NBA Elite 11 Demo Available, Post Impressions Here (PS3, 360)

[RayRay34]

In my opinion, If you can get by some of the jerky animations this game has a lot to offer as far as total ball control. It is a more accurate representation of what you are capable of doing on the court in real life BALL HANDLING WISE!! We all cant turbo fly to the hoop like in this game, I know I wish I could have even in my prime! But its no more of just throwing in a juke move into a spin and then hitting turbo to blow past a guy, you have to work for your supper, so to say.
I got more joy out of throwing together a string of juke's with Rondo and watching D-Fish fall on his *** as I busted his ankles and then blew by him for a layup, then I have in any other B-ball game before...and why? because I had to work for it, I had to set him up, then take advantage when I had him in position, JUST LIKE IN REAL BASKETBALL. Thats why this game is good now and in three years could be what we all want in a basketball game. thats just my opinion though.

[MiNiDiTkA]

Quote: Originally Posted by coolcras7

It is not the full game only the Wii is getting the full game since Elite is not coming to the Wii.

Wii isn't getting the full game either since it doesn't include the online mode.

[RubenDouglas]

stepsix, I don't believe that ICON passing is instantaneous. I've turned my system on and off 5 times over the course of the day thinking its me or my controller. Each time on my 360, in ELITE 11, there is a noticeable delay in the button mechanics of ICON passing.

Edit:But I'll take your suggestion and get some practice.

No Joke, I'll get a video of me playing showing my controller as I press the buttons.

Thats about the only hurdle I need to overcome to get some enjoyment out of the game. I need that reliable responsive ICON passing.

Also, I mentioned this earlier, when using ALTERNATE control scheme and using X (xbox 360) to shoot, there is a noticeable delay in that as well

[RayRay34]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

Even after spending time with the controls, you can't excuse the movement going on by the other CPU controlled players on the court. That's where the gameplay fails bigtime. The game is trying to do everything it did well last year but it is struggling within the confines of the new tech. implemented. They needed more time and more testing/feedback from guys that see this stuff. There's no excuse for the 5 on 5 gameplay to be where it is after last year. I agree with you on the controls. Lots of guys are not taking the time. I see scenarios where they rush through and just go straight to the 5 on 5. But this is what people want - an NBA simulation. The way players move now is just... horrid.

Once you run plays you get better player movement from your CPU players, I have even seen some screens, some high low posts and some backdoor cuts without even calling plays. Is that the kind of player movement your talking about Pared, or something all together different?

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by RayRay34

Once you run plays you get better player movement from your CPU players, I have even seen some screens, some high low posts and some backdoor cuts without even calling plays. Is that the kind of player movement your talking about Pared, or something all together different?

Sort of. Players struggle to turn appropriately when moving. Instead of turning, they... "steer."

They go in and out of a defensive stance without reason... Offensive players don't avoid contact going through screens, they bounce back from it and stop.

I could go on... but the one thing tying them all in is that defensive stance. CPU offensive players have difficulty getting around their defenders off the ball... even when a play is running.

[davis420]

So far I played 2 games and the Jordan Rookie Game and while it isn't the greatest basketball game it is OK. I don't think this is gonna be a buy for me this year but I will rent it to see how the full game plays. This game should have been put on hold this year to get a full 2 years to be put together. I do like controlling the players and it does take some time to get use to the controls. Shooting seems like you could be hitting shot after shot if you get use to the release point. I shot 7 of 10 in my 2nd game. Like I said I can't see myself buying this game this year but maybe next year it will be on my radar!

[coolcras7]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiNiDiTkA

Wii isn't getting the full game either since it doesn't include the online mode.

The game was created for the wii so how is it not the full game, having online has nothing to go with being a full game, Jam on the wii is the complete retail version, Jam that comes with Elite is not.

[oOausarOo]

Random thoughts:

* The controls are excellent. Everything made sense from the first time I ran through the tutorial. Everything feels responsive and natural to me. I was expecting the worse based on comments, but I picked up the basics in no time.

* They definitely need a sprint button, but I'm not thinking the conventional nba gaming turbo button. I'm thinking kinda like a first step burst, not a hold down and sprint button.

My vision is you would be able to sprint for a time after you first press the sprint button and get your burst, but you wouldn't have to hold it down. Different players would have different ratings also. i.e. a big like Bynum would have basically no first step burst and a very slow, short lasting sprint while John Wall would have a quick first step and be able to sprint for a longer period of time and obviously be faster.

* I can somewhat feel the "real time physics" while playing the game. Watching the game it's hard to get a feel for it. I understand what people were saying weeks ago. At this point I still consider the "RTP" underwhelming and over marketed.

* I wouldn't be surprised if Elite's 5v5 gameplay is superior to 2k's, not just wrt connectivity, but specifically with quality of gameplay. Elite has the potential to be significantly better in that area depending on their sliders, online setup, etc... and how much 2k improves.

* Visually the series needs an overhaul. I think most people realize this. I can live with the subpar graphics / player models, but it's 2010-2011. It's unacceptable for them to be so far behind animation-wise and signature style-wise. This isn't an XBLA game, step it up. Being weak in this area kills replay value for me. I can play 2k for a year and see animations I've either never seen before or have rarely seen.

Even the most basic of animations have no fluidity and look robotic/awkward. Enough is enough, they need to take care of these things to be taken serious as a NBA franchise. It's really baffling to me that animations and basic transiitions are still this bad. This is way more concerning to me than the graphics.

* The game has potential. They are providing a viable alternative. I don't agree with people who wanted an upgraded Live 10. What would the purpose of that be? 2k11 is already an upgraded Live 10 way beyond what EA could have done. They needed to provide something that 2k doesn't gameplay-wise.

* It's weird how the cpu just stands in front of you defending you like a statue. I like that they don't bite on anything and everything, but visually it looks like a video game and not like basketball.

* I'm big into user vs. user gameplay so I'm not that concerned about poor AI in regards to playing against the cpu. I will wait to see vids of user vs. user online and to see if they have a decent online setup for this game. I'm definitely open to giving it a try.

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

Sort of. Players struggle to turn appropriately when moving. Instead of turning, they... "steer." They go in and out of a defensive stance without reason... Offensive players don't avoid contact going through screens, they bounce back from it and stop.

I felt Live 10 was so strong in this area. Actually it might have been the best I've seen in a basketball game. I don't agree with those who wanted a upgraded Live 10, but I will agree it would have been nice of they had incorporated this new structure and maintained more of the strong points from Live 10.

Those are just my early thoughts based on a couple hours. I could change my mind as time goes on.