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NBA 2K6

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

9.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 33 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 21 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: Visual Concepts

Genre(s): Sports, Basketball

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 15, 2005

Summary

Shot Stick -- Control the direction of your shot with the right analog stick. Pull off runners, fade-aways, finger rolls and dunks with a flick of the stick. Dual Player Control -- Set teammates into motion for alley-oops, give and gos, or to hit an open man for a 3 point play with the touch of the d-pad. Strip n Rip System -- Direction specific stealing controls let players anticipate passes by jumping into passing lanes to deflect or intercept a pass, as well as, strip the ball from a player driving to the hoop or a player with weak hands coming down with the rebound. V.I.P. System -- After your game, save your friends’ profiles to compete when they’re not available! Learn their tendencies, moves, & logic for more heated battles. Get the upper hand in an online tournaments by downloading other players’ VIP profiles. The Crib -- New to NBA 2K6 this year, you can now earn crib credits with every game you play to deck out your crib, buy music, or play mini-games. 24/7: Road to the EBC -- Take to the streets of Harlem in the Entertainer's Basketball Classic to play against NBA players and Def Jam Celebrities including Red Man, Method Man, Flavor Flav, and many other special guests. [2K Games]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Chronicles

NBA Live 06 might have an overall prettier package, but I'll take better gameplay and a complete package of game modes over flash courtside graphics any day.

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Gaming Age

I think it plays closer to a real game of basketball than anything we've ever seen on the market before.

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Gamenikki

I cannot say enough about this game. It is hands down the best basketball game I've ever played on any system.

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GamerFeed

This is the best basketball game in the history of basketball games and you absolutely need to play it.

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Operation Sports

Despite its few flaws and it's relative lack of "newness", NBA 2K6 offers excellent value - especially in comparison to other sports titles on the Xbox 360 system - and gives the gamer a full-featured product that also happens to be the best professional basketball simulation ever created.

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Planet Xbox 360

At times the graphics are flawless, and there is a super-smooth frame-rate, but it’s let down by some basic presentation issues and strange cut scene effects.

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Next Level Gaming

But yes, the graphics are better...insanely better. Better to a point that you should trade in your Xbox version to get this if you're getting an Xbox 360.

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TeamXbox

With a bit more time and experience, the NBA 2K series will be an unstoppable, next-generation force that cannot be contained, even with the industry’s best D’ing up.

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Game Informer

This title, unlike the other sports launch games for the system, really is able to sell itself via its graphics. [Jan 2006, p.147]

Gaming Target

NBA 2K6 is, without question, the rookie of the year. It will be interesting to see how well this rookie will improve his game for next season.

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DailyGame

Beefier graphics and a complete game are nice, but still missing some overall next-gen polish.

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GameSpot

NBA 2K6 looks fantastic if you have an HDTV, but the gameplay will seem familiar to you if you've played one of the other versions of the game already.

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My Gamer

Though editing options fall short of what would be a must-have basketball title, NBA 2K6 is arguably the best sports title for the 360 right now.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

The Xbox 360 is no doubt the best format to play the game on, with sharp visuals and a surround-sound crowd that really draws you into the action, but it just doesn’t have that made-for-next-gen feel, and if you aren’t using HDTV, the difference is even less spectacular.

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AceGamez

A fine balance of playability and realism.

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VideoGamer

A solid simulation basketball game that's worth picking up if you've got a hankering for the sport, not to mention the fact that's it's incredibly affordable.

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3DAvenue

Hopefully for 2K7, however, 2KSports can start to take stability and bugs slightly more seriously, as it is an issue seen in many of their games of late.

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Official Xbox Magazine

It's the same game you've been playing since September but with a prettier graphics engine. But oh is it a joy to watch? [Jan 2006, p.80]

Computer and Video Games

It's the undisputed court king, sure, but alas, also just a mere hefty 'nudge nudge, wink wink' of what we can expect in months to come. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

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G4 TV

Based on features alone, NBA 2K6 is the slam-dunk choice for Xbox 360 basketball. The player graphics are beautiful, with or without an HDTV, and the controls have slightly improved since the game’s appearance on the original Xbox (players can now enter into a defensive crouch by tapping on the left trigger button).

