MyGM lets players control every aspect of a franchise, and really gives a sense of pressure to keep juggling all the demands on your time. Of course, there are boatloads of other modes to keep players occupied. That’s a small complaint, but leads to many defensive breakdowns in more complicated coverage schemes. Indicators have been added to show who you ought to be marking on defense, but that arrow can be difficult to see on courts with darker paint in the key. Either approach would be fine, but the mixture is somewhat off-putting. Some inputs also lack directness: there’s a delay between action and reaction when jumping for example, and that feels out of place when other moves (like dribbling) feel tight and reactive. That inconsistency is problematic in all phases of the game, as knowing how and why the game reacts to input is important to perform well. Collision detection stands out as problem – for example, players sometimes run in place against defenders instead of bumping into them, while other times they’ll be stunned immediately. Combined with changes to defensive movement, playing off the ball feels more real than in the past. _ “Are you sensing a trend? NBA 2K16 feels a lot like basketball.”ĭefensive AI is smarter than ever in 2K16, smoothly transitioning coverage in a zone, and picking up on driving players more quickly than in the past, while the new defensive coverage meter gives a visual indication of how you’re doing on D. Are you sensing a trend? NBA 2K16 feels a lot like basketball. Post play is greatly improved from past iterations as well – it’s now much easier to move around in the post without waiting for animations to complete. Tactical choices are realistic too, with setting picks, taking charges, and driving the lane feeling perfectly natural. In most cases, shooting while on the move is inconsistent while getting set before shooting is more effective – again, just like in real life. Shooting is equally natural, with a satisfying sense of control over ball release and a system that takes movement into account.
The right stick works great for dribbling moves, and skillful use of fakes creates space just like the real game. Players move very realistically and animations flow together smoothly. Thankfully the core of the game – the basketball – is as solid as ever.
– but gating choice with a linear path is counterintuitive and frustrating. Sure, the stuff you want from career mode is still there – contracts, endorsements, training, etc. The course of the mode is predetermined, and you’ll only gain access to traditional career mode options after enduring Livin’ Da Dream even if you start a new character. Throughout your early career choice is completely removed, even when the characters specifically tell ‘Freq’ to make a choice. It instantly made the mode feel half baked, and might have been better as an experience separated entirely from career mode. I didn’t feel any connection to the characters, and playing through the mode was honestly a chore. I won’t spoil the story beats, but loyalty and growth play heavily into the story with questionable effect. This rigid backstory is particularly awkward from an ethnic perspective – my extremely Caucasian character was totally out of place in his African-American family, particularly when he had a twin sister. Regardless of the character you build, you’ll play as ‘Frequency Vibrations’ (no joke), a grass roots, tough luck talent from Harlem. While a worthwhile addition in theory, in practice it goes against the entire purpose of a career mode. The headline addition to NBA 2K16 is Livin’ Da Dream, a so-called Spike Lee Joint. NBA 2K16 is the latest entry in the series, and although some aspects are of questionable quality, the core Basketball simulation is still the industry standard. Most positive opinions are associated with 2K’s NBA 2K franchise. I remember dunking from half court in NBA Jam with particular fondness, but Basketball simulations have been equally well received in recent years. Basketball games have a diverse and influential history.