Whether you agree with them or not, NBA Live offers the same experience as Overwatch. You can take your player online in Live Events, with new challenges popping up all the time, and by winning you’ll not only earn XP, but you’ll also get some loot boxes. These are the most interesting thing about it, but the story itself takes a back seat to your journey to the NBA anyway. In the story mode, you play at a multitude of famous street courts such as Rucker Park, and as you do you learn more about your back story through actual recordings of ESPN’s First Take done especially for your created character, featuring Stephen A. You play everywhere, levelling up and playing both on your own and online, always staying connected to the game. He’s about as big as it gets, and hearing him in Live isn’t as wooden or as weak as other sports stars that have come before (I’m looking at you Rory McIlroy).ĮA’s The One is by far the best thing about the game, having you create a character and take him from the streets to the NBA, and back to the streets. James Harden is a 4-time NBA All-Star, and has a great season ahead of him at Houston, especially with the acquisition of Chris Paul. When it comes to cover stars, EA hasn’t only got one of, if not the best point guard in the NBA to be a part of it, they’ve also got him to take an active role in doing voiceover in the story mode. Generally, NBA Live 18 is much more forgiving than 2K18, but it’s nowhere near as advanced or as balanced, and it never feels like it pays as much attention to individual player’s stats. It’s great, and it also gives you more control over your defence. Holding L2 has you planting your guard when marking a player, and if you’re faced with a player dribbling towards you, moving to the left or right to try and stop movement at the right time has a green arrow pop up underneath the player, and an opportunity to steal the ball presents itself. Where NBA Live 18 shines is on the defence. It’s rather satisfying moving the ball as crossovers are natural and easy to do. Dribbling is basic – which isn’t a complaint. As for moving the ball around, I found the AI of my team unable to adapt to the opposition’s style of defence, and there was rarely a lot of movement on the court. I lost count of times I had Paul George dunk on the opposition, often thanks to a Melo assist (it’s good to know current trades are accounted for, as Carmelo Anthony was with OKC as soon as the deal was finalised). Dunking and getting to the basket is much easier too. You can put up a jumper whilst being guarded and score if the stats are willing. There’re not as many variables to factor in whilst shooting, or rather the game doesn’t punish you for getting your location and stance slightly wrong. The game is much more streamlined, and many of the core mechanics are easier to get used to that 2K, such as the shooting and defending. Saying that, if these are the new foundations of a potential yearly release for NBA Live, and EA Sports are serious about keeping to that schedule, I’m in. Facial animations can be a bit wooden, and don’t have as much definition or individuality that NBA 2K18 has, and the commentary isn’t as reactive or informative either, often repeating weak links in your performance. NBA Live 18 is a vast improvement on its predecessor, but outside of EA’s take on a story mode and Ultimate Team, there’s very little to get excited about.
NBA LIVE 18 XBOX 360 SERIES
I played the demo a lot, and liked what I saw, but there were concerns, and with the monumental 2K series sat firmly atop the division, it was going to be a challenge for NBA Live to even challenge for the throne.
This was the flagship basketball series – the one I’d obsess over as a teenager, and the one I spent hours playing when I was younger. Unfortunately, I was left without the news I craved, however, when Kendrick Lamar’s DNA kicked in, and the trailer for NBA Live 18 went off, I couldn’t have been happier. When E3 rolled along, and EA took to the stage to announce their releases over the next few years, I was kind of hoping for a new Fight Night.
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