Once again Sega has managed to capture the NBA's graphics and excitment and put it all on one CD. ESPN 2004 looks awesome, the ESPN settings and menus as well as the player faces, expressions and uniforms are phenomenally recreated, but as with all games, there is a set of issues that may only bother me. 1) The pregame intros are gone. Now you see your players tie up their shoes and get right to the tip off. The courts are spectacular, and it goes without saying that graphically I do not believe that Sega/Visual Concepts can be beat. 2)The defenses are kind of weird. It's relatively possible to block about every shot that comes near your defender, and on the flip side you can have about every shot blocked. The AI offense isnt much better, most cpu controlled teams, when not on a fast break, will attack the basket via the point guard relentlessly. Sometimes you block it, most times you foul...but thats another point. 3) Fouls are out of control. I have the foul meters turned practically off and I cannot stop the fouls. Every shot in the paint is either blocked or a shooting foul is comitted. I shoot approximately 50 free throws per game. The spin moves and isomotion are absolutely worthless to drive to the hoop as every time you try to spin, deke, juke or otherwise not run straight you commit a charging foul. My point guards drive to the hoop and usually foul out by the half as they commit charges on every spin move. 4) The difficulty level is absurdly unbalanced. I play the game on All-Star, the 3rd of 4 settings and Im lucky to shoot 25% from the floor, and VERY lucky to hit a 3 pointers once a game. I can't hit open jumpers, cannot drive to the hoop and don;t even want to mention the amount of steals I have against me. I consistently lose by 30 points a game and am frustrated by the third quarter. If I set it to Pro, the 2nd level setting, its an easy game where I can blow my opponent out by 40 points and Im bored midway through the second. The defenders buy ever pump fake and never play decent defense. There is no balance. 5)The sound....why bother? If you've ever played a Sega b-ball game it's the same cliches and mindless chatter as usual. Not improved at all. With graphics this great, you'd expect a great game to follow. Sega has got to come up with a game that's more playable. I own 2k2 and 2k3. Both had the same issue with difficulty level balance, and for some reason I hope that this will change every year, and every season I'm dissapointed. I will probably continue to try and play my season out, but if the game does not become more manageable, I will most likely play about 15-20 games into my season as I do every year and just about give up. Good thing I bought SOCOM 2 as well.
I played 2K2-2K6 and I must say 2K4 is the worst title. I mean the graphics are great and all that but the gameplay is TRASH: 1. Only a few dunks and most of them unrealisthic. 2. No post game: basically there isn't ... Read Full Review
I thought ESPN Basket ball was way to boring I played it for maybe 60 minutes and have never picked it up again. I thought it took too long to pick your team. It took me 15 - 20 minutes to pick my team. Every player you... Read Full Review
