NBA Live 15 Review (PS4)
Submitted on: Oct 31, 2014 by Robert Kollars
Coming off of last year’s less than stellar debut on the PS4 and the Xbox One, the development team behind NBA Live 15 had a lot of work to do in just one development cycle if it planned on competing with the behemoth known as NBA 2K. Even if you set the competition aspect aside, earning the trust back from a fan-base is a difficult path. Although one could see the potential in the Live debut title, it takes more than potential and aspirations to warrant a $60 purchase. The question now is has there been enough improvement for people to start to have faith in the series and developers again? That’s what we are about to find out.
Gameplay
Whenever a sports video game title is associated with an official license, it’s safe to assume that one expects the game to play like its real-life counterpart, unless otherwise noted. In the case of NBA Live 15, that’s a safe assumption. Unfortunately for hardcore fans of the sport, Live 15 falls short of being a true representation of the sport. NBA Live 15 looks the part, and in many cases the on-court sequences play out just like a real life NBA game, but there are issues that hold it back from being a true simulation.
A lot of the issues that Live 15 has are minor, but they do add up over time. Issues that hold the game back include graphical clipping, rebounding animations and execution, as well as CPU lane penetration, blocked shots, and missing contextual animations.
Although the rebounding in Live 15 is improved over last years iteration, there are times where it feels predetermined and disregards user input. Many will also find the amount of 3-pointers made to be problematic, and the free-throw system to be too simplistic.
In terms of lane penetration by the AI, it still seems that if your CPU controlled opponent absolutely wants to find their way to basket -- it will happen, regardless of the defensive effort made by you and your digital teammates. Thankfully the ability to play defense is much improved this year, and the instances of unstoppable lane penetration by the AI is not as common of a problem in Live 15, as it was in Live 14.
Finally let’s talk blocked shots, and the excessive amount in Live 15. Once again, it’s not as big an issue as it was early on in the lifespan of Live 14, but still an issue. In many of the games I have played, I found my team blocks are in double digits, and it seems that Live 15 is coded in a way that it utilizes blocks to help compensate for lack of true interior defense.
Even with the issues mentioned above, the overall feel on the court is solid, and the quality of it needs to be recognized as well. The ability to execute a pick and roll is implemented just as nicely, and while some have issues with the passing system, I found it very responsive and accurate.
Another area where Live shines is in the overall pace, flow and spacing of the game. Obviously if you want to turn it into a run-and-gun type shoot out, you can, but the game rewards you for playing it at a normal tempo, running your offense, and utilizing the talent you have on the court correctly. In regards to spacing, Live 15 gives you plenty of space to navigate the court, and the positioning of players really open up the court. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention the amount of fouls that are called, and how it truly has a positive effect on in-game decisions and game-flow. Although gameplay sliders were not included with NBA Live 15. Foul sliders can tweaked to your perfect setting. This really has a true impact on the game, and puts the onus on the user, and how aggressive they choose to be. Let’s make this clear, even though there are issues with the gameplay, for the most part it is solid, and in my humble opinion, a lot of fun to play.
Gameplay
Whenever a sports video game title is associated with an official license, it’s safe to assume that one expects the game to play like its real-life counterpart, unless otherwise noted. In the case of NBA Live 15, that’s a safe assumption. Unfortunately for hardcore fans of the sport, Live 15 falls short of being a true representation of the sport. NBA Live 15 looks the part, and in many cases the on-court sequences play out just like a real life NBA game, but there are issues that hold it back from being a true simulation.
A lot of the issues that Live 15 has are minor, but they do add up over time. Issues that hold the game back include graphical clipping, rebounding animations and execution, as well as CPU lane penetration, blocked shots, and missing contextual animations.
Although the rebounding in Live 15 is improved over last years iteration, there are times where it feels predetermined and disregards user input. Many will also find the amount of 3-pointers made to be problematic, and the free-throw system to be too simplistic.
In terms of lane penetration by the AI, it still seems that if your CPU controlled opponent absolutely wants to find their way to basket -- it will happen, regardless of the defensive effort made by you and your digital teammates. Thankfully the ability to play defense is much improved this year, and the instances of unstoppable lane penetration by the AI is not as common of a problem in Live 15, as it was in Live 14.
