NBA 2K15

Pros

• Choose from current and legendary players along with your own customer characters
• Numerous game modes that give you varying levels of control over your player, team or the whole NBA franchise
• Incredibly realistic graphics and many details that make this game immersive

Cons

• The online connection can be spotty at times and may not be satisfying

NBA 2K15 is a realistic basketball game where you can control real players along with custom creations. Not only are there current athletes to choose from, but you can also select legendary players that were huge in the past. There are many different modes to play through to ensure you have fun for many hours. As with every NBA 2K game, this one improves on the previous formula and adds new features.

MyCareer Story Mode

NBA 2K15 has many different modes, but the main story mode would be MyCareer Mode. In the last game you played as a first-round draft pick. Here it's a little more realistic as you're a newcomer trying to earn your spot with a 10-day contract. You have to prove your worth by winning games and playing great. Another interesting aspect is that you can usually choose which team to play for based on your performance. Do you choose one of the best teams and risk being benched behind more established players, or a modest team that could use your skills?

Along with playing for different teams, there is a mentoring system where established players will talk to you and help you out. There is actually voice acting from the players. This can be great or bad depending on the player. In either case, this will ensure your player reaches the peaks of stardom.

Other Modes

The other two main modes you'll be playing are MyLeague and MyGM modes. Both of these give you varying levels of control over teams and players. If you're looking to play through a season, then the MyLeague mode gives you control of a team and all its players. You can control many aspects of your team. One such aspect is the intelligence. You can make things easy and lower the computer's intelligence so bad trades are made, or make things difficult by raising the intelligence so that every team is the absolute best it can be.

Not only can you select every current team in MyLeague, but you can also choose classic teams from their best years. There are also 25 Euroleague teams available to choose from. You can also trade players at regular intervals to make your personal dream team.

If you prefer to micromanage things like ticket price and basketball trainers, then you might want to try MyGM mode. This gives you a higher level of control as you try to make the best NBA franchise possible. You'll be in constant conversation with team owners and players as you build a champion franchise.

You'll be dealing with players on a whole different level in MyGM mode. Instead of playing as them to win the championship, you'll be fielding their complaints about other players, trainers, managers and more. You will have to guide players and help them to be their best. These conversations occur in your office and you can decide how to handle complaints. You can watch games as they occur and either let them play out or take control whenever you want.

Intuitive Controls

Those who've played other NBA 2K games should be familiar with the controls. There have been some updates, especially when it comes to playing offense and defense, but the changes flow very well with the established controls. One of the biggest changes is the Points of Emphasis system. This allows you to create plays that center around one or two rules. For example, you could have players always pass the ball to a certain player or defend in a specific way. The Points of Emphasis can be adjust during timeouts or the computer can do it automatically based on how the game is going.

Most previous games either gave you full control, which could be overwhelming for some players, or no control as the computer controlled the action. This Points of Emphasis system strikes a balance and allows you to let the computer control the action under your guidance.

NBA 2K15 also adds a shot meter to make shooting much easier. Previous versions of the game gave you the highest likelihood of scoring if you released the ball at the height of a player's jump. That worked well for most players, but some had unusual jumping and shooting patterns. NBA 2K15 allows players to keep their individual style while making shooting much easier.

The new shot meter shows you exactly when to release the button for the best shot. This ensures that every player, no matter how they shoot, will give you a good chance at scoring.

Realistic Graphics

Not only does NBA 2K15 aim to be the most realistic basketball game in terms of action, but it also looks very realistic. This game adds more details like sweat as the games go on, goosebumps and blemishes on the skin, tattoos on players and so much more. Aside from the extra details, the level of realism is astounding.

While most of the design work has gone into the players, you'll also notice that the coaches and cheerleaders also look very realistic. Those who have played previous NBA 2K games will see a massive upgrade in the graphics. This makes you feel immersed in the game like you're really there and guiding your players to victory.

If you want a game that feels like watching a real basketball game, then NBA 2K15 definitely delivers what you're looking for.

Commentary and Audio

Everyone knows that commentary is essential for a good basketball game. This gets you into the action and NBA 2K15 delivers here. You get professional color commentary by some of the best in the business. Not only do established announcers work the commentary, but some basketball legends have recorded lines that appear during some games. Another interesting aspect is that the coaches are interviewed during half time and talk about the game, which makes it feel even more realistic.

You'll also love the soundtrack. Many of the hottest bands are on this soundtrack and it makes you really feel the action. The music is fast and gets your heart pumping. You can listen to the music as you watch the computer control your players, or you can let the music fuel you as you strive towards victory.

Pros

• Choose from current and legendary players along with your own customer characters
• Numerous game modes that give you varying levels of control over your player, team or the whole NBA franchise
• Incredibly realistic graphics and many details that make this game immersive

Cons

• The online connection can be spotty at times and may not be satisfying