NBA 2K13 (PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii)

The nascent stages of the 2012-2013 NBA season coincide with the inevitable video game tie-in with the release of 2K Sports' NBA 2K13 (also available as a Dynasty Edition). Featuring outstanding ball-handling and shooting controls, and the presentation sensibilities of executive producer Jay-Z, NBA 2K13 feels fresh?something you wouldn't expect from a sports game that lacks competition (EA Sports' NBA Live is M.I.A. for the third consecutive year). Simply put, NBA 2K13 is the best NBA game I've ever played.

Blow the Whistle
Jay-Z's touch is evident as soon as you insert the disc into the console. The attract mode features the rapper-mogul's performances spliced into in-game footage. The combination isn't as jarring as it would initially appear since Jigga is now a partial owner of the freshly relocated Brooklyn (formerly New Jersey) Nets. Fortunately, Jay-Z steps back a bit on the soundtrack?he has five songs, but spreads the love with the likes of Nas' "It Ain't Hard to Tell," Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Pt. II," U2's "Elevation," Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," and Roy Ayers " We Live in Brooklyn, Baby." It's one of the few sports games with a soundtrack that doesn't grate on the ears.

The rebranded "My Player" mode, now known as "My Career," is essentially a sports role-playing game in which you live the life of a single created player. You can sign endorsement deals, haggle contracts, select clothing, create sneakers, choose pre-game rituals, and more. If you're a sports gamer who has always wanted to live the life of a pro athlete, this is your mode. Its depth is shockingly deep.

Lace Up the Sneaks
NBA 2K13's gameplay is just as deep?in fact, there are so many offensive and defensive moves that you may want to play with an open instruction booklet. You'll need it for the new Control Stick that gives you incredible control over ball handling and shooting. Using it in conjunction with other buttons lets you pull off dunks, crossovers, lay ups, hop steps, runners, pump fakes, and many other moves. There are defensive moves aplenty, too; flops, wrap fouls, rebounds, lunges, and numerous other moves are available. The wide range of options creates a game that looks like one pulled directly from broadcast TV. If you understand basketball's intricacies, such as mastering and defending the pick-and-roll, you'll do well.

The new Signature Skills further individualize the hundreds of in-game athletes by giving them specific perks that replicate the players they're based on. Kobe Bryant, for example, possesses the "Closer" Signature Skill, which increases his stamina, and the likelihood of making free throws and moving shots. Andre Iguodala is a "Lockdown Defender" who automatically neutralizes most offensive Signature Skills. Role-players have Signature Skills, too, but superstars will have many, often on both the offensive and defensive ends. These skills can help you decide which players are best in particularly situations, and thus help your coaching.

NBA 2K13 features not just the 30 regular teams, but classic teams such as the Bad Boy Pistons and Showtime Lakers. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dream Team?the first U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball team to feature active NBA players?NBA 2K13 features the original classic team (Jordan, Ewing, Bird) and the 2012 Dream Team (Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant).

One knock: the menu systems need an overhaul. Some, like the substitution screen, are busy and may prove confusing until you get the swing of things.

Digging Deep
Playing online is surprisingly smooth. I played several matches and didn't encounter much lag. That said, there are some truly hardcore players out there, so make sure to bring your A-game.

The Xbox 360 version utilizes Microsoft's Kinect peripheral to let gamers call plays by, well, calling plays. Speak a specific play (like "Clear Out" or "Pick and Roll") and your squad will follow our command. You can also use it to sub players. I was surprised with how well it worked. In fact, you need to watch your language after what you perceive to be a bad call?you may be called for a tech.

The Highlight Reel
The graphics deftly recreate the NBA experience. The athlete's character models are well-designed for the most part (they tug at shorts when tired, wipe sweat away), but they suffer from cold, dead fish eyes that ruin some of the realism. Plus, non-athletes (cheerleaders and fans) look as though they were pulled from an entirely different game?they feature incredibly low detail and bland colors. It's nearly as egregious as the Morrigan sprite in Capcom vs. SNK 2.

That said, the ballers' movement?be it running, rebounding, or shooting?is outstanding. There are tons of animations and they're all smooth, keeping the controls sharp. Players attack the basket and ball in a variety of ways and perform signature moves that look absolutely gorgeous.

The excellent four-person commentary from Kevin Harlan, Clark Kellogg, Steve Kerr, and Doris Burke gives NBA 2K13 its soul. The play-calling is spot on?it doesn't lag behind the action?and there's plenty of ancillary commentary (such as the rather in-depth conversations about the Nets move to Brooklyn's Barclays Center) that keeps the audio fresh.

Winning the Ring
It's easy to say that NBA 2K13 is the best pro hoops on the market because there's no other competition, but 2K Sports' latest basketball title does the NBA right while keeping flaws to the minimum. Some will naturally decry it as nothing more than promotion for Jay-Z, the Brooklyn Nets, and Barclays Center, but if you can overlook that you'll find one best basketball video games ever made.

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