The best sports game of the year is here - and it's not "Fifa 19"
19.9.2018
Translation: machine translated
The FIFA series is dead. Long live "NBA 2K19"! I'll explain why the basketball simulation is the best sports game of the year - despite microtransactions.
The developers at 2K have been sitting on the basketball throne for years. And they know it. The attention to detail sometimes takes on absurd forms. The sound design team travelled to every stadium and recorded the authentic bouncing noises on the respective floor and even the sounds of the net when a "swoosh" is made (when the ball lands directly in the basket). This almost borders on arrogance, as fellow competitor EA has been struggling with problems with its basketball simulation "NBA Live" for years.
Presentation: Only television is better
There's no denying it: no sport in a game is presented as authentically as basketball in "NBA 2K". It starts with the expert panel of Ernie Johnson, Greg Anthony and Shaquille O'Neal, who present the upcoming game in a witty and charming way. Afterwards, the home team's run-in gives you goosebumps. During the game, the commentators are joined by sideline reporters, there are interviews with players during the breaks and, since last year, there have even been guest commentators. So I was completely surprised when Kevin Garnett suddenly gave his take on the game during the first game with my favourite team, the Timberwolves. I know that many people don't care about an authentic presentation, they just want to play. For me, however, the atmosphere only really gets going when the surroundings are right. When the "Assist of the Game" is shown in the fourth quarter. Or when the spectators cheer loudly for the defence and you see them clapping their hands rhythmically. Fifa and co. can take a leaf out of their book here.
Graphic: Finished clipping
Graphically, there is little new this year: the players look very similar to their real-life counterparts, but the engine still seems to be getting a bit long in the tooth. The biggest improvement compared to last year is that the player models are less likely to get tangled up in each other. The so-called clipping has been largely eliminated.
New animations have been added that make the game look livelier. You can see from the animation alone that Steph Curry has just thrown the three-pointer. The stars and their signature moves are all represented. As the player models are only shown in close-up in the cutscenes anyway, I can overlook the somewhat tepid graphics. The further optimised animations, on the other hand, are really fun and have an effect on your whole game. Blocks finally look really powerful and not random, players no longer catch the ball so often from impossible situations and when the ball is lying around free, players bend down realistically and don't just beam the ball into their hands. Here, "2K" has definitely taken a step forward, which has a noticeable effect on the gameplay.
Gameplay: Hot or not?
The defence has learned a lot in "NBA 2K19". Gone are the days when you simply blew past defenders with a mediocre, fast player. The defence stands firm and you can't avoid tactical moves. You have to make blocks and thus free up players (pick and roll), otherwise you will always run into a wall of defenders. Shots from impossible or poorly covered positions rarely end up in the basket. However, as soon as you have an opportunity to shoot, you have to capitalise on it.
Little has changed in terms of the controls: You use the right stick to dribble and shoot, there are three types of pass and the option to initiate a shot using a button. Another useful feature this year is that the shot indicator is always displayed. This solves a major criticism of last year's version: The shot display was hidden under the basket, which often led to simple basket shots being missed.
Of course, "NBA 2K19" once again offers you the usual tactical depth and an almost unmanageable number of moves and tactical options. If you want, you can influence the behaviour of your field players down to the smallest detail and change your move during the game from a "Fist 12 Pop" to a "Quick 2 Carolina Leak" (even if I don't know in the slightest what the moves do).
The "Takeover" system is brand new. If a player is hot, you can activate a boost for that player. He then virtually takes over the game and his strengths become even stronger. But be careful: a poor shooter cannot suddenly sink three after three or a small player cannot suddenly dunk. On the other hand, a player can also be undercooled if he makes too many mistakes and then doesn't get anything done. Do you try to set the scene for the undercooled player and help him out of his hole? Or do you give the slightly worse bench player a chance? The decision is entirely up to you.
