NBA Live 16 Review

[The 24th Letter]

Good review fellas...


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[benefactor]

Quote: Originally Posted by MMChrisS

NBA Live 16 is not overly impressive in terms of graphics, but it gets the job done. The lighting is generally pretty good and animations look nice until they've been repeated a hundred times. There is one in particular -- a guard spinning the ball back into their hands after an inbound -- that is repeated so frequently that it's easy to wonder whether or not it's a glitch.

Decent review until this paragraph. Obviously you've put models, lighting and animations all under the one graphics tag but the lighting being 'generally pretty good' is a huge understatement.

It's realistic, varies with camera angles as it should and helps give most stadiums a unique look.

And in general the graphics 'gets the job done' is pretty insulting to the artists on the dev team to be frank. The player models (while some are generic) are in my opinion, the best in all of sports gaming. The lighting, skin tones, body types, convincing and realistic look of tattoos and sweat etc. It's taken the genre to a new level and is a hell of a lot more than just getting the job done.

And for a series that has publicly stated its long term plan, it's hard to give much respect to your review when you don't reference the changes, improvements and even omissions from 14 and 15.

Food for thought I guess.

[iClutch]

Quote: Originally Posted by SeaTownGamer

Last great live to me was Live '99 and Live 2000.

Live 2004-5 are the best ones IMO.

People slept on NBA Live 10, too.

[Luke Skywalker]

Isn't worth $60 purchase. Good game of basketball but lacks too much.

[Walt Frazier]

Great review...nails most areas.

It is hard to fathom how, after three years, they still have so many bad animations in there...the same ones as previously. Surely they could remove them.

How on earth do they remove bank shots...and yet leave in the horrible overhead hook shots from 17 feet? Why make the post game WORSE than live 15?

[rudeworld]

...,. Should be the vault by all-star game.

[Calvenn]

Quote: Originally Posted by benefactor

Decent review until this paragraph. Obviously you've put models, lighting and animations all under the one graphics tag but the lighting being 'generally pretty good' is a huge understatement. It's realistic, varies with camera angles as it should and helps give most stadiums a unique look. And in general the graphics 'gets the job done' is pretty insulting to the artists on the dev team to be frank. The player models (while some are generic) are in my opinion, the best in all of sports gaming. The lighting, skin tones, body types, convincing and realistic look of tattoos and sweat etc. It's taken the genre to a new level and is a hell of a lot more than just getting the job done. And for a series that has publicly stated its long term plan, it's hard to give much respect to your review when you don't reference the changes, improvements and even omissions from 14 and 15. Food for thought I guess.

It was fair for the most part but the above immediately stood out to me as well. Unequivocally, the graphics are an area of strength for Live16 and should be a high point. I do hope they will patch some glaring issues this year though I like what they have achieved thus far. Would be nice to know from someone, Mrprice33 or WTF (has been MIA lately has anyone heard from this guy?) about any upcoming patching plans and what may be addressed.

I also hope that funding has truly been secured and that investors have fully bought in to allow this game to see its pinnacle. At this rate, we should expect them to more fully flesh out the key parts of the game next year and even improve upon what they have now established with Pro Am.

All warts aside, I seriously can't say Ive been this engaged with a basketball game in a long time, especially after slider modifications which I will post shortly. Too bad we couldn't get any improvements to Dynasty. Loving the other game as well. Graphics look good once my TV was adjusted properly and I appreciate player size differences, but I digress.. Live16 just stands out graphically though.

In terms of graphics, here's a where it shines.

1. Lighting
2. Real skin textures
3. Majority of scanned faces
4. Authentic jersey material (looks like real cloth)
5. Stadiums
6. Courts
7. Player model( would be nice to have some less defined options)
8. Shoes

[WTF]

I'm still here, reading when I have the chance. Life, work and family getting the best of me currently. Live 17 and beyond is a go. Live 16 will continue to improve, new patches, new scans, etc will be added as we go along.