This review was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Its format does not match our own but we support its content. It was written by Brian Mohr.

Sports games are consistently some of the most popular launch titles on a new console. 2K Sports is looking to take advantage of this opportunity by bringing their solid basketball title, NBA 2K7, to the PlayStation 3. The game was very impressive on the Xbox 360, so did the PlayStation version get the same treatment?

Simply put, this game is better on the PlayStation 3 for a handful of reasons, most of which have to do with the controls. Previous versions of the 2K series had you using the analog stick to make free throws and that is still available if you’d like to do it, but 2K went into a new direction with the SIXAXIS controller. Instead, players have the option tip the controller backwards and then forwards to release the shot utilizing the motion sensors in the PS3 controller. It’s a really unique way to play and has you feeling more like you’re actually shooting a free throw. To make it even more realistic, you can even add spin if you turn the controller slightly left or right while shooting. It makes free throws a lot trickier to pull off than in previous versions.

Of course all of this goes along with the fact that you have to know how each of your players shoots. Someone like Shaquille O’Neal, for example, holds the ball significantly longer than most other NBA players and you’ll have to adjust to that while shooting free throws since you have to hold the controller back longer if they hold the ball. Overall the new features utilizing the SIXAXIS controller are nice and once you get used to them you’ll wonder how they weren’t there before.

A lot of detail has also been directed towards the players in the game. Every player has a specific shooting style on the court and at the free throw line that is all their own. So much detail has been put into this game and the result of this is a significantly deeper experience in 2K7.

Aside from the controls and player detail, the game has a lot of replay value and terrific graphics. The game features a solid online component as well as a wide variety of offline options including create a situation, practice mode, tournaments for up to 16 players, street balling, and the Association, or full season mode with trades, etc. The game also features the 24/7 mode allowing you to take on your created player against NBA stars on the streets.

As mentioned above the graphics and sound are stunning on the PlayStation 3. There is better brightness and texturing on the court. The crowds look remarkable; there are clear differences between cheerleaders, fans, mascots and more and their reactions change throughout the game depending on how your team performs. Of course the players look very good, especially stars like LeBron, Shaq and Kobe. You’ll literally see beads of sweat coming of them.

Finally, the commentary is nearly identical to what’s been seen in the series before and that’s a good thing. As for the soundtrack, it’s not my personal favorite, but there is a nice variety of tracks included.

Although the motion sensing capabilities are used at the line, they aren’t utilized at all in-game. That was a bit disappointing as I was hoping to be able to utilize the motion sensor to make a move in the post or something else. Hopefully they’ll be able to take advantage of that in future 2K titles.

One other problem if you’re not familiar with the series is the relatively unknown feature of isomotion, or the ability to weave through defenses using jukes, crossovers and more. The game doesn’t discuss it nor is there anything about that ability in the manual. But once you play a little while, you can figure it out. It just would have been easier for novices of the series to be able to take advantage of every capability the game has to offer straight off the bat.

Just a couple other minor problems made their way into the game. One I noticed was how the less popular NBA players didn’t appear to be given nearly as much detail graphically as the stars. I understand the reasoning behind this, but it would be nice to see it be coherent throughout.

Lastly, the menus in NBA 2K7 are very frustrating. Just about every time I put the game into my console, I found myself going back and forth through different menus to get where I needed to go.

NBA 2K7 is an exceptional game. Graphically it’s beautiful on the PlayStation 3 and fine details have been put in to the stadiums and players like sweat running down a players arm. The game goes further by continuing the fine gameplay established in previous titles in the series and adding new opportunities with the SIXAXIS controller. While other sports games pull out essential features from their next-generation titles, 2K Sports doesn’t and instead pulls out all the stops to make this one of the best basketball titles in recent memory.

The gameplay is the same except the addition of the movement control, but that adds to the game

Players and stadium are impressive, although a few don’t quite look like their counterparts.

Commentary is solid. Soundtrack doesn’t appeal to me, but it still works for 2K.

The game is still a lot of fun and personally my favorite basketball game.

Unlike most sports games, 2K7 doesn’t skimp on options that you’d see in other versions.