NBA 2K14 VS NBA Live 14

So here we go again, another summer and another NBA sports game coming out. Once again 2K is coming with their annual 2K[add year] title and EA has vowed to come out with a NBA game this year (like the last two years they vowed it). Normally I like EA sports games, they certainly have known what they are doing when it comes to football but their basketball games have always lacked. Their skill systems are always flawed and when you make a game where Shaquille O'Neal is shooting 95% from the free throw line, you have a major problem.  

Over the last years I have been going to 2K for my NBA fix. They make a game you want, first off they make the skill system much easier to navigate. They also make the environments more dynamic and realistic. While EA would make the sidelines flat and the crowd docile, 2K takes the other route. The sideline cheers you on, players sit at the score table waiting to come in, the crowd actually gets loud when you hit a three or dunk the ball and it pans over them going nuts. The AI was improved, in EA coaches would sit idly by as their team was destroyed and would let the crowd just get louder as you dunked it more. In 2K coaches call timeouts at appropriate times, they even wait till the ball crosses half court before they do, very good. Not to mention, the AI also tries to stop you and succeeds at times. Not to mention the game is pretty.

So after watching 2K not only take but start owning the NBA market, EA is back but how good are they, lets look at the a few areas, first off graphics. 2K14 is first.

Lebron should be proud, he looks good

2K has only gotten better at graphically modeling players, Lebron still looks like himself with a few added polish. Muscle definition is good and you can see sweat on his brow, well done 2K. Lets see that EA has with NBA Live 14. 

Sorry Tony

I wonder when EA people last went to a NBA game or watched one on TV for that matter. The lighting is a joke and the players look pasty at best. Nice jersey, but Tony Parker looks like his crying and he doesn't look like that! Bad form EA.

Next up lets take a look at the action shots. EA can try first this time. 

The light is blinding!

Ok first off, that shot has no chance, so why is he taking it? Second off, what is with the lighting? Why does everyone look pasty still. This is a joke, worst shot selection in history and he doesn't even look like he is jumping all that much. What you got 2K?

Oh Lillard

Wow, its very pretty, I am a fan of the NBA Rookie of the Year and I can already hear Kevin Harlan yelling, "Look out below!" before cutting to "Oh oh!" as the dunk is thrown down. 2K, good job, it looks...real!

Next stop, character creation, go for it 2K

Hey, what up baby?

Ok, so it ain't perfect but it looks like you could come out good with it, just need to a little more work. At least he'll look good on court right? Well done 2K, now EA

That says it all

EA has been tight lipped and closed about what their creation looks like, they say its good and they have nothing to hide, ya where have I heard that before? 

Lets take a look at the results!

Graphics: 2K

Action: 2K

CreationL 2K

Need I say more?

2K14

Grade- Marked It!

Release Date- October 25, 2013

Rating- E, for Everyone

Price- $59.99

NBA Live 14

Grade- Missed the Mark

Release Date- That's a secret too!

Rating- E, for Everyone

Price- $59.99

Tennis Games

Dear Tennis Game Makers,
Please stop making Tennis games that are unrealistic. Next time you decide to make a Tennis game you should talk to the players and coaches about shot timing, serve motions, stroke motions, court movement, etc. Also, look into getting more real life sponsor companies into the game, it is very possible. And one more thing, try to make playing tennis easier in game then it is in real life. Thank You

After recently uninstalling the latest Topspin game the thought occurred to me that Tennis games are a complete joke and far too hard. Being someone who played tennis for over 10 years I have noticed that the game in real life is easier then the video game. Making shots go where you want them to is next to impossible. Shots that I hit out in the game are shots that in real life I could easily make. Moving up to the net and making a good put away shot is impossible in the game but in real life is easy as pie. Not to mention that almost every tennis lesson I have had in my life is at complete odds with this game. If you took the game for gospel and stepped onto the court any player that has had at least one year of lessons would kill you.

,

The problem with tennis games does not stem from graphics, they sure look pretty and the realism aspect of the crowds, weather, and court surfaces all work well. Your players slide on clay, the crowd isn't too loud, claps after the point, and your player will get tired if the environment they are playing in has unbearable heat. Those parts of the game are good and they sure do look nice.

Character modeling also is quite good but for the men and the body types are well done. Along with features based on race, nationality, and athletic shape from real life. That part shines in all the tennis games.

