NBA 2k6 or NBA Live 2006

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Which is the console game to get? I used to play the 2k series, but their franchise mode always sucked - players would progress or not progress with no rhyme or reason aside from how they were written. LeBron would be 99 or 100 within three seasons no matter how he performed, but you couldn't build up a late-round pick no matter what. I didn't even bother last year.

― Are You Nomar? (miloaukerman), Saturday, 22 October 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

I actually like the 2k series a lot this year. The franchise mode still isn't the greatest, but from what I hear the Live gameplay is pretty ass.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Monday, 24 October 2005 12:30 (twenty years ago)

i rented 2K6 the other night and I'm liking it so far - graphics are pretty much the same as 2K5, but I do really like how they've integrated the right analog stick more into the gameplay, it feels more natural to try for steals with the stick than just punching a button.

perversely, i miss Bill Walton - his riff on Steve Nash's hair from last year's game was high comedy.

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Monday, 24 October 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

I haven't played either of the 2006 games, but ESPN 2K5 (now available for $10 or so everywhere, and well worth it!) was one of my favorite basketball games ever. I'd go with 2K6 over Live in a heartbeat; the "crib credits" franchise mode sounds kind of janky, but I'll take the semi-realistic gameplay over the EA engine any day.

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Monday, 24 October 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

I have 2K6 and I am oh so underwhelmed. My favorite sim-style basketball game of recent years is easily College Basketball 2K5. The gameplay is addictively straightforward.

The best basketball series is Street, btw.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Monday, 24 October 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

College Basketball 2k5 is my fave b-ball game ever, too (although NCAA Basketball on the SNES is another awesome one), and I have to say that if you are patient with 2k6, you'll grow to love it.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

i so cannot get used to the controls for 2k6, something about needing both the index and middle fingers up on the L1 and L2 buttons for passing and general control just doesn't sit right with me. i know i could get used to it eventually but i always mess up the icon passing. discovering the stutter step and pro-hop moves was a revelation though.

f a shot stick, on the other hand. i cannot for the life of me make a bucket with that thing. it's a great idea but simply confounds me in practice.

love the free throw shooting, however, and the two-man control is the bizzomb

― metonymus prime (rgeary), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 17:30 (twenty years ago)

also, if anyone has ever used the drop-step move successfully, you are my video game hero. wtf hold L1, double tap R1, tap L1. i travel every single solitary time

― metonymus prime (rgeary), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

This is a personal preference, but I prefer basketball games that move up and down instead of left to right.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

to do a drop step (xbox): hold the left trigger to get into the post position. let go. double tap that same button. you have just drop-stepped. also, the shot stick is good for the post only. you can pull off some awesome moves with it -- like push toward the basket for a baby hook. gold w/ amare.

― Jams Murphy (ystrickler), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

I ended up buying Live cheap, and I've got 2k6 on order for the Xbox 360 (on the off-chance that I get the 360 in its first round of orders). I haven't spent much time with the game yet, but I already hate Live's passing. Too many buttons unless you just want to throw it and pray. Maybe I can change that in the settings to something like 2k5's passing stick.

― Are You Nomar? (miloaukerman), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

The circle pass button in 2k6 is really awesome.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 19:08 (twenty years ago)

thanks for the tutorial jams! i think the drop step is slightly different on ps2, but i should be able to figure it out. shot stick in the post only sounds good to me; my main problem is i still go to it for ballhandling from live '05 and inevitably jack up a halfcourt shot.

― metonymus prime (rgeary), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 19:54 (twenty years ago)

Basketball games are too damn complicated - it's like Mortal Kombat with all the different button combinations necessary to do little things.

― Are You Nomar? (miloaukerman), Tuesday, 25 October 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

Street is the best video hoops series. The depth of gameplay rulez, the selection of classic players is awesome, and the distinct styles of play that each computer-made player and trying to get them to play well together (Wilt Chamberlain, Stephon Marbury and Magic Johnson - GO!) is awesome.

Its a shame that we have to wait until the next console generation to get anything approaching this in 5 on 5 play.

― Big Loud Mountain Ape (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 18:17 (twenty years ago)

Holy shit 5 on 5 would be insane... It would be just like real pickup games where no one passes and players try to go one-on-five all the time.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 26 October 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, once I figured out that you can switch the camera view from left/right to top/bottom, 2k6 has gotten a lot better. It might even be better than CBB2K5!

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Sunday, 30 October 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

yall who say Street is the best franchise need some ass whuppins

― dawks, Monday, 30 January 2006 22:53 (nineteen years ago)

I play Live 06 on PS2 and it I get what i want from it.
they changed up the look from 05 and I didn't like it intially, but now I don't think I could go back to the old look.

― J. Lamphere (WatchMeJumpStart), Friday, 3 February 2006 03:19 (nineteen years ago)

the offensive play on Live 06 is much improved but the defense really needs tweaking. even if tightly guarded, anyone can waltz--w/o doing a freestyle move or even using turbo-- to the hoop and get an easy layup. the only antidote I've found is to anticipate this, switch to the defender near the hoop, and try to take a charge.

― oops (Oops), Friday, 3 February 2006 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

anyone played "NBA 06," sony's version? probably doesn't measure up to 2K6, especially if it follows the old 989 track record, but i'm just curious. i'm guessing "the life" mode is kind of a rip of 2K6' 24-7 mode, right?

good commercials though.

― metonymus prime (rgeary), Thursday, 9 February 2006 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

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