Game modes: Can't see the wood for the trees
Two story modes, a casual freestyle mode, a trading card game, two season modes... everything your heart desires is represented. This year, I'm particularly excited about the story mode. For almost 10 years, "2K" has offered the opportunity to live through a story as an individual player. Even the director Spike Lee was once responsible for the necessary drama. So far, none of these story modes have grabbed me. This year is different: you start at the bottom. Instead of being selected by an NBA team in the draft, the protagonist first has to earn his spurs in the Chinese league.
The "From dishwasher to millionaire" story is not really profound, but it doesn't have to be. A bit of drama, a bit of comedy, that's enough for me. Off the pitch, you make decisions that have more or less influence on the further course of the story and slowly but surely play your way up into the best league in the world. Soap opera instead of Shakespeare. But that's exactly what a sports game needs. If you want to compete as a team, then the manager mode "MyGM" is your thing. This also has an optional story. Unfortunately, the dialogues there are not set to music and you have to read through what feels like a million text boxes, which is why I was happy to do without it.
Season mode: I can do everything better
For the first time, you can lead your team to glory and honour in two other season modes: In "MyGM" mode without a story, you have to deal with the concerns of team owners and players, keep the finances under control, hire and fire various employees, scout and trade players and just do everything a team manager does. Because your players always feel at a disadvantage, you could also call it a "nursery manager simulator". That's why I prefer to concentrate on "MyLeague". The role-playing element is absent there. You can also customise the conditions of the season down to the last detail. How long does the season last? Which teams are playing? How long do the playoff series last? Is there a salary cap?
I've always been passionate about guiding my team through several seasons and doing everything better than the real managers and coaches, and this is where the "2K NBA" series really scores. And because you can download player databases from other "2K" users in the game itself, the game can be easily customised. Someone is bound to have faithfully captured the teams from the 97/98 season. So why not start there?
That's the strength of "2K": total control over all aspects of the game. It goes deep into the gameplay. You can adjust every conceivable detail using the slider. The computer opponents don't commit enough fouls? No problem, turn the slider up a little. You get an unrealistically high number of rebounds? Turn the slider down. Every detail can be customised and there are hundreds of suggested settings on internet forums. A dream for individualists and tactics tinkerers. Bravo "2K"! But here it comes, the scolding.
Welcome to microtransaction hell
"2K" seems to be resistant to criticism. Last year, "NBA 2K" was penalised by the trade press with poor review scores due to the completely insane microtransaction system. Nothing has changed. The virtual card game "MyTeam" in particular sucks money out of your pocket. The most expensive virtual card packs cost over 20 francs. You don't get drugs for free, no: you get a handful of virtual basketball players. Without investing money, you're actually always playing second fiddle in this mode. Of course, you can also unlock the virtual currency. But that takes ages. If you want to equip your "MyTeam" with LeBron James, Steph Curry and James Harden, you either have to be unemployed and game 12 hours a day. Or you have to pull out your credit card. But because I have a job and never have any money, I don't use this mode at all. So I haven't tested it either. If you like throwing money down the drain, go ahead and play "MyTeam". But don't say I didn't warn you
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Finally, there is another park where you can let off steam with your "MyCareer" player. The park serves as a lobby, you play for fame and honour on streetball courts and buy your character clothes and means of transport. You can also make your player stronger in this mode with microtransactions. Which is almost a must. To achieve the best score of 99, the same applies as in "MyTeam". Either RAV or credit card. I also leave this mode to the left.
Conclusion: Sometimes more is more
With a variety of modes, setting options down to the last detail and optimised artificial intelligence in defence, "NBA 2K19" shows who's the boss on the court. The story mode is great fun this year, the presentation is top-notch as usual and the atmosphere is unbeatable. Because I can confidently do without "MyTeam" and the park, "NBA 2K19" is the best sports game of this generation. If "2K" would now sort out their ghetto with the microtransactions, we would have the perfect sports game. But that still leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
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