Virtual Sharapova vs Real Sharapova -->

The game breaks at character modeling though, while men are great I can't say the same for women who happen to be horribly modeled and the face is the worst part. The players don't even look similar, they could rename the video game representation of the player and no one would know the difference. When it comes to training and certain match types it gets worse. The training suggests you start your swing when the ball bounces on your side of the court. This is very wrong, any tennis player or coach would tell you that you start your swing when the ball leaves the racquet of the other player. If you started your swing like the game suggests you would be lucky if you hit the ball in time. Sadly, if you try to apply real world swing timing to the game it punishes you for doing it.The game also makes you point which way your shot is going. This is fine but you have to be perfect otherwise your shot will go out. I found pointing the shot with a mouse or control stick to be very hard. I hit 10 out of 10 shots out every single time which makes the game come down to keep hitting the ball back and hope the AI makes a mistake. While tennis is about consistency, it also is about making it hard for your opponent. Not to mention, the AI can hit perfect cross-court shots that they player can't even dream of trying. I have found in real life the cross-court shots are easier to make then in the game.

One of the biggest problems was lack of actual sponsor gear and real sponsors. Some of the big names such as Prince, Wilson, Yonex, and Nike were there but other companies were absent or limited. For example. I know for a fact that you can buy and wear prince shirts, shorts, socks, sunglasses, hats, and shoes, along with using a prince racquet. Not so in the game, you can't even get close, you might be able to get a prince racquet and shoes but that is it. Even if Prince is your sponsor in the game. Not to mention that when a company sponsors you it doesn't seem to mean anything. You still have to buy their stuff at full price. My thinking would be if a company sponsors you they would give you their stuff to wear at matches, I doubt Sharapova has to buy her racquets from Prince or Nadal has to buy his from Babolat. I also have a strong suspect the outfits that players wear are also supplied.

Not to mention that playing a doubles match is even worse. Your partner plays like it's their first lesson and the opposing AI players play like seasoned veterans. Not to mention that hitting a good return to the right player is impossible. I played 5 doubles matches in the game and won 1 game out of the 60 games played.

Tennis games need to be fixed, next time they sit down to make one they need to use some real players and real world aspect. Bring in tennis players, current and past, bring in their coaches, and study matches. Go to the matches and record the sounds, use the graphic technology you have to make players actually look like they are supposed to. And please for the love of everything that is holy, fix the training system. Until all that is done, please someone needs to tell game companies to stop making tennis games.

-Rezler

Review: WWE 12

I dodge a hit by the opponent in the ring. I press the comeback button setting of a flurry of well placed hits. My opponent stands up groggy and woozy after the hits, I do not let him rest and I grab him and execute a perfect finishing move I have dubbed Original Sin. I pin him and smile as the referee counts to three and I win the WWE Championship. The new WWE game came out recently and it features a new engine and scores of other new features that bring improvements.

Like the previous games you can create your own superstar, give them an unique move-set, a finisher you create yourself, and an entrance with music, fireworks, the whole nine yards. In the most recent game before this one the game introduced something called WWE Universe Mode. In Universe mode you basically went through the WWE Calendar from show to show and paper view to paper view. Your custom superstar was brought into this mode where the game would make matches and organize ways to get your superstar into the title discussion. Unfortunately, the game was plagued by bad AI. The opponents were far to easy to destroy and beat. Title matches were a laugh and often left the player simply beating up the AI for fun without taking a single hit. There was a case of one player suplexing a computer controlled opponent 100 times in a row without the opponent hitting or reversing the move. Not to mention that 100 times didn't have any long term effects, the same wrestler was back next week and was in good health.


All of those issues have been fixed. The AI is much smarter and provides a challenge in matches. I actually lost a few matches whereas in the previous game I was 186-0 against AI. I found myself enjoying matches as I fought a foe that reacted to moves and targeted body parts that my created character was favoring. The body part targeting is also new. You can now target body parts on wrestlers. So if your opponent is power based, take out his arms. If they like to run around and jump, hit the legs. If they are balanced you can always just target their head. On the subject of targeting body parts, you can now injure the other wrestlers and put them out of action for anywhere from a few months to putting them out of action for good. The WWE Universe Mode had a few minor changes that made it better. The graphics and sound quality also saw marked improvement.

The game still has problems on the AI front though. They improved it but as times the AI is just too good. Countering moves is an essential part of the game in turning the momentum in your favor avoiding a hit. The AI seems far too skilled at countering at times. There are times when a woozy AI wrestler will be standing up swaying and you will run full speed at him from behind and he somehow knows when to turn and counter your move which is physically impossible unless you literally have eyes in the back of your head. Another change they made that many saw as unnecessary was the control scheme. They completely changed it an veterans of the previous games like myself found it frustrating and hard to learn the new scheme since almost every button (except for three of them) was changed.


I can accept the small problems considering they are using a new engine to make the game. The game is a vast improvement though and reminded me why I keep coming back this franchise time after time for some good hard hitting action.

Review
Grade-Harvest It!
Highs-A new graphics engine makes it pleasing and smooth. Better AI and good sound quality
Lows-Still easy at times and the generic comments are still there
ESRB Rating-T for Teen, Ages 13 and up
Kid Friendly?No, it still is violent and although it got a teen rating it still has some parts I think are a bit graphic
Overview-It is good, the $59.99 price tag is worth it, a good solid game and it has clearly improved.