Anthony Himes
ahimes@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Justin Bieber got his shot swatted into the third row by Charles Barkley.
This was not a dream, but a play that happened in 2K’s newest gem, “NBA 2K13.” With its new features, controls and productions, the game may be the greatest sports game.
You can tell it’s going to be a great game as soon as you turn it on. The opening video mostly shows rap superstar Jay-Z performing at a concert. The game is executively produced by Jay-Z, so a lot of what he said went into the game. That includes a great music playlist, which is mostly Jay-Z hits mixed with Kanye West and other good friends of the music star. So whether you’re on the home menu or playing the game, you get pumped up by some good musc.
Probably the best change in the game is the gameplay controls. It’s much easier to run the offense and control the ball. It’s been a debate for awhile whether the right joystick should be for shooting the ball or making a crossover. They have flip flopped those controls for the past couple of years, but this year they made the right choice. You can use the stick to make crossovers while you’re driving to the basket, then pull down on the left trigger and pull the stick to make the shot. It makes for much smoother play. They made the X-button the shooting button as well, just in case the stick is too much for you.
Jay-Z added the celebrity team to the game, which just makes it fun. Pauly D brings up the ball, dishes it to Wale and he kicks it out to an open Bieber, who drains the three.  It’s very fascinating. But the two best teams added to the game were the 1992 USA Dream Team and this year’s olympic team. When you play with the Dream Team, it isn’t fair to your competition. Michael Jordan is impossible to stop, David Robinson owns the key against any other big man out there and Larry Bird does what he does best: hits every three point shot ever. But adding the two teams tries to answer the summer-long debate of which olympic team is better. After playing one game with the Dream Team, I concluded that no one in history could beat that squad, and it’s not really a debate.
2K13’s best game mode is still My Player mode, where you can create yourself and become an NBA superstar. You can choose how you shoot, defend, pass, answer questions in a press conference, what style of clothes you wear outside of the arena, and even choose to be sponsored by either Nike or Jordan. So, of course, I made myself a center. I made myself as realistic to myself as I could. The Anthony Himes that starts for the Detroit Pistons is seven foot with ripped muscles, which is pretty close to me if I had to say so.
“NBA 2K13” is still that game where guys gain dominance in the house. If you win, you are the man. You can also make yourself feel better by taking your favorite team to the Finals. Whatever game you play in 2K13, you are going to have a fun experience. It’s worth the hype.