Finally let’s talk blocked shots, and the excessive amount in Live 15. Once again, it’s not as big an issue as it was early on in the lifespan of Live 14, but still an issue. In many of the games I have played, I found my team blocks are in double digits, and it seems that Live 15 is coded in a way that it utilizes blocks to help compensate for lack of true interior defense.
Even with the issues mentioned above, the overall feel on the court is solid, and the quality of it needs to be recognized as well. The ability to execute a pick and roll is implemented just as nicely, and while some have issues with the passing system, I found it very responsive and accurate.
Another area where Live shines is in the overall pace, flow and spacing of the game. Obviously if you want to turn it into a run-and-gun type shoot out, you can, but the game rewards you for playing it at a normal tempo, running your offense, and utilizing the talent you have on the court correctly. In regards to spacing, Live 15 gives you plenty of space to navigate the court, and the positioning of players really open up the court. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention the amount of fouls that are called, and how it truly has a positive effect on in-game decisions and game-flow. Although gameplay sliders were not included with NBA Live 15. Foul sliders can tweaked to your perfect setting. This really has a true impact on the game, and puts the onus on the user, and how aggressive they choose to be. Let’s make this clear, even though there are issues with the gameplay, for the most part it is solid, and in my humble opinion, a lot of fun to play.
Game Modes
For most offline gamers, the heart and soul of NBA Live 15 is Dynasty, as it gives the user the chance to guide any team through the course of over 30 years, and lets you makes make the most important decisions as the owner, GM, and coach. Want to make a trade to get younger? Do it. Need to sign an impact player to push your team over the edge? Do it. Want to trade a big contract for an aging veteran and some draft picks? Do it. But understand every move you make has its positives and negatives.
While Dynasty has all the essentials, don’t expect any extras. The presentation and layout is simplistic, and takes a no-frills approach. Although EA promised they would work on the sim engine this year, there are still problems with the simulated stats. If you’re a stickler for realism, this mode may provide you a few “huh” moments. Overall, though, Dynasty will give most users exactly what they are looking for.
Rising Star mode in Live 15 is exactly what one would expect it to be. You create a player, participate in the Jordan Take Flight Showcase game, and hope for the best in the NBA Draft. Once drafted, you are thrown right into the season and it plays out like you were playing a standard dynasty mode game. This mode does offer the ability to upgrade your player by accomplishing goals in game. But that's about it.
Aside from the shallowness, and lack of player customization, it’s a fun mode. It’s nice for your budding young superstar not to get penalized for things that are out of your control. This mode is simple and to the point, and offers a certain level of fun depending on your expectations, but it still feels like a mode that needs to be fleshed out.
For most offline gamers, the heart and soul of NBA Live 15 is Dynasty, as it gives the user the chance to guide any team through the course of over 30 years, and lets you makes make the most important decisions as the owner, GM, and coach. Want to make a trade to get younger? Do it. Need to sign an impact player to push your team over the edge? Do it. Want to trade a big contract for an aging veteran and some draft picks? Do it. But understand every move you make has its positives and negatives.
While Dynasty has all the essentials, don’t expect any extras. The presentation and layout is simplistic, and takes a no-frills approach. Although EA promised they would work on the sim engine this year, there are still problems with the simulated stats. If you’re a stickler for realism, this mode may provide you a few “huh” moments. Overall, though, Dynasty will give most users exactly what they are looking for.
Rising Star mode in Live 15 is exactly what one would expect it to be. You create a player, participate in the Jordan Take Flight Showcase game, and hope for the best in the NBA Draft. Once drafted, you are thrown right into the season and it plays out like you were playing a standard dynasty mode game. This mode does offer the ability to upgrade your player by accomplishing goals in game. But that's about it.
Aside from the shallowness, and lack of player customization, it’s a fun mode. It’s nice for your budding young superstar not to get penalized for things that are out of your control. This mode is simple and to the point, and offers a certain level of fun depending on your expectations, but it still feels like a mode that needs to be fleshed out.
Just as Dynasty is designed for the offline single player, Head2head mode was created with the online community in mind. Sadly it’s rather shallow, in the fact that it only offers three ways to play. You have your standard quick match.There's a season mode, which is just 10 games, but offers a "promotion" if you accomplish specific goals. Then there's the best-of-seven series you can play against friends. The one positive we can say about NBA Live 15's online modes is that the servers were stable and provided little to no lag in our experience.
