Will Classic Games Online Matter?

Its the feature we all wanted, right? We said as much right here. The ability to get online and battle it out with Classic Teams in cyberspace! It was the one thing everyone questioned when it wasn't included in retail. Heck, me and a friend were all set to recreate LA/SAC 2002 Game Six when we learned my second-favorite "almost great" team was in the game. I swore to myself CWebb, Bibby and Peja would be vindicated...damn you to hell Robert Horry.



You knew NBA 2K would bear some brunt of the lockout backlash as public opinion turns against the NBA (for those late to the party #unfollownba is now a Twitter movement) but in our opinion (and in the opinion of many) their top-notch gameplay made them the one developer that could withstand the kind of scrutiny that gamers would level against a product that wouldn't be able to achieve its true potential due to the NBA play stoppage.

But a funny thing happened on the way to NBA2K being the only saving grace to a cancelled NBA season.

ONLINE PLAY TANKED.

 And few were as shocked as we were. Pre-release we defended 2K vigorously (and in truth we'll continue to, they set the standard in sports gaming) but we'd seriously question our own journalistic integrity (not to mention eyesight) if we didn't hold them accountable for online play that is in one word: EMBARRASSING. We won't get into all of the details here, but what 2K players are expected to enjoy has little structure, completely lacks virtually every element that makes the game great offline, and is a cheeser's paradise. Not long ago there was a small patch that was supposed to address online connection issues and a few gameplay loopholes. While connectivity improved, online gameplay is still horrible. Many held out hope that the next announcement from 2K would be the details of the BIG gameplay patch that usually comes around this time of year that addresses virtually every early issue. No such luck, the announcement? Legends DLC with the Classic quick-match everyone was clamoring for. But we're not certain the timing could be any worse, the questions are simple. 1) Who would play online given the current state? 2) Shouldn't patch details that fixed online play predated DLC online additions? 3) Given the pre-release statements of online play improvements, who would take 2K at their word that a patch will address the online issues? 4) Whose idea was it to charge consumers for DLC when some feel they received an incomplete product? Its sad because the content the Legends DLC offers is robust to say the least.

So now we have the equivalent of a Ferrari...with no engine. Its beautiful to look at, but the accolades end there. When you attempt to start it up, you're painfully aware that you're sitting in a lemon--regardless of how awe-inspiring it is. We're hoping that the major patch addresses any outstanding gameplay issues and makes online playable again, but HOPE is a far cry from something we used to EXPECT from a developer this good.