Review

Developed by:Visual Concepts Published by:2K Sports Genre(s):
  • Sports
  • Platform:
  • Handhelds
  • Microsoft
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$59.99 ESRB Rating:EVERYONE 10+ Players:1 (2-10 Online) Release date:September 29, 2015 Reviewed on:XBox One
    9.5

    NBA 2K16

    If you‘ve been a fan of the United Front for a while, then you already know how excited I am around this time of year! As a man who grew up playing basketball and regularly watches the sport at all levels, I’m an avid basketball simulator enthusiast. So when the 2K sends us the yearly installment of NBA 2K, everyone knows I am front and center for its release. But regardless of my fandom, my study of the sport makes me much harder to please because my viewpoint is one searching for realism and not just fun. So how can a game that is at the top of its class become any better?

    In sports games today, the fans who buy them maybe some of the most demanding of all genres. The developers at Visual Concepts do a fantastic job of listening to the fans and attempt to add the features most asked for. Well, unless it involves Online Leagues (I’ll come back to that). With that said, NBA 2K16 maybe the best sports simulation ever created. It’s much more than just high flying dunks and flashy passes this year; it really is a brand new experience.

    I’ll start with the obvious and gawk over how absolutely beautiful this game is visually. I have never seen a game look so realistic before in my life. No matter the genre, NBA 2K16 is setting the bar for realism in games. From the players’ faces to being able to distinctly read every tattoo on a player’s body, it’s truly outstanding how much effort went into the details. VC even made the fans worth looking at – checking out the stadiums, seeing the fans and how good they looked, really took me by surprise. We finally get to see the truest energy source for the home team get some love. That’s barely the surface of realism for a game in which players are built to be as unique as they are in real life.

    I remember the first time I saw Steph Curry go to the free throw line in game. As he stepped up to shoot, he pushes his mouthpiece out and begins chewing on it as he is shooting his free throw.  I almost dropped my controller and died in the middle of my living room floor. Think about how simple something like that is, but the magnitude of realism in its simplicity is jaw dropping. With every point to the heavens with three point shots he made to James Harden “cooking” after dropping buckets, there seemed to be nothing left out that has been seen in the real season. With all that, what I found most impressive is the gameplay itself and how far it has evolved from being a casual basketball experience.

    One of my biggest complaints about sports simulators are that they spend too much time trying to appeal to casual gamers. Don’t get me wrong, having game modes like MyPark available for people who may not be as well versed in basketball knowledge is a must. Also, being able to take your created player from the incredible MyCareer mode online to play against others in street ball games add replay value. But once I load up a real NBA game, I want things to feel just like an NBA game would if I was actually in the league. Teams should have unique coaching styles which, may I add, the coaches themselves even walk and react differently than one another on the sidelines. Basically, It shouldn’t feel like a gym pickup game in an NBA stadium and I must say that the previous games have allowed that to happen.

    Visual Concepts came through this year though, making sure that wasn’t the case. In order to be consistently successful, one must learn their teams play style and playbook. You can’t just move the players left and right until the on ball defender eventually slides off and you get an open shot. You better run screens for your shooters, feed the post to your bigs, or call isolation with a great ball handler in order to score. Not even a professional athlete can just pick up the controller and immediately start doing things they did the year before and expect them to work, because there is very little room for error in game. If you can’t fathom how incredible it is for a game that is based off of the best athletes in the world finally has a level of difficulty that matches the sport itself, then you probably shouldn’t be playing this game at all. Just saying.

    I know I have praised the game quite a bit, but allow me to throw a little shade into the review. Every single year VC adds new game modes or improves the ones already there. From letting Spike Lee write/direct the MyCareer mode to give your character an emotional background experience (which could only be compared to a live movie) to adding more game types to play that are exclusive to specific courts in the MyPark mode, they really seem to put their all into the game. But, once again, their online MyLeague mode is the worst part of the entire experience. I would have given it a pass if their offline mode didn’t give you complete control over your franchise. Being able to negotiate contracts, create jerseys, and even relocating your team – you would think that the online version would be just as incredible. Instead, we are stripped of every bit of that and given the most basic online league experience ever possible.

    Look, I get it; the focus has been on MyCareer, MyPark, and ProAM because they are extremely popular amongst the fans (me included). I love being able to create my own team and take four of my friends online to play 5v5 against another team of users. But since the beginning of online leagues, there has seemed to be a roller coaster of focus in whether the mode was to be improved or not. There is no cap so players can sign or trade for whomever they want without consequence. No option for multiple seasons, so if you and your group of friends finish a season, get ready to have to set it up all over again if you want to run another year. Making things worse was the fact that I reviewed Madden this year because their offline and online franchise is pretty much the exact same thing. So 2K and VC, what’s keeping you all from doing the same?

    I can’t end this review without praising the diverse soundtrack and commentary. Shaq, EJ and Kenny add a presentation that feels as candid as their TNT award winning show. The in game commentary is honestly as cheesy as usual but I got pass that when I saw players having post-game interviews and being video bombed by fellow teammates. The soundtrack features production and music picks from 3 prominent hip hop dj’s from around the country. Dj Premier, DJ Khaled, and Dj Mustard give us, hands down, the most diverse music we have ever had in a sports title. Featuring acts like Gnarls Barkley, J Cole, and The Chicharones, there really is something for everyone. Throw in the crowds’ reactions to everything happening on the court, the sound in this game really elevates the experience to legendary heights.

    If you haven’t figured it out, I absolutely loved this game. This is easily the most realistic sport experience you will have in games this year and I am hoping everyone takes notice. Everyone needs to take the time to play the MyCareer mode to get the emotional side of an athlete growing from a high school athlete, college, to the pros and see what some of these players deal with on a regular basis. Even though it wasn’t a long story, it laid the groundwork for the rest of your created characters career in the NBA and actually makes it worth sticking around for. Now if they just give that same focus to their online leagues, 2K could be a flawless simulator. Regardless of that, I still stand behind this being the best basketball experience I have ever had outside of going outside and playing it myself. NBA 2K is still king of the hardwood.

    Gameplay:

    10

    There is something here for everyone. From the hardcore baller to the casual hooper, though the simulation fans will be the most pleased!

    Graphics:

    10

    It’s the simple things that make this so gorgeous.

    Sound:

    8

    The music, crowd, and presentation is great until we get into the in-game commentary.

    Replay Value:

    10

    With so many game modes, you will easily be playing this game until the next installment releases.

    Final Score:

    9.5

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