For years, 2K Sports dominates the scene, as regards the simulation’s basketball. The series Live by EA Sports, despite some signs of return shown in the recent times. It now seems out of the game. 2K reigns supreme and deserves this title because, despite the absence of real rivals, has been able to improve year after year. Without changing, but always trying solutions of impact, so the plant boundary, as the actual proof of floors.
The Game: The Revolution of 2014
This year, everything revolves around LeBron James, what currently appears to be the most dominant player in the entire NBA landscape. The Chosen One not only towers over all the official pictures of the game also has a real mode dedicated to him in NBA 2K14. In short: the best call the best
No escape for the player Sunday, which will try to win games with only improbable penetrations or impromptu shots in suspension. To play at a high level for the title of Visual Concepts, is required meticulous care and dedication very deep. The defenses should be met with caution, and should be studied – after having taken knowledge of their weak points – must be punished not just lend his side.
This, as usual, leads the simulator to have a pretty steep learning curve: NBA 2K14 takes time to be understood, mastered and appreciated, but it pays off with both hands the user who devotes himself: a few sports titles fail to capture with as much precision and entertaining spectacle that simulated real discipline. The great virtue of its 2K14 is the delicate balance between maintaining knows that rigorous simulation and fun game.
The big news of 2014 is represented by the modifier to assist. In essence, holding down the left trigger, we can act on the right stick to assist in depth, no-look and rapid changes in the face, triggering a devastating counterattack.
It is an all-new feature for the series of Visual Concepts, which in the past had always been rather stingy in effectively managing the game of remittance. On balance, the modifier for assists is fun and effective, without being dominant over other components of the game: use it haphazardly and soon you will be punished by painful interceptions.
The most negative side of this new power is represented by the presence of too many moves on the right stick: said of the assist using the stick in conjunction with the left trigger, it remains to mention the short stick and through the system of fake IsoMotion.
Last year, pressing the trigger while you were using the right stick, you executed the fake. Today (stick with LT/L2 engaged in a system assists), to feint, it is NOT necessary to press the stick to the bottom, because using higher intensity, you enter the firing mode.
As you can imagine, the situation is somewhat chaotic, with slightly insistent attempts to pretend that turn into unwanted shots. Surely, the practice will prove to be a panacea, but the error is always around the corner. Because, let’s face it, the moves to do to make various feints are certainly not simple or intuitive. Once again, therefore, the training is the only way to success.
Everything is under control
For the rest, the game behaves properly: the system of shooting with the stick is very effective – devastating under the basket – and the key Y / triangle allows you to enter / exit the post position, back to the basket, allowing once that the player has entered posture, complete remapping of controls, consistent with the new position in your field; schemes and games are called always with good facilities, although the reactivity of the players, in their execution, it is not always perfect.
Substantial improvements to the defensive phase, where it will be much more manageable one on one, especially when and if we decide to mark an opponent not holding the ball.
Until last year on the one hand, it was very complex cuts and follow the movements of the players who were trying to distance itself, and secondly to entrust IA picketing the heart of the area was almost always a suicidal move.
Today, things have evolved: the AI gets the job done, especially with regard to the trouble shots and rebounds (although, it must be said, make a little too many foul), while the players in marking, if controlled by the user are no longer sacrificial victims, at the mercy of the cuts made by the opponents, who – finally – you cannot credibly be pasted in along time.
Honorable mention, finally, for the blocks: damn more physical, are a very effective tool and finally well controlled. On the contrary: it is a little air defense throughout the game to give the feeling of greater realism and more importantly, greater control by the user.
Right, then, have reduced the infallibility of the CPU, now, can lose balls in the wrong way, even if the user is not produced in high school defensive numbers, or can be slipped by rapid counter-attacks (such as those that usually, scored).
The presentation of NBA 2K14, as was to be expected, it is magnificent: the appearances of NBA athletes are reproduced with exceptional care, bordering on obsession to detail when it comes to clothing more famous.
Of note, the decision to include very welcome, selectable between the teams, 14 European teams that, rather guiltily not have a contour similar to that realization in each of the NBA teams (what the heck are just 14 and locate a bit could not be a better job so exaggerated), but are still well represented in their stars and their trends.
In general, it is the lighter component rappers that characterized the last chapter of the saga, from the point of view of audio-video (the result of collaboration with Jay Z). In this way, no matter how minimal the menu with graphics remains dear to the world of a hip-hop during the games has returned to more stringent and overlays like from TV.
As usual, the impact of arenas graphic and sound is simply breathtaking: the hall’s year after year, have been enriched with spectacular and realistic details that make each game of NBA 2K14 almost total immersion in the world.
The most striking element, this year is represented by the fluidity of the animations of the players in the field: I have never been so lifelike and accurate. And not just in the NBA: in any sports game!
What do we play?
The game modes available in 2014 will not make a miracle (perhaps one of the few members of this title do not!). Basically, all the features are proposed managerial-management of Association, together with the management of their virtual alter-ego to enter into the world of professional basketball.
Lost the Dream Team Mode makes its entrance – as anticipated – the mode that allows you to accompany LeBron James on the way to greatness. Now, given that the character in question is not really a monster of sympathy (despite its undeniable quality sports), it must be said as an attempt to replicate the adrenaline of the Jordan Challenge mode has not been entirely successful.
In retrace the major events of MJ’s career revived – in an active way – authentic chapters in the history of basketball. This year with LBJ the story has to be written, in practice we have to manage and decide the future of the main star of today’s NBA.
We will build a dynasty in Miami memorable? Taste the taste (and millions) of a new free-agency? We’ll move to the Lakers to become the brightest star in the entire world of professional sports, or in complete contrast to what appears to be LBJ, decide to roll up our sleeves, choosing to revolutionize the history of a team of second floor (sensational return to Cavs!)?
The whole thing can be tempting. You cannot deny. But it lacks the epic quality of the Jordan Challenge and LBJ if there is really nice … well, how will close almost immediately, as it represents a continuous hymn to the deeds and the power of the Chosen One.
Conclusions
NBA 2K14 still dominates unchallenged. Serving as a reference not only for basketball simulators, but also for any sports title. Also this year, Visual Concepts has introduced a new real impact in terms of playability.
In particular, it stands out the revolution of the right stick (more dorsal left) deputy to assist. This addition, while it complicates a little things for the execution of feints and throws the stick, on the other hand, allows us to have a powerful weapon that, if well managed, will allow us to pierce any defense.
Also notable is the recalibration of AI, such as attacking an ally. Defensively, as a bit too prone to foul, our comrades will finally be of real help while our opponents will not reveal more points machine, because – rightly – they too can make mistakes and inaccuracies.
This is not to say that NBA 2K14 will become easier to master or dominate over its predecessors: the basket of Visual Concepts is the usual exact science to learn about every facet to be truly understood and played with class.
In this sense, if you will, is the main historical landmark of this extraordinary series: there is no real tutorial worthy of the name, in a clear and functional, you teach beginners the basics of basketball Visual Concepts and sailed to the player, the novelty of the new season.
In any case, we are at the top of the genre and of the entire sector. Nba 2k14 is now available in sizes PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but it will also be a launch title for the Xbox One for PlayStation 4.
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