Chris' NBA Elite 11 Demo Impressions - RaychelSnr's Blog

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Chris' NBA Elite 11 Demo Impressions Stuck

Posted on September 21, 2010 at 06:21 PM.

(73)

Wow.

I'm not sure what to say about NBA Elite 11, and that speechlessness doesn't have to do with the game being great.

I've spent the afternoon playing the demo some, thinking what I was playing was an aberration, but at this point it's becoming very clear: NBA Elite 11 is a resounding and very clear step backwards from NBA Live 10.

Name an area of the game, and it feels like it has taken a step backwards. The game doesn't play nearly as smooth, the controls are potentially revolutionary but really they're just going to end up being a bad attempt to emulate the success of NHL's controls, even the graphics are a clear step behind last year's NBA Live.

I actually feel bad for Kevin Durant being put on the cover of the game.

The control scheme has potentially revolutionary aspects to it, but I think these controls will ultimately go the same direction as the vision cone: hotly debated and ultimately toned down or scrapped altogether. Yes, having this much control is refreshing, but the controls are also geared towards stick skills people. A few tweaks to the ideas behind the control, perhaps meeting NBA 2K in the middle in terms of analog controls, would probably go a long way for the survivability of the controls.

As they stand right now, the controls are going to be very polarizing. People who are good on the sticks will love them, people who aren't will loathe them. As for me, I think the idea was good but the execution seems to be off and with time, I think more people will agree with that sentiment.

However, where the game really falls flat is where it matters: realism. Player movement on the court is decidedly sluggish and it's not fluid at all. If you aren't moving, neither are your teammates for the most part. Correct player spacing, jockeying for position: none of it is in NBA Elite.

Shooting seems a mixed bag with the controls. I like the idea behind shooting, but I think it's going to ultimately either limit or give no restrictions to offense. Someone who is good on the sticks might not miss a shot, I doubt it'll happen....but I won't be surprised to hear about it. Shot variety seems to be miss or swish, hardly any middle ground. That's not good at all.

Passing is jerky, as are animations. It really feels like the game is very static and moving from step a to step b at any given point. There's no real dynamics to it.

As things stand right now, roughly one week to release, there is literally no reason to consider NBA Elite 11 for your NBA gaming. NBA 2K does a better job at almost everything, and in most areas, the two games aren't even close. In my opinion, Elite 11 is a title that was best left unreleased. The Elite experiment is a multi-year process and EA would've done themselves a favor by making sure the game was ready for prime time by giving the guys an extra year.

I don't fault the developers for this, they were dealing with the equivalent of the Clippers organization hiring a new coach, trading the entire roster for undrafted practice squad members, and then being expected to deliver a championship team. They didn't have a chance here. The fault here lies with the people up the corporate food chain who decided to give unrealistic demands to a development team which was already battling from behind. As it stands, Elite 11 will most likely do the brand irreparable harm.

Unless of course the suits at EA were going for the irony factor with the name NBA Elite, then I completely understand their intentions.

Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.

Comments

# 31 JasonLin @ Sep 22

Sadly, i agree with every you said.

The new control scheme is like controlling the throttle/Brake with your hands and turning the wheel with your feet.... Yes I can probably get used to it after a million hours of practice, but is it better? NO, is it necessary? NO...

# 32 JasonLin @ Sep 22

NBA 2K2 for Dreamcast is a better game than NBA ELITE 11.

with no freestyle, no total control...

Total control of a player's movement just isn't that important, compare to beautiful flow of a basketball game, silky smooth animation, well balanced offense and defense, and NBA 2K2 have all these.

Just think about if you have totally control of a fighter's hands and legs movement in a fighting game, it sounds cool, but it's not gonna be more fun than half circle+button for a HADOUKEN!

# 33 erob1962 @ Sep 22

Wow...how could EA do this to its loyal following

# 34 CJBEeZy @ Sep 22

Havent been an Nba Live fan since(the other game popped on the scene) but i actually enjoyed Live 10 wish they wouldve build off it and they probley wouldve if "Mike Wang"(the main reason Live 10 was good) was still there. It seems like when he left "EA paniced" and becuz of that panic we get a game with "far too many changes,too fast" in Nba Elite 11...smh where does EA go from here.

