NBA 2K16 Available Today, Post Your Impressions Here

[HealyMonster]

I want to make love to this game.

[HOLLIDAY1183]

Been playing since Friday, avoiding (or trying my best to avoid) impressions threads, reviews etc, just trying to take in everything, get some labbing in and check out what's new/different. Spent the first 5 days pretty much in practice mode getting the hang of movement, checking out shot releases, dribble moves. After seeing many posts on the difficulty of getting past defenders, I was too scared to go into a game lol.

IMPRESSIONS SO FAR

Soundtrack is just incredible, I haven't disabled a single song. Personally I feel like they've nailed it, there's so much here. Can't go wrong with Preemo, Nas, Jay... I can see myself actually just listening to this soundtrack while just hanging out.

The thing that frustrated me the most, but turned into pure love once I *got* it, was the new ballhandler/defender dynamic. Every year I do the "Best/Good/Average/Poor" test, where I go to Practice and take maybe Kyrie or Harden and just repeatedly attack the defense. Then a Mike Conley or Ty Lawson, repeat. Then, DJ Augustin or Cory Joseph, repeat. Then, Dellevadova or someone who never breaks down defenders, repeat.

In 2K15, Kyrie would get by 10/10 times, with maybe 3 attempts mashing the iso stick max. Conley, 7 to 8 times of 10, 3 or 4 moves max. Augustin would need maybe a few more stick-mashing moves, still high success rate. Even a Delly would get by his defender a little too often. So even with all of the great offenses and plays, games could still resort to iso-ing 50% of the time or even more, because it was just as successful as *playing basketball* the way it's played in the NBA.

This year, nope. Even with Kyrie, I can get by maybe 3/10 of the time max, off just coming down and iso-ing to death. But not without wasting the shot clock, getting pushed out of position, and the D trying different things after getting beat a few times and it's so beautiful.

So even as someone who considers myself "sim" I'm spending this time retraining myself on how to execute a consistent good offensive attack. Laying off turbo so much, only trying iso moves coming off ball movement/screens, trying to get defenders off balance, taking J's if they fall back, and RUNNING THE OFFENSE EVERY SINGLE TRIP.

Once I started running plays and trying to be better at picking spots to attack, I'm actually not having nearly as much frustration trying to get by people. But it's been a process lol. Laying off turbo so much, feathering the analog instead of throwing it to the extremes, and recognizing what changes the D is making. Last night with OKC I had KD start off 6/6 so NOR started denying him and bringing help immediately. So I brought in Kanter and changed the POE to Feed The Post. Started P&R'ing with him and hit some J's with him. Then P&R's with Ibaka for J attempts. Then in the 3rd went back to attacking with KD and he ended with 26, but it felt like he got it the way he does IRL. Didn't just attack all game, the same way, and it felt like if I tried that it wouldn't have worked. That's the most important thing, I played *basketball* not *videogame basketball* not because I wanted or preferred to, but because I felt like I HAD to.

Playing on SS/Sim, 11 min qtrs. I've only touched CPU shooting sliders (moved midrange to 44, 3PT to 47 and layups to 48). In 5-6 games haven't seen the need to mess with anything else yet. Game speed at 52 but might bring it back down to 50.

Got some decent clips saved to the PS4 that kinda illustrate some of the above. Gonna figure out how to upload them to YT and embed them here. The CPU is tough but not sure I would change a thing.

Well, except for CPU defenders just inexplicably falling all over the place, even when the contact doesn't warrant it lol.

[HeavenlyTouch]

Just an awesome game... I wish I saved some of my replays, some of the two way sequences I've had have been absolutely disgusting!

Online I blocked Chris Paul when he was way ahead of me with Gobert.. I was plodding slowly and caught up.. basically smacked a layup out of the hoop.. Paul fell down and slid into the post.. I ran back the other way and alley-ooped to Gordon for a dirty alleyoop. Another time I posterized Jordan with Hayward and he just stood over top of him, pointed at him, stared him down, and then slowly jogged backwards while staring at him.

So far I'm undefeated online several games in.. and it feels good using so many different tiered teams and having success even against higher tiers. This year you can basically use any team you want as long as you like their style and personnel and beat much higher tiered teams; skill actually makes a difference, guys can't just abuse superstars because you can shut them down defensively.

I've used the Bucks my last 3 games and beat the Bulls, Warriors, and Spurs in that order.. They have stifling defense and multiple weapons with a deep bench.. this is my secret team to use this year. Giannis is disgusting.. he has crazy handles, a post game, jumpshot is suspect but there are many mismatches around the floor and still tons of size and length to contest and steal everything. Monroe has a nice post game too. Their only problem is outside shooting, but teams haven't figured out to pack the paint yet on me. It's also adjustable because you can start plugging in guys like Vasquez, Bayless, Middleton, Jabari, and Mayo in different spots in the lineup and hit a lot of 3's.

