by Phreak50 on Sat Oct 03, 2015 10:12 am
+ Player models (the majority they got right) on a new level for videogame standards
+ Shooting feels very fun, quick and responsive and as good as it's been for a long time (not Live 10 standard though)
+ Sliders and they seem to work
+ Quicker loading, more responsive menus
+ Pro Am is a great addition, very addictive, lots of fun, mixes up the gameplay more than I expected
+ Though toned down, the ragdoll physics are still impressive and create unique, seemingly automated contact animations, bumps on drives, falling into a player while landing from a jumper etc
+ Some great passing animations, much more responsive than last year and the touch on passing works well
+ The hand off animations look great, are unique to basketball videogames and work well to create space and movement
+ Authentic plays, lots of convincing off the ball movement, now getting open rewards you
+ Great player to court size ratio, great floor spacing (probably as good as any bball has achieved)
+ The courts, the stadium lighting, the audio and atmosphere are second to none
+ Probably the best pick and roll control and fun I've had in a bball game. Lots of options, easy to execute
- 99% of the commentary is the same as 15
- Too many players remain unscanned and look like dolls amongst the amazing photo realistic one's
- The ball physics have taken a huge downgrade. Gone are most of the flawless animations for dribbling and suddenly we have gone back in time with a bunch of yo-yo and rubber band dribbles
- Way too many silly/funky animations that make you cringe (hook shots, no look layups, two handed under/scoops, ugly automated behind the back dribbling)
- The great looking and easy to control size-ups from 15 have been removed
- The step backs from post ups from 15 have been removed
- No post moves (other than a drop step, spin and hook that's it)
- Again, we've gone back pre Live 10 in terms of jumpshot animations. Back then we used to have unique animations for fade left, fade right, fade back, runner/momentum forward - how has all of this been removed from 14, 15, 16?
- No player editing; for example Joe Ingles in game is a right handed power forward (irl he is a lefty guard/forward), Allen Iverson (and other current players) needs a different jumpshot animation allocated
- Still no manual roster editing, so yes if your favourite player goes down for the season you've just spent your money on a game that locks him away while injured
- 2 patches in and the patch notes still read 'minor bug fixes' on your system. If we pay for a game we deserve to know what changes you are making to it
Very playable, very quick and intuitive to get into and a free flowing, unscripted and 'loose' style of basketball videogame that won't get rave reviews but will probably have it's best sales in 3 years and start to change some people's minds about the type of feel of gameplay they prefer. Lots of work to be done and I don't think it's unfair or feeling entitled to expect some big changes in 16 via patches. EA Sports not only owe their fans (like myself and many others) who have bought the game for 3 years straight now, but also to themselves to make 16 the best it can be. Don't wait till 17 for new face scans, make some progress of removing and replacing some of those funky animations now and add the size ups and step back post jumpers back in.