Ben Vollmer: NBA Live can be a lot of fun. The gameplay is relatively smooth and simplistic -- making it much easier for newcomers of the sport to latch on. It isn't bad, but it isn't great, either. Gameplay issues pop up mere hours into playing the game and there aren't a lot of jaw-dropping moments that will pull hardcore basketball fans back in.

The graphics aren't phenomenal but the facial representation of the players is good enough that you'll have no problem recognizing some of the league's stars. More than anything, the presentation package takes a lot of risks that work on a basic level. Top plays being shown both at halftime and at the end of the game is really gratifying, even though the audio that comes with it isn't nearly as exciting.

More than anything, Live provides something different. It is really important to remember that this is still a series that is building toward something much larger, not carefully sculpting an already beautiful core.

Jayson Young: NBA Live 16 shows why all team sports games need an online mode where you can replace every AI player on the court with a human friend or foe. As with all the other EA Sports games I've played this year (FIFA 16, NHL 16), the computer in NBA Live 16 just isn't much fun to compete against if you're on your own, as the AI will frequently abuse the most imbalanced parts of the gameplay, repeatedly scoring uninterruptible layups/dunks off the drive and getting tons of cheap putbacks from offensive rebounds. Having to babysit four other AI teammates who struggle to stay between their man and the basket is simply more frustrating than it is fun. But when you have a full team of five human beings who know how to boxout and play proper basketball on both ends of the court, NBA Live 16 becomes an enjoyable cooperative  competitive experience.

NBA Live 16's court spacing, player movement, and shooting system are all much more realistic and balanced than what you'd encounter at NBA 2K15's cheese-filled parks and rec centers. I would prefer to have preset classes with predetermined attribute points like in NHL 16's EASHL, though, as the long grind for bonus XP creates a haves/have nots pyramid that really shouldn't exist in a competitive online mode. I also worry that offense might become a bit too easy once players max out their full skill sets. But right now, with everyone starting off at a low level, you're really forced to specialize in two or three skills, which I love. Ideally, I'd like to see everybody on the court be as talented as a sixth man, not an all-around superstar, so that people are forced to play a single role (slasher, shooter, defender, etc.) to find team success.

Robert Kollars: It's taken half a decade to get there, but NBA Live is finally a solid representation of the sport it represents. After putting many hours into NBA Live '14 and '15, I can honestly say that NBA Live is much closer to being a solid (dare I say good) game than it ever has been.The arenas are alive and vibrant, the pro-am addition is great fun with friends, and there has been great improvement in the players likenesses. The on-court gameplay is solid and fluid, but not as refined as its competitor, but no longer do NBA Live fans have to feel embarrassed about enjoying the product. There are still some issues in regards to interior post play, and some animation work needs to be refined, but overall, the development team has finally delivered a product that is extremely solid, and a great foundation for future iterations.