I never rely on the AI to defend the opposing guys. I've shut down Curry, Parker, Derrick Rose, and a plethora of other guards just using lateral movement and shifting the stick around. Its so rewarding to play defense yourself and watch other people get frustrated while they try to iso around you to no avail.

Having a deep bench actually makes a huge difference. Some teams opted to not sub, and when I brought in fresh guys it made a difference - Bayless was just so fresh and moved around great while Parker was struggling to move around due to fatigue; I really liked that they couldn't just turbo past me and that being tired actually mattered. At one point, Henson helped me stretch the lead in the 4th from 2 points to 10 points based all on hustle plays. He was just constantly under the basket and grabbing huge offensive rebounds and put backs.. his bigs were so tired because he didn't sub and Henson was beating them to everything. This is so refreshing for me, in years past I just opted not to play the bench at all.

For people who enjoy offline (and I'll be playing plenty of it), it is absolutely sick. In fact, I can see people just playing the entire year offline and not opting for any online play at all. Pro difficulty works great, I've played superstar every other year and I'm afraid to pass beyond pro. The AI plays like a human, they don't just stand there dribbling the clock out until a last second shot. They read the defense, they attack you in transition, in the half court, pull up 3's, early shots in the clock, ill-advised shots, good shots, everything. It feels like you're playing another person.

What I found so fun about facing AI is that it used every team differently. I faced the Nuggets and it ran on me constantly, Faried would get out ahead of my bigs and throw down dunks and alley oops and grab offensive rebounds. With the Warriors I tried to focus down Curry and it started pulling up with Thompson and open 3's with Draymond. It really felt like I was facing each team uniquely, it wasn't a repeat experience.

This game is a must get for any sim fan.

Negatives:

Do temper expectations online as guys will still try to get ahead of your defense. One major issue is that transition defense is problematic regardless of which team you use. For some reason the opposing bigs consistently run past your bigs and sneak underneath the basket for wide open dunks and it can be abused every time down if you're a jackass. You have to manually switch to your bigs and quickly force them back inside, you have to do this because your bigs for some reason like to come up high next to your guard and completely ignore their coverage.

For some reason throwing outlet passes down court is back again 2k11 style, so guys are just constantly leaking out and there are too many fast break chances. If they could tone down some of the perfect hail mary's this game will be perfect.

[Hartakan]

Hey guys,
i know this is not the right thread, but i can't seem to open a new thread.
Quick question: I played NBA2k15 on a PC using Steam. Now i got a PS4 and will use the PSN. Is there a way to use my old account and transfer the old data to PSN? Especially the data from the app for smartphone is important to me (all the collected cards, etc.)
Thanks for help,
Hartakan

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by CMH

I will always play broadcast. 2K could be the best game on the planet and if it didn't have broadcast, I would not buy it. I like to play as if I'm watching a live television broadcast. It's why I still hate many of the camera angles used during the game. A lot of them are impossible to capture during a live broadcast. It's still my opinion that broadcast should mean broadcast only camera angles. Unless the camera is actually in the arena, shooting the shot, the shot shouldn't be used. There are angles that would require a camera man being on the floor next to the players while actual gameplay is going on. That takes me out of the experience whenever I see it. You see a lot of this during starting lineups and replays. It also really bugs me to not see the actual camera man. For example, half-time and post-game interviews. Burke walks away alone. Where's the camera man she's speaking to? I can't be the only one that finds that odd. Also why does Doris Burke change her outfit between halves? Does she do that during live games? Little odd things that catch my attention. But mostly the camera angles are my issue.

This has been my complains with this game myself. But you hit it right on the nose though.

Quote: Originally Posted by HealyMonster

I want to make love to this game.

You do make love... Every time you touch it.

[Mauer4MVP]

One thing that bugs me is the alley oop. Is there anyway to pass it higher? There are a lot of 2 on 1s (I play with the Wolves) where I'll try to throw an oop in a right situation but they throw it way too low. When throwing it up to guys like Wiggins or Lavine, they can throw it higher obviously.

It's kind of annoying.

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mauer4MVP

One thing that bugs me is the alley oop. Is there anyway to pass it higher? There are a lot of 2 on 1s (I play with the Wolves) where I'll try to throw an oop in a right situation but they throw it way too low. When throwing it up to guys like Wiggins or Lavine, they can throw it higher obviously. It's kind of annoying.

I've actually noticed it too. It's weird how low they pass the ball on those oops. What I've been doing is getting wider. Or doing the give and go (which actually works this year!).

[Smirkin Dirk]

Quote: Originally Posted by HealyMonster

I want to make love to this game.

It's possible, if you haven't bought the digital version.