NBA 2K15's presentation package remains the best to be found in sports gaming, and it's not even close.

Let's start with pre-game and work our way forward. After all, if there is a game that accurately captures the ability to not only immerse viewers in its presentation, but to create a structured narrative from the start of a telecast to the end of one, its the NBA 2K series. At it's very best, the game is a work of art. At its worst, it still makes a really impressive effort.

The addition of Ernie Johnson and Shaq does two things: It helps set the stage for each and every game and I it reminds you that every game on the planet should have something similar. Seriously, it works that well. It's easy to be floored right off the bat, as the two work with the same fantastic chemistry seen on TNT. The very first game I played involved the Lakers, and Shaq gave a brief and earnest rundown of his relationship and respect for Kobe Bryant. Still, there's no doubt that the segment needs a healthy dose of Sir Charles in next years game.

The in-game pre-game doesn't take the foot off of the pedal. Lineup announcements are well done, with the exception of some noticeable pixelation when the spotlight shines down on players. Not a huge deal, but definitely present. If I had another complaint, it would be that players can seem a bit overexcited (especially when some of the games I played involved pre-season stuff in NBA Today) when being announced - each of them with an elaborate song or dance to go with their announcement.

In game takes one step forward and one step back. There's no doubt that you will feel right at home with Kerr, Harlan, and Kellogg. The game has definitely made progress in not only delivering excellent commentary, but making you feel like your game and individual play is driving the commentary forward. Unfortunately, it seems like there is just a hint of dead space in there. There doesn't seem to be a root cause of the problem just yet, but it's certainly not game-breaking.

Halftime still leaves a lot to be desired. The interviews still feel really fresh, and there seems to be a wider range of them. Unfortunately, everything else seems like you've hit the pause button and the game is just waiting for you to return. It would make a lot of sense for Ernie and Shaq to make a return here, for a College Hoops 2K8-like update. It would be nice, even if they were generated, to see clips of other games going on around the NBA.

The graphics are still top-of-the-line but there isn't a huge step forward in this department. Player models look a little better, with players owning the wiry height and length of a traditional NBA basketball player. Post-play animations are much more tamed, and you'll see less fist-pumping, stomping of feet, and taunting after made shots. There's also a little more variation there, and things just have a more natural feel.

The crowd feels alive at all times. Fitting with the rest of NBA 2K15's presentation package, the crowd noise has a noticeable arc. There's an early game buzz that hardly compares to the late-game roar. In broadcast mode, you can see just how good the crowd looks, even on an individual basis. There aren't a ton of duplicates, and even when there are, you usually have to look for them. One complaint here is that all crowds feel pretty similar, from arena to arena.

There's a few miscellaneous things to mention as well. There are neat little graphics that will occasionally pop-up on the bottom of the screen, usually detailing a former season or an in-season stat. Sometimes they lack context. For instance, in my first game, the Harlan was talking about Kobe returning from injury this year. While he was talking about it, an overlay popped-up saying "Last Season: The Lakers have lost 15 NBA Finals, more than any other team in NBA History." It is nitpicking to be sure, but for a game that's so close to reaching presentation nirvana, every little flaw becomes a little more jarring.

Ultimately, the presentation pairs really well what is already a pretty life-like experience in terms of gameplay. There are a few things that could still be worked out, but I'm not looking for a whole lot of fixes. Instead, I want to see more innovation.