Like the console version, NBA 2K16 features My Career mode, along with Season modes and the new Blacktop Mode that takes the game to the streets. This mobile game is said to have "improved graphics and game performance" compared with previous titles from this franchise, and there are also new controls for a more seamless gameplay, including support for a physical controller. The new animations are said to provide "smoother movement and more realistic articulation combined with new controls." There were times a game started loading and I had to remember, “Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be playing a basketball game.”

 

If you’ve seen Lee’s basketball films you’ll recognize many of the story beats (and he even recycles a character from He Got Game, which was cool) Your character, Frequency Vibrations (AKA Freq) undergoes the trials and tribulations that come with being a pro basketball player. The usual stuff: your sister and girlfriend not getting along, an agent pushing you to leave college early, your best friend blackmailing you over the time you murdered a guy and he covered it up… You know. Normal stuff. The story is full of melodrama, some of it heart-wrenching and some of it hilarious, and it really adds a lot to your game playing experience.

 

A simple process of sitting in front of the screen and slowing moving your head from left to right is all that’s required - with Kinect doing all the complicated stuff to transfer your likeness to the screen. My first few attempts failed (blamed on the lighting and the fact I wasn’t moving slowly enough) so I prompted to retry. I obliged, although the result again wasn’t too flattering. The end result was me looking like the offspring of Sloth Fratelli from The Goonies. Other attempts were equally unsuccessful - one of which left my eyeball floating onscreen, seemingly unattached to the rest of my head, while a weird nose/mouth combo looked like I’d suffered some horrific accident. I decided to stick with one of the prebuilt character models… and put Kinect back on the shelf to gather dust for another year. Shame.

 

NBA 2K is the name in basketball simulations on consoles, and has really been the only choice on iOS. Each year we hope for the best and 2K has yet to really deliver the full flavor of a basketball sim on iOS. NBA 2K16 is another attempt, and there are quite a few changes in this year’s installment. It’s always interesting to look at our review from last year’s version, find the critiques, and see if 2K worked on those particular areas. Right off the bat, you can see a number of fixes for 2K16 to balance what the console version offers, and how iOS is played. Last but not least, the new 2K Pro-Am mode could be headed for huge things. You're able to take your MyPlayers online to compete in competitions with full stat tracking. Best of all, that same amazing creation tool allows you to completely customize your Pro-Am team.

 

We couldn't let you go without talking about server stability, right? I mean, this is an NBA 2K game. Consider this an incomplete assessment, but through about nine hours and a few online related concepts, I've had absolutely no problems. I really can't believe I said that in my out-loud voice, but it's true. You’ll be in charge of living the life of a seemingly true-to-life, up-and-coming NBA star. You’ll choose which teams to try out for and which endorsement deals to sign, and manage your off days. It’s about as robust a Career mode as I’ve ever seen in a sports game. However, with that being said, some of it comes across as a bit heavy-handed. The issue with combining a structured story experience with a customization-heavy career mode is that there is an inherent disconnect. The premade cutscenes don’t always match your real performance. If you don’t buy into the often-clichéd story, it can be much less engaging than you’d like.