NBA 2K15 is closer than you think (unless you don’t know what year it is), which means it’s time to get serious about what this year’s edition contains, and whether or not you want in. 2K15 is clearly the first NBA 2K entry to devote extra-special attention to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and considering that those consoles aren’t exactly swimming in scores of fantastic titles just yet, it’s going to be tough to go wrong with some next-gen NBA action. Plus, Shaq is commentating. What more do you want?
NBA 2K15 brings a surprising number of neat additions to the floor, be it Kinect-powered facial scanning, MyTEAM mode for assembling greats like Jordan and Bird on the same team, or just your standard exhibition matches with friends, translated to glorious 1080p on next-generation hardware. There’s more to the story (games held at local, non-NBA courts are a particularly clever idea), but you can see for yourself in the gallery below.
Related: A Look at NBA 2K15’s MyTEAM
NBA 2K15 is releasing on PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC on October 7th, so read up and choose wisely sometime before then. What, you’ve already forgotten? NBA Live is back this year. First world problems.
NBA 2K15 - Everything You Need to Know
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NBA2K TV is here
No, this isn’t an interactive replay system, nor is it some sort of highlight reel; it’s an actual in-game TV program that players can watch, that will be updated each and every week. In other words, you can watch TV within your TV.
Each episode of NBA2K TV will be about 15 minutes, and though highlights do play a part, they will only via the capture features of PS4 and Xbox One. Otherwise, there will be news, player interviews, and general 2K info to keep players in the loop, with content trickling out regularly as new episodes are released. It’s no killer app, but certainly a fun diversion for those who intend to buy the game either way.
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Face scanning on PS4 and Xbox One is greatly improved
Facial importing has been an achilles heel of sports games since it first appeared in early PC titles in the 90s, but with Kinect and PlayStation Camera capabilities on hand, the whole experience is looking a lot more seamless. For one, your face no longer looks like it was photocopied and smudged onto a 3D model with MS Paint. That’s all I ever really wanted in the first place.
What you’ll have to do in exchange is hold the camera in front of you while slowly (and awkwardly) turning your head back and forth, but it seems a small price to pay. I’m not yet sure if an accurate representation of myself in-game is going to excite or scare me, but I plan to at least try it.
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Pharrell Williams hand-picked the soundtrack
This news will illicit high fives or screams depending on who you ask, but like it or not, Pharrell Williams himself chose this year’s jams for NBA 2K. I’ll have to scan a picture of his face sometime, hat and all.
As far as I know Williams didn’t shoehorn “Happy” into the mix, but he has conjured up what is likely the most eclectic sports game soundtrack to date (well, maybe aside from the SSX series). You’ll find everything from A Tribe Called Quest to Death From Above 1979 here, so prepare for an interesting listening experience.
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Ernie Johnson and Shaq put the comedy in commentating
I’ve always found real life commentators in games to be a bit grating, which is why I think taking a comedic approach is a fantastic idea. I doubt there’s anyone more comedic than Shaquille O’neal when it comes to former NBA stars, so the choice seems absolutely fitting.
Ernie Johnson stands by as well, just like in the TBS show, so thankfully there’s a straight man to counter Shaq’s madness. I look forward to hearing just how many gags and wisecracks the 2K team have managed to squeeze in. Perhaps we’ll even see a little bit of Gold Bond action to spice things up.
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The next-gen enhancements are nothing to sneeze at
Aside from face scanning and NBA2K TV, next-gen editions of the game look to offer a sleeker and more realistic experience -- at least from a visual standpoint. Have you seen those beard graphics? Developer Visual Concepts is clearly not messing around.
Otherwise, screenshots tell the story when it comes to graphics comparisons, and both the enhanced faces and higher-poly models and backgrounds go a long way in bringing 2K15 in line with the power of newer consoles. Better yet, PS4 and Xbox One are still in that awkward “growing pains” stage where sports games can walk among the best-looking titles available, which means you’ll finally be able to justify that $400 box you bought last year.
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MyCAREER is “much like a Hollywood movie”
NBA 2K15’s MyCAREER mode looks particularly interesting, as it aims for an immersive single-player experience the likes of which hasn’t really been attempted in an NBA title. Not only does your Kinect-scan of yourself walk among other players in the game, but he actually progresses as an NBA player and interacts with coaches, trainers, and various characters.
I wouldn’t call it a full-on RPG, but MyCAREER goes so far as to offer dialogue trees and options for how your player ought to interact with others. It may seem odd to use a basketball engine for this sort of gameplay, but given how nice 2K15 looks on PS4 and Xbox One, it’s not something you’ll hear me complaining about.
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Jordan and other icons are back
The myTEAM mode is probably of the greatest interest to me, mainly because I love toying with retired players and “what if” scenarios. Not only is Michael Jordan returning, but so are a host of other NBA greats who can be used toward assembling the best team of all time. Of course, the members of that team will vary greatly depending on the player’s opinions.
The promotional trailer for myTEAM mode features Shaq narrating various hypotheticals of NBA seasons past, even speculating on what would have happened had he stayed in L.A. Though Shaq probably tries to avoid such wondering most of the time, the point is you can now try it out. It’s an undeniably intriguing prospect. I’d rather have Larry Bird alley-ooping to Dr. J myself, but maybe that’s just me.
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Battle for court supremacy with MyPARK
Perhaps the most creative mode in NBA 2K15 is MyPARK, a mode that gives created players a place to play online and compete for “rep,” which can then be used to gain supremacy over various street courts, gyms, and other non-traditional locales.
You can choose from three non-NBA teams (the Old Town Flyers, Rivet City Rough Riders, or Sunset Beach Ballers), and each has its own play style and reputation to be executed and maintained. The premise is clearly meant to evoke nostalgic feelings of old-time hoops-playing as a kid, and though it can seem slightly cheesy, at the very least the mode will make for a worthwhile distraction.
Teams can hit the “Jordan Rec Center” at any time to practice, or to play with NBA rules against other teams. Winning at a particular locale means “owning it,” allowing you to stay on the court for another game until you’re eventually defeated. I doubt I’ll own the Jordan Rec Center very often, but maybe there’s a chance I’ll secure Local Junkyard Court or Worn-Down Chain Link Hoop Behind The Middle School. That sounds more my speed.