# 35 theprocess @ Sep 22

This was a great review that sums up the game pretty well.

Elite 11 is probably worth $30 new and that is clearly why they threw-in NBA Jam.

# 36 Last_Chapter @ Sep 22

I think what is happening with Elite is bad karma. I've been playing Ea basketball since the vs series. I loved Live until 07. Live 10 almost rekindled that flame. Right now im like most long term live fans at a lost for words. When comparing Elite and 2k's demos Elite seems generic. I was hoping that Ea would wake up but it seems like i was the one dreaming. Well im just glad that there is competition in the bball market so i'll stick to the comp. It's been a good run Ea.

# 37 j3bit0 @ Sep 22

why cant nba 2k11 and nba elite be both competitive and good like for instance nfl 2k5 and madden 2005 ??????

# 38 Dazraz @ Sep 22

I played just one game on the demo. I put the contoller down & thought, wow, I don't believe hoe bad this is. As you mention, your team mates are horribly static. This was something I picked up on in a previous blog when watching a video of Elite some time ago. I can't believe that it remains the same. Elsewhere the game is so sluggish & unresponsive while the animation is really jerky.

Maybe EA have afforded too much time trying to revolutionise the control scheme that they have overlooked so many other aspects. It could be that with so many positives coming from the 2K camp that EA gave up on this game as a lost cause.

I didn't hold up great hopes for the demo but I did expect an improvement on NBA Live 10. Sadly, as echoed by many, this game falls short of last years title.

# 39 cuzzo @ Sep 22

wow guess 2k sports should buy exclusive nba game deal so we can be forced to buy 1 game for 2 years so ea can make a perfect game. too bad that ea isnt catering to the sim crowd but to people like my 7 yr son so guess he's a causal player. but we as a whole love to compare 1 against the other as a way to see who's better only to make ourselves happy. just like 2k should stop making hockey n baseball games n just focus on basketball cause its so close to realism i almost forget its a video game oh wait my bad simulation basketball game thats almost perfect. so guess ill pay 60 dollars for a great offline game cause as we all know 2k servers are the worst in the industry.

# 40 jugganott @ Sep 22

I bought NBA LIVE 10 and it was really good. I bought 2K10 later in the year. Now, after playing the Elite Demo....awww man. It was just bad. I usually type up a big spill, but I'll just leave it at that. Wow..

# 41 bmgoff11 @ Sep 22

i already like it more then live 10 once i got the controls down this game is good to me

# 42 NBAfan#5423678976 @ Sep 22

@drss

IMO the confirmation is in plain sight, I can't be blinded by new features this year not when the things I look for in a NBA game aren't even apparent, honestly I've delayed coming to this blog to play the demo a few more times, and had to rub my eyes seeing a dev post that it's a build 3 weeks out from release, confirmation enough? While I respect your opinion, covering up the fact that there aren't any good things to speak of from the demo I can't disagree more. I am impressed that rEAnimator & other devs are sticking with the product (not that they have a choice) it's been confirmed numerous times that the general community feel it hasn't reached the standard expected each year.

@ MMChrisS I've followed a few of your posts and I believe you put in the time with the gameplay, new face controls etc and have formed a sound opinion and I thank you for that, laying it out there always comes with some objections, & EA there will be another year for you, you fall down you get back up again EA basketball will be back they've been round too long to just roll over and quit.

# 43 palmer08 @ Sep 22

I downloaded the demo this morning, installed it then played it. I spent more times on download and installation than playing. I played less than 2 minutes and left it. This game sucks. I don't understand how EA Sports can release a game like that. NBA 2k11 for sure will be best NBA game sell by far.

Only true basketball fans will buy NBA 2k11. Others will make a huge error to spend money on the almost worst NBA game of the decade. Same NCAA Basketball was better. It's a huge problem for Kevin Durant who is on the cover but also for ESPN which left EA uses their graphics.

Like he said, the game is carrying bad its name.

# 44 cbass1 @ Sep 22

@MMChrisS.......is it possible to get an interview with Mike Wang??? Not to beat a dead horse but I really would like to hear his thoughts about this mess called elite!