“2K14” proves mediocre

By Oliver Gable
Staff Writer

Although “NBA 2K14” has potential, it falls just short of being a slam dunk.

Despite “NBA 2K14’s” lack of in-game variety and increasingly confusing controls, the game overcomes these flaws with crisp and clear graphics, combined with smooth gameplay and improved in-play options.

In “NBA 2K14,” the game’s developer, Visual Concepts, continues the refined basketball gameplay of the 2K series, bringing an updated 2014 roster of the upcoming National Basketball Association season.

The graphics in “NBA 2K14” are much improved over prior installments. The crisp textures and life-like appearance of current NBA players makes it one of the most realistic looking video games to date.

This year’s edition offers better defensive options as well. Well-timed reach-ins result in knocked-away balls more often than fouls, a welcomed improvement over past games. The ability to block shots as a trailing defender engages the player by ensuring the constant threat of every defensive player.

Passing between players is also extremely smooth, with fewer situations resulting in stolen balls or offensive turnovers. A new play-calling system is another improvement, giving players total control over their whole team at the push of a button, instead of a distracting in-game menu.

Yet, it is the abscence of past game modes, like Jordan challenge, that allowed players to live out the career of Hall-of-Famer Michael Jordan that hinder the success of the game. With only the addition of the Path to Greatness mode that lets players live out Lebron James’s career, there is less variety of gameplay options in this game than in previous installments.

Learning the offensive controls for the game is frustrating due to the introduction of new shooting and passing mechanics.

Although “NBA 2K14” does not quite reach the precedent of outstanding basketball games of its predecessors, its redeeming qualities make it a purchase-worthy game.

“NBA 2K14” was released on Oct. 1, is rated E and is available for $60 on Xbox 360 and PS3.