NBA2K16: PS4 Review

NBA2K16: PS4 Review

Released by 2K Games
Platform: PS4

It's back to the court of gaming opinion we go for the latest iteration of the NBA series.

The 2016 version of the game sees Spike Lee stepping onto the court for the game and giving it more of a narrative feel for the gamer as they begin their journey in high school, through college and then into the drafts before the next stage.

The sports sim is very much a game of two halves with sports fans likely to lap it up without question. But as ever, with these games, while there's a rabid fan base for the title, it's always got to hit mass appeal to get a longer life.

With over 10000 animations added into the engine, this is not a game that holds back by any stretch of the imagination. With additional rim and ball physics, an emphasis more on collisions and a slightly better AI, NBA2K 16 is clearly upping its considerable ante.

The addition of the Spike Lee storyline Living Da Dream may not be a newer edge (these story elements have been incorporated before) but it's certainly a little darker than perhaps you'd expect.

But at the end of the day, NBA2K16 is still all about the balling action.

The 5 on 5 player action impresses, even if you do need to ensure the computer added people on your team are in the right place at the right time. It's also a game that requires a level of strategy as well - you can't simply pass and hope, and so in that way, it's got the fundamentals right.

Elsewhere, the graphics impress with players looking mightily like their human counterparts and it's almost off-putting. What is slightly off-putting and a little daunting is how much the controls have changed and you will have to spend a bit of time getting used to these, but when it all plays and pays off, it's worth it.

Not entirely a slam dunk, NBA2K16 remains a good strong sports sim proposition. It's a shame that even with the addition of custom built leagues and online gaming it still feels like it doesn't quite have mass appeal, but if you're willing to put the time and effort in, it's a game that rewards.