NBA Live 10 Vs. NBA 2K10: Which is Better?

If you're a sports fan who's looking for the best basketball themed gaming experience, there are really only two choices. You can either go with EA Sports' NBA live 10, with Dwight Howard on the cover. Or, you can pick up 2K Sports' NBA 2K10, which features Kobe Bryant as the headliner.

Graphics: NBA 2K10.
Both games look good, but 2K10 is almost photo realistic. The clothing flows nicely, Kobe has his serial killer style "mean face", and the player animations are nice and fluid.NBA Live 10's character models look like soulless wax figures. Pause the game and look into Tracy McGrady's eyes. There's nothing more than an empty void behind that glassy, and somewhat weed induced stare. It's creepy to say the least.

Gameplay and Atmosphere: Toss up.
Defense is better in 2K10, but Live 10 stands tall when it comes to offense. The audience in live 10 is really hyped in playoff games, but the overall NBA feel in 2K10 trumps what you experience in Live 10.

Soundtrack: NBA Live 10.
"Lalala" by De La Soul a great song.It's always nice see long time underground vets like them get noticed by companies, and then have their songs in big releases like this. Anytime you have acts like Grand Puba, Zion I and Dead Prez on the same soundtrack, it's an automatic win. That's not to say 2K10's soundtrack is garbage. It's actually very good, but Live 10's is is just plain better.

Online: NBA Live 10.
the 2K10 forums have been flooded with complaints by panicky gamers who just want to compete against people from other parts of the country. It's a well documented issue with the game, and Live 10 owners don't have to experience the agonizing issues. Even if you don't like how Live 10 plays, you made the right choice when it comes to playing online.

Cover: NBA Live 10.
Dwight Howard looks as though he's about to dunk hard enough to create a mushroom cloud or something. EA;s art team did a good job with the air brushing and such. NBA 2K10's cover is bland and kinda goofy looking. Basketball Jersey's don't have collars. popping your Jersey looks stupid, and I'm not sure how Kobe feels about looking stupid. It would have been better to use his "mean face" as the cover.

Overall: NBA live 10.
NBA Live 10 is the better game. I wouldn't have expected it to be, but it is. 2K Sports is continuously making strides, but this years game fell short of dethroning the king due to glitches that should have been ironed out before it's release. EA did a great job and have once again shown while they are the top dog when it comes to sports video games.