I mentioned a while back that I tried NBA 2K15 on Xbox 360 and was superbly disappointed in the changes especially since it had been 2 years since the last installment that I had played - NBA 2K13. Once I got my little fingers on the Xbox One, I set out to give NBA 2K15 another shot. When the game launches, you are immediately thrown into character creation and the very first shot you see is a close up of your character's face. The Graphics certainly do not disappoint. I could see true edges of beard hairs, the light glistening off his buzzed head (which even looked just a smidge greasy), lightly bloodshot eyes – it looked good. Unfortunately, I had to go the cheap route with by Xbone and get it without the Kinect, so I couldn't do the automated character creation with its assistance. The amount of detail you can go into on creating a unique character is pretty amazing. My body IRL is sort of designed for basketball, but in a short figure, I've got long legs and really long arms (but a short torso); I could reflect each of these details in my 2K character. Even the symmetry of my face/head for crying out loud. Well done 2K.
I made my guy a point guard and jumped straight into MyCareer which too has a nice update with a whole new story, and not just one canned voice for your character...now there are two!
This installment of NBA 2K15 provides an exciting new underdog story. Your character starts out in his quaint little home apartment watching the 2014 NBA draft on his big flat screen TV. The commissioner announces the last selection and...it's not you! You go undrafted. Your agent comes over and makes fun of your apartment (calling it some kinda dump when in fact it's large, modern, and expensive looking). Anyway, he tells you that teams are still interested in giving you a shot to workout with the team. You get to pick from a list of ten, he flies you out, and you play a scrimmage with the big boys. I picked the Utah Jazz (since they've been my team for 26 years). I faired okay for a short scrimmage getting 6 points, an assist, and keeping my guy, Trey Burke, to just 4 points. I got the contract.
I won't go too much more into my personal play through, but I'll mention some of the silly quirks and details about the game and story.
As you play through the career mode, there's a player on the team that takes you under his wing. For me it was Trey Burke. Was it because I'm a point guard? Or is it because they paid the real Trey Burke to come in and voice the part? I plan to find the answer to this. I've only started one MyCareer mode, so I haven't been able to compare and contrast the differences of playing a different position on the same team or playing on a different team, etc. But again, you have some choice on how to handle your interactions with your new mentor. But it does feel a little rushed; it's kind of obvious which answer will keep you on good terms with your team.
Something I find a little weird is the coaching situation. I understand they didn't get all (any of?) the coaches to voice their parts, but there's some other random coach that does all the talking, while the real Jazz coach, Quin Snyder, still exists there in the background and in my directives. I find this too strange and think they should have just made my coach be a made-up coach. What do I care?
And since Trey Burke was the starter on the Jazz, and I was this new guy in an already crowded Jazz backcourt, Trey was the very guy I was looking to replace on the starting line-up, yet he's going to mentor me? Maybe this really happens, but I can't exactly see him being thrilled about me being there. And when I did (quickly) replace him on the starting line up, he was still my best friend. At least they make you look like the nicest guy alive Trey!
More to come...