Those shortcomings also show up in the visuals with some of the players (check out Joel Embiid) failing to look like their real-life counterparts. It has play-by-play announcers, but it lacks in-game interviews or cutaway segments. “NBA Live 16” has similar features, but they’re only adequate. The way Visual Concepts integrates all these elements makes “NBA 2K16” feel alive, and the best part is that this type of storytelling extends to other parts of the game, including the franchise mode. They choose whether to hang out with teammates to build chemistry or help out a sponsor. They have to face the media if they falter during a big game. The career mode opens up after Freq’s rookie year, when gamers have to deal with free agency, endorsements, their fandom and other issues pro athletes face. The story adds an intriguing back story to the career mode, but at the same time, it’s overwrought like a bad soap opera.
“Freq,” as he’s called, will have to balance the responsibilities of being a pro athlete with his obligations to his old friend Vic Van Lier from the projects. The narrative takes players from his high school basketball career through his first year in the association. Videogame review: ‘NBA 2K16’ beats ‘NBA LIVE 16’ on the virtual court – The Mercury Newsĭifferent from other takes on career, players take on the role of a Harlem basketball phenom whose nickname is Frequency Vibrations.