NBA 2K14


NBA 2K14 is a 2013 basketball video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. The fifteenth installment in the series, it was released on October 1, 2013, for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One versions were released on the consoles' respective launch dates. LeBron James of the Miami Heat became the cover athlete, and also served as the music curator for the game. 2K Sports also released the DLC pack that as a bonus for pre-ordering the game, they would receive 10,000 VC, bonus content for "Path to Greatness" mode, adding James in the Blacktop mode and a signature skill for MyCareer mode. On August 14, 2013, 2K Sports announced that Crew Mode would return to this year's installment of NBA 2K. NBA 2K14 is the successor to NBA 2K13 and was succeeded by NBA 2K15 in the NBA 2K series.
This is the last game in the series for the PC version where players can customize button configurations to suit their gameplay style.

Development

On July 2, 2013, 2K Sports and EuroLeague signed an exclusive multi-year deal to include teams in the game. This marks the first time EuroLeague teams have appeared in the NBA 2K series, similar to EA's NBA Live series, which included FIBA teams and also the U.S. national basketball team found in 2K13, beginning with Live 08 and ending with Live 10.

Reception

NBA 2K14 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Ryan McCaffrey of IGN rated the game a 9.3 praising the gameplay saying, "With just enough new features, and tighter-than-ever gameplay, NBA 2K14 tops its predecessors and competitors... again". Tom McShea of GameSpot rated the game an 8.0 praising the game as well but criticizing designing of the game. USA Todays Brett Molina rated the game 3.5 out of 4 stars, noting that the game's new dribble and shoot mechanics may be simpler to newcomers, but frustrating to veteran gamers. Matt Bertz of Game Informer stated that the presentation was "the best the sports genre has to offer", but criticized the lack of improvements made to both the My Career and Association modes. Andy Hartup of GamesRadar+ praised the amazingly realistic player models, My Career mode, and improved presentation while criticizing recycled content and the uncanny valley nature of the player models. Greg Giddens of Push Square concluded that "NBA 2K14 on the PS4 is a stunning digital facsimile of basketball. The title's visually jaw dropping, technically stunning, and represents a whole different ball game to its PS3 counterpart. The new My Career and My GM campaigns don't always score a slam dunk, but they're engaging enough to dribble your way through, making this is a top option..."
Shortly after release, the game was the best-selling sports game on 8th-consoles.
During the 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated NBA 2K14 for "Sports Game of the Year".

Additions and changes

As well as the aforementioned new soundtrack and inclusion of EuroLeague teams, several new changes have been made since 2K13:
  • "LeBron: Path to Greatness" mode, which is not found on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game, is reminiscent of an expanded version of NBA 2K11s Jordan Challenge, where players get to control LeBron James' career in an alternate future of the NBA from the 2013–14 to the 2019–20 season as they attempt to win 7 NBA championships. Lebron James' future is laid out by the game meaning players' choices are somewhat predetermined.
  • New signature skills, including an exclusive pre-order "LeBron Coast to Coast" skill, One Man Fastbreak, Pick Dodger, Tenacious Rebounder, Flashy Passer, Screen Outlet/Pick & Roll Maestro. a new way of passing by holding a trigger and pressing a control stick in the direction the player want to pass.
  • The "potential" stat now limited and restricted the overall level a player can grow to, rather than increasing as the player improves as happened in previous NBA 2K titles. It curbed the amount by which players' attributes could improve in Association Mode.
  • More than 50 hours of new commentary from Kevin Harlan, Clark Kellogg, and Steve Kerr, new draft night audio and new "MyCareer" voiceovers.
  • A new "Training Camp" mode, which is there to guide players to master the new controls.
  • Training Drills now have their own menu in My Career mode, meaning players don't have to return to the main menu to do multiple training sessions.
  • Always Online DRM added in patch requiring users to be connected to 2K servers to play MyCareer and MyGM modes. However, the patch is only available on the PS4 and the Xbox One versions of the game and not on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game.