Item: NBA 2K8
Rating: 7.5
Author: Jeff Haynes

It must be hard to be a last generation version of a sports title. Fans of the franchise are paying more attention to the newer console versions, tracking each new additional feature and visual upgrade to the title with rabid interest. Journalists spend a ton of time writing pieces on the current generation title, barely breathing upon the older one. It even seems like the developers hardly adjust much of the older games, making minor adjustments and roster updates as a priority to the title. In some ways, this is the fate of NBA 2K8 on the PS2. With much of the attention for this year's basketball game going to the PS3 and 360 versions of the game, once again the PS2 version feels like a mild update to last year's gameplay, with only a few additions. It's still an enjoyable title, but it's starting to show its age.

First off, let's clear up the elements that fans won't be able to expect within this year's title. You're not going to see the inclusion of the new Slam Dunk Contest, which means no car hopping, bookcase leaping jams to amuse the crowd and the judges. No unique player roles, sub-roles or personalities that affect the nature of the team chemistry in The Association mode. No 24/7 mode to be found in this year's game. No controversial Lock-On D controls to pin down ball handlers and perform traps or tight presses. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point - many of the highly touted elements that have been added to the other versions of 2K8 aren't going to be found within this year's game.

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What NBA 2K8

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does feature is a returning set of game modes from last year's title, including Quick Games, The Association, Season, Street, Tournament, Practice and Situation. As with all other 2K Sports titles, players can tweak and adjust the numerous sliders included with the game to find the best set up for them, which has always been a great touch. However, players will still have to deal with the navigational menu via analog sticks, which has never been a completely clean way to move through the myriad of options found within the typical 2K Sports games, particularly when you're controlling the aspects of your franchise via Season mode or diving into the deeper elements of The Association.

What has been newly included for this year's title is a new Playoffs mode, which lets you manipulate the play off structure to set up the post season however you want it to be handled. Players can choose to work their way through the individual games, or simulate them with the newly included Hoopcast Simulator, which breaks the game down play by play with statistical highlights, indicating hit and missed shots, rebounds and the like. Players can choose to completely "play" games in this manner, substituting players and adjusting matchups from the sideline. It's a different way of managing a playoff, Season or Association game, and it's not a bad addition to the title.

The+new+HoopCast+Simulator+will+give+you+a+fast+paced+stat+breakdown+of+a+game.

Of course, the primary focus of the title is with the on court action. NBA 2K8 features a lot more signature style animations to capture the specific shots and idiosyncracies of each player when they step on the court. Obviously, this covers the newest draft picks, but it also covers tightening up many of the veteran's movements during dribbles, fast breaks and post play. Isomotion is still the main way of controlling your ball handlers, although it's pretty apparent that 2K Sports expects that players of the PS2 version have been playing the title for years and have learned the system. Last year, many of the moves were explained inside of the manual. This year, there is no explanation of moves to be found anywhere. That's a rather minor complaint compared to the more serious issue, which is the hit and miss nature of triggering the Isomotion moves. You have to be much more precise in how you maneuver the analog stick, or you won't actually perform some of the spins, crossovers or other moves that you wanted. In fact, your player may hesitate as he tries to figure out just what you want him to do.