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GamePro

Though a few weaker points keep it from reaching amazing new heights in the B-ball genre, NBA 2K6 remains a fine example of what a high quality multiplayer launch title can be.

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Boomtown

With solid Xbox Live play, NBA 2K6 is a professionally rounded off package. Special enough to be the best out there and satisfy the fans, but not friendly enough to encourage most newcomers to take up the challenge, which is a shame as this game deserves all the attention it gets.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

The gameplay is tight, the AI of the 360-controlled opponents is excellent. [Issue #3]

Play Magazine

Unlike "NHL 2K6," this one's been visually juiced, and it looks awesome. [Jan 2006, p.48]

GameZone

The decision is a no-brainer for people who don’t already own it on the Xbox or PS2, but for those who have played it before, the slick presentation just might not be enough to warrant an upgrade.

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GameSpy

This reality has its ups and downs: there's nothing new besides graphics, but it was a stellar package to begin with, but the online is super laggy.

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IGN

A solid basketball title that really rests on the laurels of its predecessors. Even though the game can look absolutely amazing at time, it's still, at its heart, the same exact game that we saw in the current generation.

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Gamer 2.0

This is for the true NBA fanatic, and you can only truly enjoy it if you know your way in and out of the NBA what with all the changes that occur and whatnot.

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PALGN

NBA 2K6 on the Xbox 360 retains everything that made the previous versions of the game good, but also addresses some of the areas that held NBA 2K5 back. The game looks phenomenal when played on a HDTV, but Visual Concepts will need to address the vast contrast between on court play and the surrounding parts of the stadium in the next version of the game. NBA 2K6 is an absolute must-buy for all serious basketball fans.

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Xbox Evolved

It has the most substance, and presentational balance so far.

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Kombo

If you need one game to get for the launch, NBA 2K6 is the way to go, simply because "NBA Live" is more of a visual presentation with very little substance.

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1UP

2K6's biggest setback -- it doesn't have the instant visual appeal, next-gen look, or out-and-out raw emotion that gamers want to see in a next-gen sports game.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

The game is practically a carbon copy of the current-gen edition. Seriously, now I know why the words "Xbox 360" are scribbled on the score overlay--it's almost the only way to tell that you're playing a supposedly enhanced version of NBA 2K6.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bryan M. gave it an8:
Its a great game for its price. does not have the great graphics that live has but it has the gameplay. and that is what matters in a game.

Job A. gave it a9:
This game is truely incredible.I just cant understand how all these critics are so changable by voting one way from the original x-box version and then giving a lower score for the 360 version when there has been nothing but complete improvements on the x-box 360.The game is definetly the best out of all the years from which it started at nba 2k on the dreamcast.I cant say enough good about this game!The only reason why I dont give it a ten is cause there is a few areas that could of been touched up to make it the perfect basketball game but for sure I give it a 9.3.

Michael M. gave it a10:
This game has always been better than live, live is not a nba game it is some kind of old school basketball game but 2k6 is for real ballers live is for wannabe ballers.

Sean M. gave it a10:
The graphics are outstanding. I love the crib. I am a big 2k sports fan and I have to say this is the best 2k game ever. This is the best basketball game this year and might be the best ever.

Henry R. gave it a10:
I highly reccomend this game. When I first saw the demo I thought I was watching a real broadcasting NBA game! I love 24/7 mode. With 24/7 mode 2k6 is like a 2 in 1, an NBA game and a street game. 2k sports has beat EA Sports (and 989 sports!) this time.

Ken M. gave it a10:
This is the best basketball game ever. I loved 2k5 and when I saw 2k6 for XBOX & PS2 I was shocked with how good the graphics were. Now on the 360 the graphics are even better, and they didnt take away anything like NBA Live 06 & Madden 06. This game deserves an 11 but the highest possible score here is a 10.

Tom H. gave it a6:
Fully agree with the EGM reviewers. Ignore the rather suspicious user reviews and rent it if you're curious first.

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NBA 2K6

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Summary

What The Critics Said

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