Hey you, PS2 basketball player, if you’re looking for a cool NBA game, this is not where you’re going to find it. Let’s set the record straight right away: the PS2 version of NBA 09: The Inside is simply nothing more than a repacked version of last years’ game with updated rosters. I promise this review will be short…very short.

Gameplay 

Fans of the series won’t find anything new here. Same clunky controls, same old presentation, same technical mistakes, it’s shameful to see Sony release games like this just to say they continue to support the Playstation 2. The basketball IQ of your opponents and teammates is bad and dumb. The defensive and offensive mechanics aren’t that responsive and the symbiosis that should exist between the basketball tactics and the talented NBA players is totally absent. The only notable upgrade NBA 09: The Inside offers is an expanded “Life” mode where three different storylines, each designed for a different type of player -Point Guard, Swingman or Big Man – are offered. But then again, it’s not enough to justify this 09 version. And while a season/play-off mode (sorry no Franchise here) and 16 mini-games are available in the game, I doubt it will make you forget how abysmal the game is. 

If you read my PS3 review of the game, you might remember me wonder why the San Diego team brought the same mistakes from NBA 08 to NBA 09? Well, I think I just found the reason: they were busy “working” on the PS2 version. I don’t know how much time (and money) the development team has put on this game but I bet that all that energy could’ve been used on the PS3 version. 

Graphics & Sounds 

Visually the game is filled with long loading times, frequent framerate drops and texture tearing…just awful. Animations and player physics aren’t better either. Not even the ball wants to follow the dribbler – which is bad juju in a basketball game. The menus have been updated, which is one thing the developers have done, but nothing else shines.
As for sounds, well once again, you won’t find anything new and nothing special comes out.

Value 

I think Sony will have to reconsider the existence of a PS2 version of their basketball franchise. With the PS3 version on its verge to become an excellent basketball game and with many PS2 users finally upgrading to the latest console, I think it would be best (and we would all understand) if they killed the franchise if they’re not going to improve it more. You could do so much better with your 30$ instead of wasting it on this.

Conclusion 

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: this PS2 version is horrendous, shameful and simply an insult to anyone who buys this game, especially for those who have been following the series for the past four years. 

Verdict: Stay away from it!