Outstanding!
Stick To It
Control-wise, 2K6 seems like it's aiming to make the face buttons all but obsolete. We're all used to using the right analog for fancy dribbling moves, but with this game's Shoot Stick, it does almost everything. On offense, it controls the type of shot you take or the type of layup/dunk you attempt. When you're on D, it's used to go for steals, blocks, and pass intercepts.
Force of habit caused me to try to use it for executing a crossover (which is actually done with R1 and the left stick) -- resulting in an ill-advised shot. But, once you get it down, it works well. It's great for newer players, as you don't have to memorize so many buttons. However, I still found myself using square for jumpers, as the analog stick timing takes some getting used to. The stick is even used for a new type of freethrow shooting -- finally!
NBA 2K6 has tight, realistic gameplay -- which should come as no surprise. It requires a level head no matter what difficulty you're playing at; stupid passes will be intercepted. The A.I. of both your teammates and opponents makes the game flow smoothly, the collision is right on, and the amount of sliders you can tweak to get everything to your exact specifications is staggering. Dunks are easier to do thanks to the Shoot Stick, but gamers want to see people throwing it down. To even things out, the defense is more likely to strip the ball or get in your face. You really can't find a better-playing game of hoops.
Great By Association
As far as modes go, 2K6 is stacked. "The Association" is a deeper version of season mode, where you go so far as to create your own GM. I enjoy all the politics and training aspects, so it's my preferred way to play. It's also cool to use "Situation" mode to craft your own last-minute comebacks or the like. Unlike other games' take on this, you pick the scenario yourself.
24/7 mode was revolutionary a few years back. For the uninitiated, you create a player to do mainly one-on-one or two-on-two streetball games -- building skills and picking up clothes and accessories along the way. It's kind of like having a scaled-down NBA Street included for free. This year, you have non-basketball celebrities to contend with. There's nothing like watching Flavor Flav embarrass you by shooting the lights out. I still like 24/7 mode, but my take on it is such: if you played it on one NBA 2K version, you probably won't play it more than casually on another.
