| System: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, PS3 |  |
| Dev: Visual Concepts | |
| Pub: 2K Sports | |
| Release: September 29, 2015 | |
| Players: 1-10 | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080i | Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violent References |
I am both impressed and disappointed with the overall visuals. On one end you have the complete NBA roster, fully scanned from head to toe, and they look incredible, right down to the freckles and fine detailing of the tattoos. The mannerisms and facial expressions are flawless, giving each digital player an authentic representation of their real world counterpart. The sheer variety of animations is astounding, and yet the transitions between each are grossly detached. Going from a half-spin to a pump fake to a give & go, there is no fluidity when looking at the full spectrum. Each individual move looks clean, but the jarring separation from one to the next removes much of the sense of realism. Looking beyond the players is again a mixed bag. The glossy reflections of a polished floor, the sweat pouring down faces, and excessive showcasing of sponsors are some of the visuals highlights. But then you have the coaches, fans, and anybody else not given the full scan treatment, who look two console generations removed from the players. The fans in particular, though individually animated, have only a few motions, many of which are synchronized with other fans, and their reactions to the action on the court never truly coalesce into the enthusiasm you would expect when the home team makes a big play. All together the graphics are very good, but it seems that having to still develop for prior generation consoles is limiting the graphical boundaries that can be pushed.
Few complaints, though, can be made about the audio. Every squeak on the floor, dribble of the ball, and basket rim hit chimes with precision. The voice acting for the MyCAREER characters is top notch, and the banter between Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith during the pre and post-game coverage is great, albeit a bit hammed up. The A-list soundtrack is heavy on hip hop, but the library of fifty tracks does include some pop, rock, and house music to mix things up every so often.
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.
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By Sean Engemann Senior Contributing Writer Date: September 28, 2015 |
Game Features:
