This game is the best basketball game that I have played in years. The game has smooth animations and gameplay. It has a fun factor that NBA2k15 will never be able to repeat. The game is super smooth to play with controls being mapped to the controller brilliantly, unlike 2k. When I go to spin and side step someone I don't want to be dropping back for a fadeaway at half court. Thanks 2k for mapping shooting and skill moves to the right thumbstick. Just a brilliant idea. Wrong!!!!! Dumbest move ever. Live kept it simple you shoot with x/square, and you do you ankle breaking dance moves with the right thumbstick. Take notes 2k. Take notes.
Gr8 game it deservers a 10 for sure XD love it the best ever crushing 2K in every aspect live 15 is better than ever and 16 will put 2k out for good trust me XD
NBA LIVE 15 offers an arcade approach to the basketball game, but despite some nice graphics, it is still a quite average game that hasn't enough to offer to keep basketball fans hooked up. Better than the previous one, but EA Vancouver has still some work to do.
NBA Live 15 may not be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with its competition, but with much improved presentation and mechanics the series is trending in the right direction. The remaining gameplay issues and lack of mode depth, however, makes it tough to recommend this particular version.
Although NBA Live 15 looks significantly better than NBA Live 14 at a glance, it still suffers from clumsy controls and stiff animations. A few nice changes and additional game modes can’t make up for poor gameplay, but there are some great ideas here that just don’t get a chance to shine.
NBA Live has had a tough time escaping the shadow of NBA 2K—and that trend continues with NBA Live 15, which doesn’t deliver believable player movement, shooting, or gameplay flow. The “Big Moments” mode shows the potential that the series might be able to execute in the coming years, but right now, it’s like a .500 team trying to compete with a playoff juggernaut.
Please, if you read any negative reviews on this giving the game below a 6. Do not trust that reviewer.
I am a fan of 2k and Live. Live this year brings a good game. You can pick this game up and have fun, and enjoy mastering the controls for an even more happier experience. The only thing stopping me giving this game a 10 is that some animations come off slow to preform. Its not a bad thing (very minor). If you are not a fan of 2k or looking for a new experience this game will be a nice pick up. If you are a fanboy of 2k don't bash this game. You are not giving it, it's true value.
NBA LIVE 15 is significantly improved from NBA LIVE 14. As someone who enjoyed 14 (while recognizing it had room for improvement), I cannot go back to it after playing 15.
Most notably, visuals and animations move the game truly into 'next-gen' territory. A new Shot Feedback system and improved shot animations help make it very rewarding to hit open jumpers. Visually, the game is extremely sharp - you'll find yourself in replay mode watching player faces and capturing screenshots. The game added a vast number of new animations helping to make it look more realistic. As was the case with LIVE 10, game atmosphere and audio (crowd noise, chants, organ music, etc.) is top-notch.
The game contains the same core feature set as NBA LIVE 14, however all of them have received some sort of improvement. Ultimate Team now features an Auction House, Dynasty Mode has improved logic, shootaround mode now has a tutorial allowing users to learn the game, et al.
My biggest area of concern is CPU AI & logic (IE: running an offense, late game strategy, etc.). The feature set is solid, but the addition/return of Online Team Play & adidas Live Run (from Live 10) would have bumped the score into high 70s or 80s IMO. The game lacks a feature where multiple (online) users can hop on to compete, chat, and have a good time. Also, 'basic' animations (non-action) are still stiff at times.
In addition, a Photo GameFace feature for Rising Star would aid user immersion significantly.
If you are a long-time LIVE fan and/or enjoyed 14, I would recommend giving LIVE 15 a try.
NBA LIVE 15 is a game which ultimately proves difficult to evaluate for a host of reasons. Should it be evaluated compared to its predecessor, NBA LIVE 14, a game which was miraculous in that it even saw release to store shelves after EA SPORTS' hiatus from NBA titles since NBA LIVE 10? Should it be evaluated in direct comparison to its competition, NBA 2K15, the standard for NBA simulation gameplay which has built up a sterling reputation in recent years (server quality being a lone failing)? In truth, NBA LIVE 15 feels like a game that knows better than to attempt to step up against the reigning king, but this awareness does not extend to the retail MSRP, which suggests that it is an equal value to the competition. The reality of NBA LIVE 15 is that it is a competent "change of pace" game for those who want a different take from NBA 2K15 or for those players overwhelmed by that other title's hardcore simulation, but it is hard to argue that the title is worth full price this year.
