When it comes to presentation, the game has improved from last year, but it isn’t stelar. But is it a slam dunk like the current Lakers team?
NBA 2K13 (Universal: $7.99) 
“Enter the New Dynasty with NBA 2K13, the latest installment of the top-rated NBA video game simulation franchise 12 years running. Built on the critically acclaimed NBA 2K engine, NBA 2K13 for iOS features improved graphics and intuitive One-Finger controls to give you the ultimate NBA experience while on the go.”
Presentation
One of the problems with 2K12 was that the graphics were poor, with us not even being able to distinguish player faces from each other. Furthermore, the frame rate would drop on devices. So how does 2K13 go about this?
Well, presentation in general is a lot smoother than before, with graphical glitches being long gone. Graphics have been slightly improved, although at times even on an iPhone 5 is still felt like the device wasn’t enough. They’ve also gone ahead and replay montages throughout the games, which feels like a nice addition.
Controls
Next comes another thing that hung in the balance with 2K12: controls. Now with 2K12, one thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the trouble players had controlling the game was the lag, so it can’t all be blamed on the controls. The classic controls had certain moves grouped together (such as jump and block, pass and steal, etc.). With 2K13, these controls have changed a bit, with them being more scrambled up. Sure, you get used to it after playing, but if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Gameplay
Now it isn’t all bad with NBA 2K13 though, as the game modes are a breath of fresh air. The best addition, in my opinion, is “Greatest Games”, which allows you to play through milestone games from players such as Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordon, and so on. This was sorely missed from 2K12, so we couldn’t be happier.
There’s also the usual exhibition and season mode, which we’ve come to expect of any sport game on any platform, regardless of the sport. There’s also multiplayer mode for the basketballs fans, which you can play through Game Center or Bluetooth.
Conclusion
Unfortunately when it comes to basketball games on iOS, there are no winners. Both EA and 2K have taken their shots, and at the end, both are lacking in certain aspects. Yes, at the moment NBA 2K13 is the best basketball game on the AppStore, but that’s not saying much.
If you’re not a huge basketball fan, like myself, you may just enjoy it. It’s not perfect, and it’s got a long way to go, but it’s a working basketball game on your phone, so if that is what you really want right now, it’s the best you can get.
