NBA Showdown

NBA 09: The Inside

Publisher: Sony

Platforms: PS3, PS2, PSP

Scouting Report

Find it odd that we haven't been talking much about Sony's game? That's because it's been a bench warmer for years now, unable to match the graphical or gameplay bar set by the competition. Will the 09 edition be any different?

Roll The Highlights...

If you're going to be the odd man out, you might as well make yourself as odd as possible. NBA 09: The Inside does just that with its interesting 'The Life' story mode, which lets you take an aspiring b-ball star through the rigors of the projects and the D-League in an effort to hit it big as an NBA champ. Cinematic cut scenes and loads of dialogue make this one of the weirdest sports experiences in ages, though The Inside also boasts plenty of other ways to play and tracks your overall progress much like a role-playing game.

That's A Foul!

Just ask KG -- without good fundamentals, all the style in the world won't get you a ring. Though it's plenty fast, NBA 09: The Inside stumbles with its glitchy gameplay. Players don't animate smoothly and the faces look a bit...off. While we appreciate the effort of 'The Life', the tame, stereotypical storytelling is more Duncan than Rodman -- and for once, that's not a good thing.

Sign Or Trade?

The free agent pool has two much brighter prospects, both of which are available for the PS3. So unless you own stock in Sony, trade, trade, trade.

MORE ON YAHOO! GAMES:

A HISTORY OF SONIC PLAY BLOOD TIES