is more accurate and authentic. Players can make game highlight clips, player DNA, or custom settings and share them with their friends.
