NBA Live 16 Available Today, Post Your Impressions Here

[rudyjuly2]

Quote: Originally Posted by babythug23

How do u foul? I lost couple games because they ran the clock out because I couldn't foul

L1 + SQUARE I'm pretty sure. (maybe L2 but think it's L1 + square for PS4)

[The 24th Letter]

Game definitely isn't void of 'canned' sequences....

https://vid.me/UoSM

Too many of these 'pull in' animations...I'm assuming to tone down the paint scoring...Memory could be failing me but j don't remember many of these last year...on the flip side, too many straight on sequences where there should be collisions are whiffed.

[CMH]

I'm thoroughly enjoying the game. Definitely a vast improvement over 15.

My only major gripe so far are the hook shots. It seems like the game is missing some post animations and so it only has a couple options. It just looks ugly and never natural. At all.

Also the collision detection on those hooks, while being realistic in terms of simulating contact, leads to an ugly animation. Players look like they are throwing the ball up but still making a perfect arc, release. Would like to see an animation that forces the shooter into contouring his body like JVG likes to say.

I also find that there is zero response to pulling the left stick back while shooting. Can we not attempt fade aways?

Finally, there needs to be an instructional video on post defense. It doesn't seem intuitive and I'm mostly just guessing at things. Am I supposed to put hands up? Why at times does pressing up result in the back away move? Or am I supposed to follow the player with the left stick? There's no information on this.

[CMH]

Also had a tough experience mounting a 30 point comeback, down 14 with 6 minutes left in the 4th. The situation doesn't matter but it hurt not being able to play the rest of the game.

During free throws that cut it to 14 the camera stayed in the free throw angle. It wouldn't follow the action and made defense impossible as I couldn't see the action happening off screen. So I had to quit. I have video of it saved. I think.

Hopefully this doesn't happen again. Really ruined a fun grueling second half experience.

[rudyjuly2]

I only resort to L2 for post defence and try to block shots if I can. The fade away jump shot is pretty non existent in this game and needs work for sure. The step back jumper doesn't work as well as it should either imo.

As for post moves, they are limited. I try to spin with the right stick or double tap square for an up and under move. Those two or the basic hook are my only moves.

[CMH]

The bigger issue is its the only move for both sides. I could understand if the user was only attempting hook shots because we were doing something wrong but the cpu post offense consist of the following:

Back in. If size advantage do so until hook shot animation can be triggered. If no size advantage, exit post up and attempt crossovers until entering dunk or layup animation - which by the way completely negates whatever I'm doing on defense, good or bad.

It's very random. So I'm left just assuming my decisions have no impact.

[SoxFan01605]

So, after picking this up during the PS4 sale, here are some early impressions (for me, at least...I guess they're late for most here ).

First, with the poor sales and tons of negative stuff I had read/heard about Live 16, I expected something much worse than I got. The game is actually pretty solid overall and can certainly provide an entertaining game of basketball. I'm going to mostly ignore the lack of customization as that was a known factor before my purchase and justification for the heavily reduced price tag IMO.

Anyway, I'll spoiler the bulk for length:

Spoiler

Animations are hit or miss. I feel some of the dribble and walk-up animations are excellent, as are some of the contact animations on the perimeter. Contact in the paint and many of the shooting animations feel stilted...just not smooth or realistic.

Also, Basic movement suffers from a herky-jerky aspect that can be disorienting-especially when contrasted with the smoother "canned" walkups and dribbles. It kind of reminds me of 2K baseball in that sense, where a guy would look awesome at bat in his signature stance and then look like he was doing the robot on his way back to the dugout.

That said, from a physics standpoint, contact "feels" really good and plays out in mostly realistic ways (in terms of direction/general reaction). I really think if they can figure the animations to go along with the physics being used, the game could really make a leap forward.

I do like the speed and pacing of the game overall, particularly when playing with more up-tempo teams.

AI does a good job of spacing for the most part (though I noticed more issues with this in Rising Star, as guys would sometimes try to share my space on the floor, despite me following the play accurately). I also like the way the AI seems to make a realistic effort to not only move to get open, but move the ball to create open shots.

Teammate AI is still a bit sketchy for Rising Star, but not terrible. I do feel that they are a bit liberal with chucking contested 3s early in the shot clock though.

Graphics are hit and miss. Some faces are amazing, others are embarrassing. I think EA did a pretty good job with arenas overall (TD Garden, for example, looks miles better than in 2K IMO). I do like the basic build for the player models though (a lot skinnier overall...most guys look long and lean when they should).

Jalen Rose annoys me

I Love the net physics in this game and bottoming Js is really satisfying.

Also, a couple of tentative impressions (meaning, I fully admit I need more time and testing invested to be sure):

1) I feel like the disparity in makes between user and AI is a bit unbalanced. I struggle to make contested Js with even the best shooters (good timing/release, solid percent chance), while it feels like the AI makes a disproportionate amount, yet seems to miss too many uncontested shots. I can perhaps this up to being new though.

2) The game seems to try to replicate the types of runs teams tend to go on over the course of a game, which can make for a fun, more realistic feel to the pacing when it works. Unfortunately, there are plenty of times where it feels like the AI gets stuck in the bad runs, leading me to extend insurmountable leads or dig out of my really bad play. I've only played this on Pro and the next highest level though, so it may be a difficulty level thing.

Overall, it was certainly a good pickup for the price. I'm admittedly a 2K fan (especially on PC), but if EA opens up customization A LOT and adds some depth to modes and presentation, I can see going back to the days of purchasing two basketball games again.

[seanhazz1]

Nice honest re-review. If you were not aware, the "runs" you experienced are a direct result of applied "synergy", which is the real life tendencies of each player gathered nightly from actual in game, NBA data, available the next day after a RL game via update. It's similar in concept to 2K's ACE feature but a bit further along in development.

The subtle controller inputs in Live are more responsive, so the stick movements respond faster. In fact Turbo is almost not even needed to play this game (except the post game) I think "Over-turbo" is a big culprit of "awkward" animations in Live.

I don't think the physics are that off, just people aren't used to seeing full speed (turbo) directional changes, especially those coming from 2K where there are more transitional animations, and more dependency on turbo. Think of the flailing you see during HS basketball gut drills(formerly called suicides) , and you get my point.

Live REWARDS those who run the plays, even bad players, seemingly giving a small to medium boost for executing the play properly off the screen or pick, and shooting, to include even contested shots. That "timing" will come with repetition, and you'll recognize the right animation with consistency. Also, If you expand your game outside the PnR you start to see some really good stuff from the AI.

The AI does have "stuck" issues that rear their ugly head from time to time (late in the shot clock, and sometimes in the post) but you didn't seem affected by your review.

The sliders this year provided DO affect the game to your chosen style but only in Dynasty consistently, as the daily updates play hell with play now sliders after updates.

I would definitely recommend playing WITHOUT turbo on offense, when starting out, to get a feel for all the speed and movement you can get out of just left stick, for each player, and to break the learned turbo habit from 2K.

Your customization sentiments ring true throughout this forum, but personally, I always ask, if Synergy is working (actual real data) without customization, outside of uniforms and cosmetics, what would be the purpose of ratings edits?

Preloading the shot or pass (hitting the button before the ball changes hands) will initiate the next response faster, turbo would be the speed modifier in this case. The post is lacking a couple animations here and there but is definitely more than functional.

Glad you purchased the game at your price point and also glad you enjoyed it, as many spend more time commenting on what the game is not, instead of finding out what it actually is.

Lastly, Some of the users here have a really good grasp of the Live game and direction, and can really help improve your experience, if needed.