By VINNIE RULLO
Contributing Writer
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NBA 2K15 gives gamers the ultimate basketball experience. This game has stunning graphics and incredible game play. 2K15 offers gamers this year a number of impressive game-play features. NBA 2K15 is one of the best sports games I’ve ever played, as it has tight controls and beautiful visuals.
The graphics are so detailed that every player featured in the game looks basically like they do in real life. The players are a big part of this game’s success, when playing the game you get a sense of how each individual player plays on the court as each one is unique in their own way. Each player has a different play style.
For example, when playing with LeBron James you have a distinctive advantage because he’s the highest rated player in the game. When controlling LeBron in the game, you get a sense of how dominant of a player he is in real life. LeBron’s extreme height and speed ability is just an unfair combo, he is by the far the most fun player to use in this game.
Visually, the game looks awesome; I personally played the game in Boardcast Camera mode which looks exactly the same as actual basketball games do on ESPN. The basketball courts are also very accurate, and each court looks and feels a little different, with different lighting effects and advertisements. The crowds even leave if the game is a blowout.
The gameplay is where this game really shines. There’s over 50 different combinations of dribbling moves, a number of different variations of layups, dunks, and shooting types of controls. Each player even has a different shooting style when shooting on the perimeter and on the free-throw line.
Once you nail down the shooting element of the game you can focus on the harder controls of the game, like the dribbling moves, and other advanced controls. I think ultimately it comes down to how you want to play the game.
I like to do a combination of driving to the basket with players to score, but I also like the shooting mechanic. I think gamers will prefer to play with certain players over others based on their shot types or player tendencies.
Last year was a big step in the right direction, with the 2K series first being released on next-gen consoles for the first time. I was extremely awed by the enhancements in graphics from the 2K14 version on Xbox 360 compared to the Xbox One version. It looked like a completely different game on the Xbox One.
This year’s 2K only has a little bit of improvement in terms of overall graphics from last year’s game. One visual that does stick out that wasn’t in last year’s game was they have added commentators from TNT Ernie Johnson and Shaq to the broadcast team. They’re featured at the start of games during the loading screen, commenting about the upcoming teams that you’ll be playing with.
I think the biggest change from last year’s game to this year’s game is floor spacing. This game has improved floor spacing, so that players don’t trip over each other. This year it feels like you have more control of your overall offense and it feels easier to score.
I’ve also noticed this year that 2K15 has added a shot meter, which is used to help you guide your jump shots. If you release your players shot too late or too early you’ll be more prone to missing shots, but if you nail it just right you’ll see something light up and the ball will go right in.
2K15’s new features include 2K TV, My-League, a more enhanced My-GM, My-Team, and My-Player mode. 2K TV is very interesting because it’s basically a weekly video segment of people talking about the game. This week’s episode featured Kevin Durant. One of the enhancements in the My-Player mode this year that had a lot of gamers excited upon the game’s release was the ability to create your face in the game using the Kinect face scan.
I was extremely excited about this feature because the My-Player, in my opinion, is one of the best game modes in the game. However, when I scanned my face in the game, it didn’t look anything like me. I hope they fix this soon.
The game also improved on the multiplayer of its predecessor, fixing many of the lag issues. The overall online experience of the game is incredible; you’re able to play a number of different game modes online. The choices include head-to-head versus another opponent, team-up, with features where you control one player on a team and play along with nine other players in the same game, and My-Park. My-Park is my favorite out of the online modes. In My-Park you use your My-Player and play against other people’s My-Players in an open-court world online.
I would recommend playing the regular My-Player offline a significant amount to improve your player’s attributes. My-Park allows you to play 2-v-2, 3-v-3, or 5-v-5, and the cool thing is if you win you get to keep playing, and build up your rank. 2K15 also has a new customizable ability to create a franchise which is known as My-League this year. With this feature you can decide on how you want to customize your franchise in the game, meaning you can change the salary cap, draft style, etc.
NBA 2K15 offers gamers who enjoy basketball a very fun experience. You’ll be amazed how detailed the players and gameplay are when playing the game. 2K15 will definitely blow you away this year and you won’t be disappointed.
