The game's title is NBA 2K6 - but there's way more to it than just the Big L...

The NBA 2K series has been extremely successful. In fact it's the only game that's been able to compete with the NBA Live franchise.
Now along comes the latest installment - NBA 2K6 - and it's better than anything we've seen before.

The game still has all the features we know and love - full NBA rosters, realistic looking arenas, a banging soundtrack and fluid gameplay. But there have been several improvements since last year's offering:

Shot Stick
This allows you to control the direction of your shot with the right analogue stick. In effect it means you can pull off runners, fade-aways, finger rolls and dunks with a flick of the stick - giving you far more offensive flexibility, and allowing you to get out of tight situations (for example, by putting up a floater when a normal pull-up J would simply have been blocked).
It's also fun trying to see just how sick a hangtime layup you can do!

LeBron goes for the baseline fadeaway

Dual Player Control
This comes in very handy as it allows you to select a man off the ball by using the D pad.
With a quick two button sequence you can run Kobe off a screen or post up Amare Staudemire while the other teammates continue doing what they were doing.
This is perfect for setting up alley-oops and getting your best shooter open for an uncontested jumper.

Stevie Franchise gets his post on

Strip n Rip System
This one's for the defensive-minded guys out there!
Using the right analogue stick, it basically lets you swipe for the ball - whether it's in the hands of a point guard or in mid-flight after a pass...great for getting interceptions and starting a fast break. It's far more versatile than the simple "steal" button on most other basketball games.

But arguably the best aspect about the NBA side of this game is "The Association" - the deepest franchise mode of all basketball games on the market.