What is the first thing you think of when NBA Live is mentioned? Is it the brilliant memories of the 2005 title which impressed the gaming world with its addictive gameplay and wonderful slam dunk contest or is it a series which has been out of the game for so long that it’s no longer the player it once was? Whatever your thoughts on the series are, NBA Live is back once again looking to recapture the magic which saw the game rise to the top in the mid-2000’s. Looking to learn from last year’s disappointment, EA Sports have released NBA Live 15 for PS4 and Xbox One.
Throughout this review, it’ll be hard not to compare NBA Live 15 to that of its nearest competitor in NBA 2K15. The two major basketball games on the market were once severe competitors, but the finesse and quality which has shone through from 2K Sports instalments has almost made the NBA Live series obsolete. But with EA Sports looking to reclaim its crown as the MVP of the genre, NBA Live 15 looks to make you comfortable right from the start.
As soon as NBA Live 15 has loaded for the first time, you are immediately met with a tutorial which provides you with all of the new features and allows you to learn the basics in a simple environment. These tutorials are simple to perform and the only downside is getting used to how the shooting mechanics work. In the introduction to the game, you are informed to hold in shoot (square button on PS4) and release it when the shooter reaches the peak of their jump for an effective and accurate shot. This doesn’t appear to be the case both in practice or during a match however as it seems as though you only have to press shoot for a split second in order to gain a ‘great’ award for a shot.
Aside from the very simple shooting mechanics, the rest of the new features feel as though they have been padded-out for no apparent reason. There are Signature Moves which are satisfying when they come off, but the Freestyle Passing mechanic feels as though it’s already been done before in the game with the Icon Passing, which works far better. Enough about the simple mechanics, for the moment, let’s get down to business and play ball.
The introductions to the game are very uninspiring and although it boasts the logos and pundits from ESPN, the production seems lacklustre and does nothing to make you feel as though you are watching a live basketball game. While the commentary in NBA 2K games feel as though the pundits conversations are new every time you hear them, the conversations between the main two commentators here is bland and dull. In NBA 2K15 you can tell the pundits had a blast recording the dialogue as they all seem happy and are even funny, yet provide a terrific basketball analysis.
The disappointing presentation doesn’t just stop with the commentary, however. The menus are reminiscent of the FIFA games from a few years ago. They are easy to move through and get to where you want to go, but the style loses its fresh feeling after 10 minutes or so. One major gripe from the previous NBA Live instalment was how the players look and this year it has definitely been improved.
Whether up-close or from a distance, every player looks almost identical to their real life counterpart. If you’re a basketball fan and a gamer, you will be well aware of some of the comparison shots which were released last year such as Russell Westbrook looking even more like a turtle than normal. While the players don’t look as impressive as they do in 2K15, the improvement on last year’s NBA Live game is clear for everyone to see.
As I’ve already mentioned, the control scheme is incredibly simplistic and definitely makes the game too easy at times. In previous NBA Live titles, the peak of the player’s jump was always the ideal moment to release a shot. Here it seems as though as soon as you’ve pressed the shoot button, you have to release it which provides no real skill or learning curve in the game. Alley-oops are supposed to be moves which happen a few times during a game (unless you’re watching Lob City), but they can be performed by a simple tap of circle. A key technique in basketball is, of course, screens which provide space for you to pass into or run into. A simple press of L2 calls the nearest player to you to set a screen and easily play your team-mate through.
The problem with NBA Live 15 for me isn’t with the mechanics, but it’s more to do with the simplicity of everything. There is next to no challenge at all on the lower difficulties and even on the harder modes, the game still feels as though it isn’t fielding a strong enough team. There is nothing really wrong with how the game performs, but the A.I does play a little dumb from time-to-time making it far simpler to score easy points. The players do seem to run funny a lot of the time and often stand still when in possession of the ball, even when you’re moving. As I say, it’s not a bad experience but it’s just not quite as refined as its nearest rival who has had some terrific years recently and, in the process, has made the market its own. In saying that, NBA Live 15 has the exact same game modes as NBA 2K15.
In addition to the traditional Tip Off mode where you play as your favourite team against the computer or your couch buddy, there are EA Sports’ signature Ultimate Team mode, Jordan Rising Star Mode, Big Moments, NBA Rewind, Dynasty and Head 2 Head online mode. There are plenty of game modes to choose from, but many fans of other EA Sports games will be eager to see how the Ultimate Team compares to that of FIFA 15 and Madden.
The concept is the exact same as the aforementioned games where you create your own team through card packs and auctions and you are set challenges to gain more coins. During my time playing the game mode, I didn’t have the same eagerness to drive forward and improve my team. This may have been because I was provided with 10 gold packs to gain some great players and the requirements to start from the ground up and improve had quickly disappeared. Much like other variations of Ultimate Team, you are provided with basic players and are allowed to participate in various tournaments in both singleplayer and multiplayer. While largely following the same blueprint as the highly successful Ultimate Team mode from the FIFA series, the NBA Live 15 version feels poor in comparison. The card packs for example, are overpriced with only one gold pack being available to purchase for 15,000 coins. While it’s always a game of chance when buying packs of cards, there should be the same staggered values of the card packs, as players will mostly wish to purchase gold packs.
The NBA Rewind and Big Moments game modes are updated from real events which happen throughout the NBA. Big Moments allows you to perform similar actions to those in real life such as comebacks, milestones or individual actions from players. NBA Rewind allows you to play recent games which your favourite team has been involved in as the season unfolds. Although NBA 2K15 has informative, up-to-date content in their game, it’s great to see that NBA Live 15 is allowing you to replay real-life events. One of the most crucial experiences of recent basketball games has been the career mode where you take your rookie character and transform him into a star.
This mode in NBA Live 15 is ‘Jordan Rising Star’ and although it borrows the name of one of the best players to have ever lived, the quality of the game doesn’t match the legendary player’s skills. Much like previous NBA 2K games, you begin by playing in a game among your fellow rookies in the hope of attracting several teams. It feels as though, right from the start, that there is little or no progression. Having chosen my rookie to play as a small forward, he slotted into the starting line-up of the Charlotte Hornets instantly and he could perform skill moves as good as the seasoned pros. Compared to the same game mode in NBA 2K15, it’s head and shoulders above NBA Live 15’s Rising Star in terms of feeling as though your player is progressing, the overriding story, the interaction with your fellow players as well as rivals on the other teams. The career mode in NBA Live 15 isn’t terrible, but it simply cannot compare to 2K Sports’ signature game mode.
While I seem to be largely negative about NBA Live 15, it’s a definite improvement on last year’s reboot. The graphics are slicker, the gameplay has been improved but it all feels way too easy. The controls have been stripped back and the simplest button press will result in a 3-point shot and, in turn, this takes away the satisfaction of timing your jump and that feeling of knowing how the player reacts when you time jump shots to perfection. The exact same game modes are available in NBA 2K15, but they are more refined and presented better on 2K Sports’ basketball title.
At the beginning of the review I asked “What is the first thing you think of when NBA Live is mentioned?” I wouldn’t say the series is back to its old form, by any means, but it’s definitely shown signs of improvements after a disappointing comeback last year. NBA Live 15 is available now for PS4 and Xbox One.