

Last year, it was established and proved successful in what amounted to the sole reason to play "NBA Live 18." That was understandable for a series in the process of a rebuild.
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The series decided to go all-in on its career mode called "The ONE." "NBA Live" was never going to be able to directly compete with "NBA 2K." Instead, it needed to offer something completely different. "NBA Live 19" weakness: Traditional experience Those who put the time in with it will be rewarded, but there's no question that it's demanding. "NBA 2K19" is much more complex and intimidating. The online modes are designed to be enjoyable social experiences, and it keeps microtransactions limited to its Ultimate Team mode - something that publisher EA Sports deserves credit for across its entire suite of sports games. "NBA Live 19" is the friendlier of the two basketball games, meaning it's the easier one to just pick up and play. MORE: Joel Embiid featured on cover of "NBA Live 19" Contraction in the genre over the last decade can be attributed in part to that, along with the high cost of licenses and development. It can be something that veterans who play every release fail to recognize, but if new fans don't come on board and enjoy their experiences, then the franchises will stagnate and die off. Sports video games are unquestionably complicated and difficult for those that are inexperienced or lack considerable knowledge of the sports they represent. The promoted actors for this year, like the top-billed Anthony Mackie and Haley Joel Osment, are underutilized, however. Players can finally skip those annoying cutscenes, and the story is more understated. The main character, though incredibly insecure, isn't someone you want to root against. The production value is high once again, but the major gripes from the past have been addressed. The M圜areer story mode in "NBA 2K19 might be its best yet. There are also new mini-games in the online space known as "The Neighborhood," which has been redesigned after complaints about how it was just a big time-waster used to push microtransactions and advertisements. Though there were no new additions for "NBA 2K19," the 62 classic teams found in last year's game have returned. The broadcasts stay fresh due to the different voices and the authentic presentation. The commentary booth, which last year featured 11 rotating play-by-play announcers and color analysts, added another voice in Bill Simmons. The series just keeps building on the areas in which it's already excelling. MORE: Does Cousins make Warriors best "NBA 2K" team ever?

That creates an ever greater challenge, but one that is more satisfying on both sides of the ball.

Additionally, CPU players and teams show far more intelligence in a number of areas. "NBA 2K19" has cleaned up a number of flaws in gameplay from last year and produced a much more satisfying experience with the defense in particular making great strides to reduce the various tactics that were used as exploits in the past. This is not a series that does anything halfway. What continues to amaze is that all of it - from gameplay, presentation, its various modes and other features - is exceptionally well done. There is no other sports video game that can match "NBA 2K" in terms of content. Here's the good and the bad of what "NBA 2K19" and "NBA Live 19" have to offer this year. Can "NBA Live" differentiate itself enough from the competition while avoiding an identity crisis?
