Players not only glide - with or without the ball - unhindered by clipping or jerky movements, they move like they actually do in real life. If we had to describe NBA 2K9 in one word, it would be "smooth." The tempo seamlessly moves from a half-court game to quick transitions. NBA 2K9 still boasts the best basketball gaming experience while the ball is in play, which is no change from previous years.
The series from Visual Concepts has had a strong hold on the hardcore fan for years now, thanks to the genre's most realistic gameplay along with nuances that seem to be pulled straight from NBA arenas. With basketball's combination of teamwork and its inherent celebration of individuality and improvisation, true purists look at the game almost as if it were a form of jazz on the hardwood. The latter group likes to delve deeper into the game than simply enjoying the surface highlights, figuring out how different players' attributes and personalities fit together like a puzzle.
There are those who want to see stars score tons of points, soar for vicious slams and swat shots into the stands and there are the aficionados who enjoy watching the Triangle offense being run to perfection even more than seeing Kobe Bryant throw down a reverse-360 windmill. NBA fans can generally be divided into a couple of categories.