Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

  • Summary: Improved facial and skin textures, better uniforms, improved eye movement and more realistic crowd reactions bring the game alive like never before. Analyst Clark Kellogg and sideline reporter Cheryl Miller join color commentator Kevin Harlan to create one of the most knowledgeable broadcast teams in the game. End each quarter with enhanced, multiple angle replay highlights, and be rewarded like never before with all-new, true-to-life celebration sequences after you capture the NBA championship. [2K Sports] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. A wonderfully done basketball game by 2K Sports that is worth all the money and time you will invest in it.
  2. The star feature of NBA 2K9 is the Association, the best franchise mode across every sports title.
  3. 85
    Refined gameplay that captures the speed of the NBA game without reverting to being an arcade title. A few annoyances here and there are all that hold this one back from a guaranteed spot in the Hall.
  4. Decent game modes that really aren’t that complicated. The annoying 2K menus are back but the options are numerous. Statistic lovers will enjoy the amount they get by looking at player cards and overall season stats. Easy enough to get into a game and flows well enough throughout.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. I just had to write this review,seeing I'm years late but I'm a true basketball believer.First off 2K's game just gets better and better every year.Ever since the very first Nba 2k on the Dreamcast.There really has never been a year where there was a problem or something was suspect.Nba 2k12 is out right now and the game is flawless in every way and every detail.There is one thing that stumps me though.Put your NBA 2k12 and then put your NBA 2k9 and look,NBA 2k9 looks amazing in all the word!As an overall picture on a HD TV running at least 1080i,the game looks better then any year and I went year by year,game by game because I thought maybe something was wrong with me but it is true.Yes the player models are way better,animations,sound,ect...,ect..Do what I did and just look at the game.I actually was playing the game and two friends came into my home and could of swore that the game was on TV.I look back now and also realize that 2K was in a league of there own and NBA live never even compared because they were not even on the same playing ground as 2K,and later look what happened to EA,they dropped out of the race since 2K11.So once you see what I see than just kick back with your NBA 2K12 and just love the fact that your NBA 2K9 was perfect in 2008, and play it here and there it is well worth the cheap asking price that you can get it for now.If the game had updated rosters and the my player mode it actually would be perfect but that would also mean that 2K sports wouldn't make anymore money on basketball games. 9.9 Expand
  2. RogerM.
    8
    Yes its seems 2K is now developing former EA fanboys into 2K fanboys. GJ. The game is excellent but by no means leaps and bounds, with its predestined ball handling control scheme, get rid of the SHOT STICK, and give me the option to drive how and where i want to based on my opponents defense. Expand
  3. Playing this game is fun and will keep you busy throughout the NBA season and beyond. Lack of player emotion is puzzling like the gameplay sometimes. It seems as though 2K is losing its lead over NBA Live and needs to come up with fixed online servers and deliver their promise of up-to-the-minute roster updates. Once again the menus are frustrating but players will eventually get used to them. A decent pick-up if you love the NBA and want to play through a season as it's happening. You won Expand
  4. BenO
    0
    This game was realeased half finished. Serious glitches in both online and offline gameplay most often resulting in a frozen console. 2k Sports have a lot to answer for on this one! Expand

See all 10 User Reviews