NBA 2K16 Reviews
Basketball gamers have never had a better simulator than 2K16. It is a complete improvement in every way over the games that came before it, and has addressed most of the issues that its predecessor suffered from. That being said, there are still plenty of new issues, the main problems being the story mode and the severe issues with online play. The game even used the tagline "Story is everything" in regards to Spike Lee's creation, so the question has to be asked, if the story is very poor and "Story is everything", what does that say about everything else?
[B]asketball fans will likely have a great time playing NBA 2K16 for hours on end, but there are too many small steps back here that can't be ignored. The good news for fans of sports games is that the first misstep in this great franchise is still a very good game, which speaks to how truly fun its gameplay is.
NBA 2K16 is another solid entry in a series that is really starting to establish itself as one of the best in sports. It might have its drawbacks and fall short of certain expectations, but the core of NBA 2K continues to be strong.
Visual Concepts continually makes improvements with every new entry in their basketball series. NBA 2K16 tugs heavily on the Spike Lee promotion to sell its improved story mode. Beyond that, the upgrades are more on the technical side. There's still a ton of content to keep any fan of the franchise busy until next year's offering. Whether the investment is worthwhile depends on your commitment to enjoying every small enhancement and always being on the current leaderboard roster for the new season.
NBA 2K16 remains a great basketball game at its core, but makes a mistake in trying to give us a narrative-driven MyCareer mode. It just isn't keeping with the spirit of the ever-expanding customization and freedom of sports simulators and on top of which, it's just not that interesting or especially well presented. The online missteps are another problem, as are the good but somewhat languishing visuals that are starting to show their age.
On-court improvements off-set by off-court issues
The basketball is stunning, the narrative is not
Basketball has never looked, or felt, so good to play.
Although the much touted MyCareer mode curated by Spike Lee serves more as a distraction than a can't miss feature, NBA 2K16 continues to deliver where it matters, which is the gameplay on the court. Admittedly, it can be intimidating for newcomers but folks who pick up its nuances will appreciate the tightened defense and multitude of options on the court. Add solid production values and graphics and NBA 2K16 maintains its top spot on the virtual basketball mountain.
Simply put, if you loved "NBA 2K15," "NBA 2K16" is a better game with tons of small touches that will make you happy, but not overjoyed. If you've never experience a 2K basketball game on a PlayStation 4or Xbox One however, you'll about to fall in love.
NBA 2K16 is definitely hurt by Livin Da' Dream, which is problematic in ways that go beyond the scope of this review. It just doesn't work. Once you get past MyCareer, though, NBA 2K16 once again stands out as a top-tier sports sim. Here's hoping this setback won't stop Visual Concepts from continuing to push the envelope with their design decisions, because it continues to be their most admirable quality.
Overall though NBA 2K16 is a solid game that has great gameplay, and fantastic presentation.
NBA 2K16 is full of features and detail. It's possibly the most complete game to the series. . . . 2K Sports rarely take a step back and this year is no different.
NBA 2K16 is definitely hurt by Livin Da' Dream, which is problematic in ways that go beyond the scope of this review. It just doesn't work. Once you get past MyCareer, though, NBA 2K16 once again stands out as a top-tier sports sim. Here's hoping this setback won't stop Visual Concepts from continuing to push the envelope with their design decisions, because it continues to be their most admirable quality.
NBA 2K16 draws you in with its welcoming personality and expanded game modes. But it still manages to push you away with unexplained intricacies.
Another slam dunk from 2K Sports
Not exactly a massive Air Jordan-style leap over NBA 2K15, this year's game is nonetheless a substantial enough evolution to warrant a closer look. MyCareer's Spike Lee Joint isn't as groundbreaking as it thinks it is, but proves engaging enough for a few hours. As ever though, NBA 2K16's vast number of modes and options, as well as its unparalleled and authentic on-court experience makes it a basketball game that continues to stand tall.
While there are certainly some stumbling points, NBA 2K16 is another great entry in 2K's series. Livin' Da Dream may feature more cutscenes than Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, but it's an interesting way to present a career mode. Visual Concepts is not afraid to take risks, and most of them have paid off in NBA 2K16.
Overall the improvements to 2K16 cannot be ignored. The gameplay is better than it's ever been, the presentation is fantastic and the expansions to My League and My GM are very welcome. For someone like me however, for whom My Career is consistently the biggest draw, it's hard to not be disappointed. My hope is that next year 2K addresses my concerns in this area and finally delivers what I would consider the perfect hoops game.
Visual Concepts has done a commendable job with just one year of development. NBA 2K16 boasts many on-court improvements over last year, most notably on defensive that help create a better flow during games. Although the microtransactions devalue certain aspects of the game, and Pro-AM has connection issues, the on-court changes and additions are worth checking out for basketball enthusiasts.