Matt Leone of 1UP.com complained of the Xbox 360 version's "biggest setback -- it doesn't have the instant visual appeal, next-gen look, or out-and-out raw emotion that gamers want to see in a next-gen sports game. The actual mechanics of the game are quite strong (the shot stick and free throw system are perhaps the best mechanics we've seen in a basketball game to date), and it has all the depth and options we've come to expect from a veteran basketball series. If you're an optimist, "NBA 2K6" feels like a natural evolution of the franchise more than something that makes you want to rush out and buy it to show off your shiny new console. If you're a pessimist, well, the game isn't much more than a high-definition port of its excellent current-gen counterparts. Shouldn't we expect more out of a next-gen sports game?" Matt Martin of Eurogamer thought the PlayStation 2 version's soundtrack was "excellent", praised the gameplay for its refinements and additions, liked the Association for its depth, and said the designs of the players are "very realistic". He said that even though some visual aspects are "blocky and rough", such as the crowd, the motion capture and animation is "top notch", which in turn allows players to move like their real life counterpart. Martin did, however, dislike the introduction of a new control scheme, calling it "unnecessary", and said the menus were "ugly" and "broken", wishing there was a more simple system in place.