Other Modes
NBA Rewind is intriguing in the fact that it gives the user a chance to play along with their favorite team as the real-life season progresses. For instance, if you’re a Bulls fan, you can jump on and replay the season opener against the Knicks, where your goal is to win the game. It’s not a deep mode, but is fun, and has a global leader board to gauge how well you are doing against the rest of the community.
Very similar to the NBA Rewind mode, Big Moments gives the user the chance to recreate an important sequence during a given NBA game that has taken place, and puts destiny in your hands. Some moments are real, some are fictitious situations such as beating the Spurs in Game 1 of last year’s NBA Finals without LeBron James in your lineup.
NBA Rewind is intriguing in the fact that it gives the user a chance to play along with their favorite team as the real-life season progresses. For instance, if you’re a Bulls fan, you can jump on and replay the season opener against the Knicks, where your goal is to win the game. It’s not a deep mode, but is fun, and has a global leader board to gauge how well you are doing against the rest of the community.
Very similar to the NBA Rewind mode, Big Moments gives the user the chance to recreate an important sequence during a given NBA game that has taken place, and puts destiny in your hands. Some moments are real, some are fictitious situations such as beating the Spurs in Game 1 of last year’s NBA Finals without LeBron James in your lineup.
Live Ultimate Team(LUT)
If you’re familiar with other Ultimate Team modes in FIFA, Madden, or NHL, than you will feel right at home. The game starts you out with a mid-level group of NBA players, and places you in head-to-head games, human vs. CPU games, or community challenges, all with the ability to earn more cards. The mode also allows one to customize your team names, Jerseys, logos, and even your venue.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a seasoned simulation of the NBA game, Live 15 may not be the best option on the market for you. If you’re OK with a fun game that mimics the NBA game, than NBA Live 15 could be the right choice for you. Even the developers have eluded to the fact that this year’s iteration is not a finished product or necessarily reflective of their vision -- it’s not. But there’s an awful lot to enjoy about NBA Live 15. It just comes at a price.
Visuals – NBA Live ‘15 is drastic jump from ’14, and more than holds its own compared to other current next-gen games. There are still issues with some player likenesses, but the majority of them look good, with some looking outstanding. The arenas are unique, vibrant and alive, and take a backseat to nobody.
Audio – The crowd sounds are electric and timely, but the commentary needs some work. After a few games we found ourselves tuning them out, rather than them adding to the overall experience. The on-court action sounds authentic, but you may have to adjust a few audio settings to actually hear them.
Controls – Simply put, the Live control scheme and button responsiveness is implemented really well this year. It will take some time for people to adjust to using both analog sticks, but EA has included a tutorial for just that.
Online – NBA Live is quite shallow when it comes to Online modes. You will find no online team play, online leagues, or online Franchises. The one good aspect of NBA Live online is the server stability, as we had no issues connecting in the time we spent with it.
Score: 5.5 (Average)
If you’re familiar with other Ultimate Team modes in FIFA, Madden, or NHL, than you will feel right at home. The game starts you out with a mid-level group of NBA players, and places you in head-to-head games, human vs. CPU games, or community challenges, all with the ability to earn more cards. The mode also allows one to customize your team names, Jerseys, logos, and even your venue.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a seasoned simulation of the NBA game, Live 15 may not be the best option on the market for you. If you’re OK with a fun game that mimics the NBA game, than NBA Live 15 could be the right choice for you. Even the developers have eluded to the fact that this year’s iteration is not a finished product or necessarily reflective of their vision -- it’s not. But there’s an awful lot to enjoy about NBA Live 15. It just comes at a price.
Visuals – NBA Live ‘15 is drastic jump from ’14, and more than holds its own compared to other current next-gen games. There are still issues with some player likenesses, but the majority of them look good, with some looking outstanding. The arenas are unique, vibrant and alive, and take a backseat to nobody.
Audio – The crowd sounds are electric and timely, but the commentary needs some work. After a few games we found ourselves tuning them out, rather than them adding to the overall experience. The on-court action sounds authentic, but you may have to adjust a few audio settings to actually hear them.
Controls – Simply put, the Live control scheme and button responsiveness is implemented really well this year. It will take some time for people to adjust to using both analog sticks, but EA has included a tutorial for just that.
Online – NBA Live is quite shallow when it comes to Online modes. You will find no online team play, online leagues, or online Franchises. The one good aspect of NBA Live online is the server stability, as we had no issues connecting in the time we spent with it.
Score: 5.5 (Average)
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