NBA Live 14 Hands-On Accounts from Around the Web

[RaychelSnr]

It's the day after a huge amount of hands-on impressions of EA's first basketball game in three years have hit the web. Here's some of the highlights:

From Destructoid:

"I didn't have enough hands-on time to sufficiently weigh NBA Live 14, particularly against its fabulous counterpart, NBA 2k 14, but Live feels a heck of a lot better than it ever did. The next console generation has greatly opened up ball physics, firm footwork. The ability to chain moves while dribbling (star players have signature moves) without ever being stuck in an animation isn't a stunning leap, but it feels a lot better than past iterations in the franchise."

TechRadar had much to say on the game's ability to stay updated constantly:

""So if there's a guy who's really shooting the ball really well in the real world, you can see him evolve throughout the course of your game," O'Brien explained."

The folks at DigitalTrends seemed to indicate the game was far from great but somewhat solid:

"It’s easy to predict disaster for NBA Live 14 if you’re looking at what’s happened in the past as an indicator. The truth is, the game feels like a solid EA Sports production. It definitely needs to grow and evolve, and those looking for deep-dive features like designing your own sneakers and online seasons must turn elsewhere. But there’s a strong foundation here, built on gameplay that is simple and intuitive, even if you’re a basketball neophyte."

IGN seems intrigued by pieces of the game, by never goes on to say the game will actually be good or not:

"In a way, it’s as if EA tanked the last couple years for the draft picks, and now they have to spend the next few years assembling it into a contender. At the very least, it’ll be good to have a little competition again."

It seems the general feeling is that most journalists went into the preview event with incredibly low expectations which seemed to be met. No one was willing to say the game was great or even good. The words you saw thrown around were more like solid and workable. Take that for what you will.

What do you think of the NBA Live 14 impressions hitting the net the past day or so?

[fluent2332]

Re: NBA Live 14: Hands-On Accounts from Around the Web

I personally think people become brainwashed by other people into thinking Live is going to suck, it's not going to be good, etc. And that in turn influences what they see when they spend time with the game. Just my theory but I've seen it happen time and time again. It's like the hivemind concept.

[P4N748E42]

yikes...u really pooped all over this os....was it really necessary to point out (multiple times) how nobody had anything super positive to say about it? seems like nobody had anything super negative to say about it either....just sayin

[jimbo22]

Re: NBA Live 14 Hands-On Accounts from Around the Web

Live's big problem is that its going up against 2K, which looks phenomenal. Its also going to retail at the full $60 and the final point is that its coming out on next gen so people are going to expect something special.

So far, looks wise, its comparable with current gen. The first few 2K trailers made it look like next gen. Live needs a solid footing to kick on next year. Hopefully it gets that.

One thing that still amazes me is that we've yet to see video of a real game, none of this produced trailer stuff, true game footage is needed for people to get a true reflection of the game. You have to wonder that with only 2 weeks to go that EA havent shown anything yet. Its no wonder people have reservations about it.

[Conda]

@P4N748E42 Huh? Everything they said was positive.

[bowld]

As I said in another post, this years game is likely a WIP. The real competition will start with 2k15 and live 15

[grodbetatted]

I mean as long as its Solid I'm good, but we will definitely see upon release.. I already have mine preordered

[dfish1214]

yikes...u really pooped all over this os....was it really necessary to point out (multiple times) how nobody had anything super positive to say about it? seems like nobody had anything super negative to say about it either....just sayin

You clearly didn't read any of the reviews . Everyone had only positive things to say.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: NBA Live 14 Hands-On Accounts from Around the Web

As I said in another post, this years game is likely a WIP. The real competition will start with 2k15 and live 15

Which will probably already be too late. 2K already looks amazing on the first game out. If the gameplay is as good as advertised then they're just tweaking modes and fine tuning for the next few years. Nobody ever wants to admit it but visuals DO matter. Even if EA finally gets their gameplay down, they still will be way behind visually which is what matters to the casual crowd that have the dollars they want. They really need to hit the ground running this year.

[josef]

Yeah, I feel like they should've just been bold and released this year's for $39.95 or something, just to get more people on board. I think it'll be a good product.. it just won't compare in the visuals to 2k.

[MoultonHawk]

I wonder hoiw much time each of them had to play it. I bet it was 5-10 minutes.

[yungflo]

Re: NBA Live 14 Hands-On Accounts from Around the Web

Yeah, I feel like they should've just been bold and released this year's for $39.95 or something, just to get more people on board. I think it'll be a good product.. it just won't compare in the visuals to 2k.

Nba won't allow them to release disc based games under 59.99 MSRP.

That's why they wanted to go the XBL/PSN route last year. Cause they can offer it cheaper. But for disc based games, every game is uniformed price. another example is nba jam. Came out on XBL/PSN at 14, they released it on disc, came out full priced

[grodbetatted]

http://www.maxim.com/gaming/we-got-first-look-nba-live-14

"The first thing we noticed was the beautiful next-gen gameplay. The devs (“devs” refers to developers when you’re in the biz [“in the biz” means “in the business” when you’re in the biz]) felt like they were working with almost “unlimited memory” and assigned six signature moves to the top 50 players, each with their own unique animations."

[lynkraid]

Live's big problem is that its going up against 2K, which looks phenomenal. Its also going to retail at the full $60 and the final point is that its coming out on next gen so people are going to expect something special.

So far, looks wise, its comparable with current gen. The first few 2K trailers made it look like next gen. Live needs a solid footing to kick on next year. Hopefully it gets that.

One thing that still amazes me is that we've yet to see video of a real game, none of this produced trailer stuff, true game footage is needed for people to get a true reflection of the game. You have to wonder that with only 2 weeks to go that EA havent shown anything yet. Its no wonder people have reservations about it.

Its graphics don't bother me so much, gameplay should always come first. Ever wonder why so many like playing old games? Its cause of the gameplay, not the graphics. Graphics never last over time, but gameplay does. Even great as NBA2k14 next gen is going to look, by NBA2k17 the graphics will look out dated, and if NBA Live is still going head to head by then, it will mostly likely look just as good.

Also people need to remember, the more you hate on NBA Live the more likely we wont see a 2nd NBA game on the market, the best thing for NBA2k is competition, cause it makes every game better.

I'm no fanboy, and I been with NBA2k since NBA2k on the DC, I was never a NBA Live guy at least since the great NBA Live 99 game on PS1, but I so want to see NBA Live be a success. I don't understand how 2k fanboys want Live to fail so badly, go away and never come back, when at the same time they wish and dream NFL 2k would come back.

Back to topic, if NBA Live was below $60 people would look at it as being a cheap game, yet the same time people will complain that its $60, but also if the game were only $20 many would buy it, but also many would wonder why they should buy a $20 or even $40 game that might not be a full blown next gen game. Remember Live has a full demo for the launch day, so it wont take much to make up your mind if its good or not.

[bigball12]

Re: NBA Live 14 Hands-On Accounts from Around the Web

This may seem over exaggerated to some, but I honestly cannot begin to muster the GREAT disappointment in the lack of team play online. As an isolated team up player on 2K, I was expecting to have some great times on Live's versions of the original "team play". With those thoughts now crushed, I cannot see myself purchasing the title.