Metacritic Games

NBA 2K3 (Xbox)

Imagine jump shots so real players actually adjust their movement in mid-air based on distance from the hoop and defensive pressure; a passing touch that gives you the control to skirt a defender or start a fast break; and dribble moves that let you jab left, rock right, crossover, spin and much more. It's all happening in NBA 2K3. No other game delivers the physical element of basketball like this. Accurate impact from collisions, especially hard fouls and authoritative dunks; shot blocking with emphasis on precise hand-to-ball contact; and the ability to lunge for the loose ball, even if it means ending up on some celebrity's lap. With commentators that analyze strategy, cutscenes portraying lifelike player interaction, uniforms that move like real fabric, and a brand new ESPN broadcast system that wraps it all together, NBA 2K3 provides the complete NBA experience. [Sega]

Sega of America
Sports
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: Visual Concepts
Released October 8, 2002

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

87 / 100

Critic Reviews

100	GamePro A deeply rewarding simulation experience... Once again, the Xbox version has the best overall effects and looks the sexiest.
100	Gaming Age The bottom line is a basketball game that has almost airtight controls, wonderful graphics, along with the most immersed franchise mode you can find, (outside of working for your local team’s front office) can only described as a finely tuned and polished basketball game worth buying no matter what system you own.
95	Operation Sports The best simulation of videogame basketball bar none.
91	Game Revolution Despite its random flaws, the game's gorgeous graphics, solid gameplay and top-notch Franchise mode make it an easy choice for the discerning Xbox baller.
90	Electronic Gaming Monthly It's easily the best all-around basketball game on the market this year. [Dec 2002, p.250]
89	GameZone The audio of NBA 2K3 is exceptional.
89	IGN By far the best basketball sim out there. However, if you are looking for an experience closer to old-school bball games like "NBA Jams," then you don't want to go here.
88	TeamXbox The best basketball title on the Xbox right now...Great graphics, fantastic gameplay, and a very enjoyable online mode make this a keeper for every sports fanatic.
87	Official Xbox Magazine The most polished, complete, and best-looking basketball game ever made. [Dec 2002, p.108]
85	Sports Gaming Network Some of the major AI problems (specifically the lack of fast breaks and effective CPU team defense) mentioned above definitely took away from my enjoyment of the game.
84	GameSpot With excellent online play supported through Xbox Live, NBA 2K3 stands as an ideal choice for serious basketball enthusiasts.
80	Xbox Nation Magazine The pace of the action is spot-on, resulting in players who move and react at the right speeds and results that are realistic over a game with 12-minute quarters. [Winter 2002, p.98]
80	GamerWeb Xbox The graphics are standard, the gameplay is far too simulation for my liking and the frustration level is higher then in any basketball game that I've ever played before.
60	Play Magazine Although the player models look better than they do in EA's game, the movements aren't as fluid. Some of the animations (especially passing) are a little awkward. [Nov 2002, p.88]
60	TotalGames.net The trouble is (and we can’t really expect anything different) that it doesn’t do anything above and beyond the call of duty.

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