Every year the hype is the same: developers say they’re making a sports game that will rectify last year’s issues. They speak of the graphics and how each player moves realistically. They also say that the latest version will entertain the hardcore and casual fans – a game for every type of player.

Surely every developer wants to believe that their product is the best. But only one can safely make that claim. Only one captures the excitement of a sport that runs on exhilaration: NBA 2K8.

NBA 2K8 isn’t a perfect-looking game but your jaw is still going to drop every time you play it. From the moment the first game begins, you will be amazed at the player intricacies. Facial detail is immense – you’ll be blown away by the work applied to Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Tim Duncan and other star players.

And it isn’t just their faces or jersey numbers that clarify which players are on the court. Their shape, size, and individual animations are unprecedented. The developers have said that they wanted to make the players look and move less like video game characters and more like the real thing, and they weren’t kidding. Each player walks, runs, and stops differently. Players handle the ball differently as well, and have a unique way of throwing and dunking. It’s really incredible.

The player animations seamlessly mesh with the controls, which are amazingly well done. There are brief moments of imperfection (such as a player sliding a few inches when he should have stayed put). But the majority of the ball interactions and player collisions are met with unrivaled realism. If you collide with an opponent on the rebound, expect the ball to bounce away. If a teammate is near, the AI is strong enough for him to intervene and potentially save the day. You can also switch to that player and manually snatch the ball, if it has bounced in your direction. Then again, if another opponent is standing by, the battle to take control of the ball will only continue.

Running doesn’t come easy. You must build up to it and fight the effects of inertia when it comes time to stop. This is another area that trumps NBA 2K7 in mechanics and animation. The game accurately reacts to your moves, good or bad, and follows with the appropriate consequence.

Shooting, especially three-pointers, is another astounding element. Players that don’t often shoot (or can’t shoot) three-pointers in the real game are not likely to succeed at that in the virtual world. The same can be said for dunks, albeit with a bit more leeway. However, being a great shooter doesn’t guarantee you’ll score every time. It’s not always easy to determine when a shot is worth taking. But if you didn’t throw the ball far enough, it will be obvious the second the ball leaves your player’s hands. Balls don’t merely fly through the air and miss for no reason. There is a great sense of direction involved, and high depth of field.

In the Association mode, player roles need to be assigned with the team and the players in mind. If a player sees himself as a starter and you think he’s a bench warmer, expect his morale to drop. Low morale reduces player performance. Free agent signing is conducted in real-time against other teams, increasing the challenge of acquiring a great player. Simulation games can also have a real-time element, if you desire, that adds a slight amount of interactivity to a mode that’s typically hands-off.

Though you’re likely to be too distracted by the gameplay to notice, there are many subtle graphic details roaming in the background of each arena. Look closely when approaching either net and you’ll spot the team mascot bouncing around. Non-playing teammates can be seen waiting on the bench, each moving with slight differences. The audience animations are steps above most other sports games, featuring a cluster of lively spectators.

Hitting the Blacktop

In creating NBA 2K8, the developers hoped to obtain new players with the series’ first ever Dunk Contest. This mode is fun but you’ll need a lot of patience to enjoy it. The timing mechanism is hit-or-miss, and you aren’t likely to get it on the first try. It’s just you and the ball in this mode (and a loudmouth MC who bashes every play).

To start, push or spin the right stick in any direction. That’s the first of a three-part entry. Second, before the player jumps, push or spin the right stick again. It can be in the same direction as the first move, but you can enhance the dunk and gain a higher number of points by mixing up your stick formations. Lastly, you have to study the dunk meter (which appears once your player is airborne) and push the R2 button when it reaches the designated marker. All three moves must be executed within a short window of time – approximately 3-5 seconds.

The Dunk Contest is a part of the NBA Blacktop mode, which also houses quick games ranging from one-on-one to five-on-five players. Pickup Games, 3PT Shootouts, and Game of 21 modes are also available. These games are played out on the street, with a darker court and urban backdrops that are very different from what you see in the NBA. Even so, the sponsorship (product placement) remains: Sprite logos appear all over the game.

On the upside, the ads aren’t very obtrusive. Their most common placement is on the arena banner space, which is where you’re likely to see the ads in a real game. That’s expected, and since this brand has been associated with the sport for several years, it doesn’t feel as gimmicky as having Burger King in a boxing game or Jeep billboards behind pro skateboarders.

You’ll play and read about a lot of sports games this year, but only a select few are universally appealing. NBA 2K8 has the gameplay of a hardcore game, the modes of a mainstream hit, and the graphics of a game that attracts both audiences.

Gameplay: 8.7
Basketball in its most realistic, exciting, and entertaining form. The controls and seamless player interactions make NBA 2K8 an instant showstopper – deep gameplay and high replay value provide the longevity you’ve come to expect (and demand) from 2K Sports.

Graphics: 9.3
Jaw-dropping, player-specific models and animations that will blow your mind. By far one of the best-looking sports games of the year.

Sound: 7.9
The commentary is good but does not come without a large dose of repetition. Musically, NBA 2K8 has a soundtrack that’s bigger and more varied than most basketball games. It’s also quite good, featuring techno and jazzy sounds with the usual array of hip-hop.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Easy to learn, moderately difficult to master, NBA 2K8 has a great balance of fun and realism.

Concept: 8.0
NBA 2K8 isn’t as groundbreaking as 2K7 but is a highly polished and highly refined basketball game that’s been fully updated for the new season.

Multiplayer: 8.7
Whether online (10 players) or offline (seven players), NBA 2K8 offers the best multiplayer gameplay of any basketball game released this year.

Overall: 8.7
Games don’t have to look the best to play the best. But when both the gameplay and graphic features are at the top of the league, you know you’re playing more than another annual update. You’re playing the next evolution in NBA 2K.