NBA 2K15 Review

2K Sports bounces back with their NBA series with NBA 2K15, which competes annually against other sporting heavyweights like FIFA and NHL in the video game market. Like those games, NBA increases its popularity by making subtle and key changes to graphics and game-play which has continued to evolve the series for years now. NBA has come far throughout the years and 2K15 shows it with its premium rate presentation and silky smooth game-play and its next gen graphics, but can it stand proud against the mighty FIFA or even knock it off the top spot as the best sports game in existence today? Or does it bounce off the rim?

The MyGM and MyCareer modes are NBA’s story and campaign modes. MyGM mode is similar to FIFA’s Manager mode and sticks the player in charge of a team of their choice as you manage player line-ups, coaching, strategies and court plays. Its all very intricate and detailed as you can even instruct individual players to play a certain way such as marking or going for the lay-up, luckily though, its all easily navigated through the pause menu during a match. You also have to handle sponsorships and pleasing fans and board members by being optimistic or you can choose to just keep them at bay by being slightly skeptical of your success. MyCareer is the opposite of MyGM mode. Instead of being the manager looking after and maintaining a team, you become a user created player who longs to be the greatest b-ball player however first he needs to be recognized. Now, MyCareer has cutscenes throughout which are a bit lacking,cheesey and overacted but tells the story very well and carries it along at a nice pace. It even had my name in it and hearing the commentators calling my name whenever i scored a basket or even gained possession on the court was very cool.

On the court is the meat and potatoes of NBA 2K15 though and the first thing you will notice is the fantastic graphic quality. Players look photorealistic and move exactly as they do in real life. The transitions between animations are smooth and each match has a great flow even if your on the back burner. The courts are also superbly detailed with managers, cheerleaders and the spectators each seen rooting for their team but the best feature in NBA 2K15 is its excellent, first rate presentation. Player or manager interviews inbetween quarters and half time reports, cheerleader dance routines during breaks and time-outs and even 2KTV broadcasts with Shaquille O’Neil and Ernie Johnson provide a great distraction for the long and frequent loading times. The entire game is gorgeous. Watching each and every pre-match introduction and basket celebration and interview feels as if you are watching the whole thing on TV, it is that good.