On the presentation side, there is an incredible in-studio feel to the pre- and post-game antics with Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. Games in other locales like parks feature onlookers yelling out screens, calling out players who are open, calling for the check ball and keeping users updated on the score of the pickup game. Something as silly as the squeak of sneakers on the hardwood and players calling out screens as they unfold is an important touch. Crowds in arenas look great, with individual fans moving around realistically and reacting to the action well.Īmbiance plays a big role in this immersion. But this is more about the surrounding pieces. The players themselves look great, down to the minutia like what leg a player happens to keep wrapped. Like the past few years, 2K19 offers an immersive experience regardless of venue thanks to a cohesive package. To be blunt, 2K Sports didn't have to do much in this area. It's a rewarding timesink to improve on the controller, which isn't something many games can say and a nice feather in the cap for a team tasked with dropping annual releases. Archetypes help each individual player feel like themselves and the more passionate the fan, the bigger advantage users will have in areas such as rebounding, stealing and the superb Takeover mechanics. Like the franchise itself, 2K's gameplay feels like the obvious culmination of the series' trajectory. LeBron going behind the backboard and switching hands midair is going to require a longer meter hold than a typical fast-break layup, and the game offers meter accuracy and how open a player was during the attempt in a helpful feedback section. It's hard to get the hang of at first, but it makes enough sense and works well once a user gets to know it. There is now a meter tied to the post game, including layups. These Takeover bonuses apply to a player's archetype, so a sharpshooter like Curry gets the obvious bonuses, as does a lockdown defender or slasher, and so on.Īt face value, one of the other prominent shake-ups users will notice is the shot meter. Once the meter is filled, a Stephen Curry takes over, draining his shots from deep and swinging the tide of a game. A natural evolution of 2K's hot-cold streaks and badge system, the Takeover meter fills as users help a certain player get on a roll through consistent smart contributions in all facets of the game. as well, mainly in how they navigate screens and rolls, making for a more cohesive experience.īut far and away more important than anything else in the gameplay department is the addition of the Takeover system. Painting in broad strokes, those same LeBron-esque users who notice the fine details will see the improvements to the A.I. Again, there is a stronger sense of balance, which longtime fans will respect. Lockdown defense isn't the one-stop solution for a user like it has been in past years. Still, this comes with a catch: pulling down a left trigger and hardly paying attention doesn't work anymore. This hasn't been overcorrected to place all the power in the hands of the defender it simply feels balanced-as it should. And when the sneakers are reversed, it finally feels like timing a steal attempt properly is rewarding. Players continue to realistically travel in the proper lanes before funneling out to the wings on a break, and rebounding feels more timing-based and makes sense regarding who is going up for what.īut some of the tweaking a year ago created imbalances, which 2K19 addresses. Fast breaks and rebounding received plenty of love and, to their credit, it feels even smoother this time out. LeBron doesn’t wear any team colors on his face.The 2K series had few glaring weaknesses in the gameplay department before this release.Ī year ago, the team at 2K Sports worked hard to refine common complaint areas. Rather than deal with that hassle or create a cache of jersey inserts customers could slide over James’ Cavs jersey, the company decided to avoid the problem altogether. That means James could be playing his upcoming season - the season featured in NBA 2K19 in the Sixers red, white, and blue, Lakers purple and gold, Bulls red and white, or some other enterprising team’s colors. ![]() Or, he can opt-out and become a free agent, where every team with $35-plus million in salary cap space will be waiting to woo him. ![]() He can opt in to a $35.6 million payday for the final season of a three-year deal signed with Cleveland in 2016 and try to bring his home region another NBA title. The future Hall of Famer will face a difficult choice this offseason. And you have to consider the latter option, because there’s a very real chance James leaves Ohio this summer. James is instantly recognizable by his face alone, and cropping out the rest of his body eliminates the need to show him in uniform, whether that’s a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey or someone else’s. Here’s the official NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition cover, featuring LeBron James.
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