NBA 2K Throughout the Years

As a huge fan of the NBA and video games, one of my favorite times of the year is when 2K Sports releases the new NBA 2K game. I have been playing NBA 2K since 2011, and it has only gotten better throughout the years. 2K Sports has done an absolutely fantastic job adding new additions to the games and improving the many aspects that make it one of my all-time favorite video game franchises. On September 29, 2015, 2K Sports is releasing the next addition to the amazing series: NBA 2K16. In this post, I am going to review how much this game has improved since NBA 2K12, the first 2K game I tried for PS3.
NBA 2K12 was a great game in its time, and featured NBA legend Michael Jordan as the cover athlete. One of the features that it contained was the MyPlayer mode, in which the gamers can create their own NBA superstar and see them drafted by the NBA and work through a career with their team. By gaining VC(Virtual Currency) through success in games, the gamer can improve their player's stats and purchase different accessories for their player. This mode was always one of my favorites because it gave me a chance to experience what it would be like to be in the NBA. Another one of the features that was new to NBA 2K12 that wasn't in the previous games was the chance to play as one of fifteen great NBA legends in one of their iconic games. Overall, 2K12 was a fantastic game to me, and at the time, I hadn't had any gaming experience similar to what 2K12 could offer.
The next year, 2K Sports released NBA 2K13. The biggest new feature that 2K added was the chance to play as the Dream Team, arguably the best basketball team ever formed, or the 2012 USA Olympic team, the greatest basketball team formed in this generation. It was a chance to settle arguments between parents who grew up with Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, etc., who believed that the Dream Team was better and their children who grew up with Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Kevin Durant, who believed that the 2012 team was better. It was a great feature, in my opinion, and set 2K13 apart as one of the best NBA games ever created. Along with the addition of those two teams, 2K improved the graphics of NBA 2K12 and also added the All-Star Weekend to the MyPlayer mode, so the players could participate in the Dunk Contest, the Three-Point Shoot-Out, and the All-Star Game. 2K13 was a heavily improved version of NBA 2K12, and it remains my second favorite 2K game of all-time.
In 2013, 2K released NBA 2K14. The biggest difference between 2K13 and 2K14 was that 2K14 was available on the new PS4. The PS4 version offered the best graphics any NBA gamer has ever seen. One of my personal favorites about the new 2K game was the fact that the MyPlayer mode became a completely new experience. In the previous games, players were only allowed to play in games, answer post-game interview questions, and sign endorsement deals. NBA 2K14 completely revolutionized MyPlayer mode by adding an actual storyline to the game. Players actually had an in-game rival, Jackson Ellis, who they constantly competed with. 2K added many cut-scenes in which players had a chance to reveal their character in decisions they made. They could choose to argue with their rival, or they could be calm and let their game do the talking. This was an incredible addition for me because it allowed you to connect with your player on a much deeper aspect.
As much as I thought NBA 2K14 was great, last year, 2K released the greatest NBA game ever created in my opinion. As I said earlier in this blog post, 2K14 added a storyline so you could develop a deeper relation with your player and actually feel like you were that player. However, NBA 2K15 took this to a whole new level. One of the accessories you can buy for your PS4 is a camera. This is mainly used for games where you can use different controllers so you're active while you play, but 2K used it as an opportunity to allow players to virtually insert their faces into the game. Players could use their camera to scan their faces and use them as their players' faces in the game. This was mind-blowing to me because it actually looked like I was actually in the game. This caused me to be so much more excited about playing the game. Another great thing about NBA 2K15 is the graphics. In my opinion, the graphics are insanely good, and on multiple occasions, my family was confused whether or not I was playing a video game or just watching an actual game because the players looked so real. With all these features put together, NBA 2K15 became one of my all-time favorite video games and the best NBA game ever created in my opinion.
I absolutely cannot wait for NBA 2K16 to come out. I am sure that 2K will find some way to impress me even more. I have watched trailers for the game, and I am super excited to see what this new game has in store for me. In fact, I have already pre-ordered the game so I can get a few days early on September 25, 2015. I highly recommend anyone who loves NBA and video games to give this amazing franchise a try. I am sure they will be absolutely mind-blown how impressive this game is.