GAMEPLAY
Depending on your background with basketball and NBA video games, NBA LIVE 15's on-court action will either engage you or leave you wanting more. As somebody who is not a basketball die-hard, the inclusion of a tutorial in this year's game from Day 1--something that NBA LIVE 14 was sorely lacking--helps the on-boarding process, though it's hard to overlook that it really only trains offensive gameplay and doesn't address defense. Offense feels competent enough--the right analog stick dribble moves are fairly user-friendly, even for novices--but the game seems content to reward three-point shooting over more complex play calling. On defense, steals seem overpowered in their effectiveness, while it can feel as though the offense has free reign when driving to the paint and especially in boxing out for rebounds when playing against the CPU AI. This year's game introduces shooting feedback to let the player know how successful they are at timing the release of a jump shot, and information under the player indicator helps provide instant feedback on whether the ball-handler is in a high-percentage scoring range and whether their shot will be contested. These help the gameplay experience, although it's still possible to score on sub-optimal releases that are contested just as much as it is to brick a shot with better release.
NBA LIVE 15 also introduces physical interactions in the paint, although at times it's hard to see these in action because there are visual glitches and animation interactions which don't appear to play by the rules of these new physics. Players can also warp around the court at times and the ball and limbs will pass through other players' body parts with enough frequency to disrupt the immersion and frustrate the experience. The game also uses on-court graphics to display play-call setups, but even in the game's "Rising Star" mode (the single-player career option), going to the circles still fails to trigger continued play-call instructions more often than not.
PRESENTATION
Visually, NBA LIVE 15 has benefited greatly from an extra year of work, with NBA players and especially the superstars looking more accurate in-game compared to their real-life counterparts. Players like LeBron James, who looked like rough approximations of their true selves in NBA LIVE 14, now come much closer thanks to EA SPORTS' dedication to advanced facial scanning technology. As mentioned in gameplay, however, players still tend to lack full physical tangibility, and the best scanning tech in the world can't compensate for players passing through each other and morphing into one another.
The ESPN NBA presentation package returns, though it is disappointing that this year's game also fails to organically present highlights of big-time plays as they happen. Pushing in the left analog stick after a play is the only reliable way to get in-game highlights, and these lack the style and visual pizzazz of a real-life NBA broadcast or the presentation found in competitor NBA 2K15. The NBA has a strong character and visual identity that does not show through NBA LIVE 15's broadcast package.
GAME MODES
Despite other shortcomings, NBA LIVE 15 has a well-stocked game mode suite, including its take on EA SPORTS' popular Ultimate Team mode as well as single-player and team Career options, the ability to play along with the current season, and the ability to re-live or re-write big moments from real-life. Despite the number of modes offered, however, their depth is still lacking in direct comparison to the competition.
OVERALL
NBA LIVE 15 is a fun game of basketball that has value and and appeal to a particular audience; in this way, it is an achievement to be celebrated compared to last year. However, it is still not on the same level as NBA 2K15 despite sharing a price point. If NBA LIVE 16 continues an upward trajectory, we may well see next year's game give full value; for now, waiting for a price drop is advised.
NBA Live 15 is yet ANOTHER bomb from EA. If you can't make good basketball games, just stick to your old FIFA formula! Live 14 was abismal. And the Ignite engine was broken and clumsy, the ball handling was weird and the dunks felt awful. Well, EA wanted to improve on 14, so they can beat the 2K franchise in basketball, which is a hard task, because 2k14 and 2k15 are excellent. Live 15 improves, but only 1.1% more. The graphics are the only thing that have improved, character models look sharper and are filled with great detailed, the environment around the players looks like Tiburon put a great amount of work into it. The amount of crowds increases, and surprisingly, it holds more packed punch in the detail layer than the 2k series. But all that doesn't matter when the game isn't good. The handling is still awkward, and the ball (while looks improved) doesn't go through the hoop, even when you have an excellent release. The modes are a huge ripoff of 2K, like CAREER, MANAGER, etc. And EA also copy one mode from THEIR own game series, the Ultimate Team mode is added from FIFA to NBA! And it works like ****. So, Live 15 is like 2K15, but watered down to every game mode as possible, add to that bad controls, and even worse, the difficulty. Even when you play well, you don't get rewarded, grinding for gear is tougher than ever (even tougher than that turd, Destiny!) and the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest is product placed with many companies to make extra profit. But we all know why EA ventures into all sports categories even when they **** at any, for the lies and the profit. But there is a cool feature, to jump into any game going on in any score and play from there. And 2K can borrow from only that part. But everything else, 2K, keep on doin whatcha gotta do, because EA has a long way to reach excellence.
Once again, EA fails to deliver a true basketball experience. While 2K is the better option this year, 2K has its share of flaws as well. Maybe one day gamers will see a good basketball game on console. Until then though, we can all dream of 1995 when basketball games on consoles were fun and engaging.
SummaryLIVE Seasons mode is back this year with new content updated daily, all season long. New Hot Spot Challenges within BIG Moments task players with replicating game-defining moments from real-world NBA games as closely as possible, while NBA Rewind lets you replay entire contests, jumping in and out whenever you like. Replicate (or stop) a...