2K continues to build upon the highly successful NBA 2K franchise with the release of NBA 2K15 on Oct. 7. The game promised exceptional, life-like graphics, ultra-realistic gameplay, and a complete basketball simulation experience.
Its predecessor, NBA 2K14, was nominated for a 70 Game of the Year Award, and 2K15 definitely ups the ante. 2K pulled out all the stops, putting NBA MVP Kevin Durant on the front of the game's hot new cover. "Happy" musician Pharell Williams curated the game's music.
While face scanning has created some buzz, there are still a lot of facets of NBA 2K15 to look at.
Inside the box, the game offers a multitude of options to keep the replay-ability of fresh. An expanded backstory and options for MyLeague, MyCareer, MyGM, and of course, the basketball simulations themselves, are more than enough to keep the game different every time you play.
One of the most anticipated features of NBA 2K15 is the ability to scan your own face to make yourself an in-game character. You scan your face using any camera accessory for PS4 or Xbox One, and hundreds of data points are used to render your face quite realistically and accurately.
According to Matt Whitaker of Hardcore gamer, this feature is tedious and could get frustrating with all the required head-turning and keeping within the sensor's scanning zone, however, the end result is worth the effort.
"Though one's virtual self won't look exactly like him or her from up close, the resemblance from a distance is uncanny," he said, putting to rest all the pre-release internet concerns that players heads come out of the scan looking like deformed circus freaks or sci-fi creatures.
Zach Harper, NBA writer for CBS Sports, says that the gameplay is smoother, and more interaction with other characters through dialogue and in-game interviews add more realism and depth to the story to break the monotony of the simulated games on the court. Although he also adds that controls are still a bit sticky and players on screen have a tendency to move slowly. You will have to be very adept at using your controllers to get the movements down pat.
"As the engine is more and more refined for the newer consoles, the physics of actual play will get better. They're still very good, but some players will find frustration with not being able to do whatever you want," he writes.
Gamespot's NBA 2K15 review is also mostly praises. Josiah Renaudin gives the AI of the game thumbs up for being craftier and the flow of offense smarter.
"The NBA 2K series has done well to make you feel the weight of the player and friction of the court in recent years, but handling the ball has never felt this intuitive.," he wrote.
Overall, the verdict is in. Despite a few hiccups, which were bound to happen with fresh release, NBA 2K15 does not disappoint. All the improvements from 2K14, already a good game in itself, just brings 2K15 over the edge of awesome NBA goodness that 2K games fans have come to expect and love.
