Reportedly, Lee’s contribution will focus mainly on MyCareer, the complete simulation that takes players of NBA 2K16 from rookies to league superstars and beyond. It’s hard to imagine that Spike Lee’s work on the game won’t include a narrative for MyCareer since crafting narratives is what he’s most known for. The gaming industry quickly recovered though and rethought its approach. The NBA 2K16 release details reflect that new approach to pre-orders. 2K Games and participating retailers are holding what’s being called an Early Tip-Off Weekend for NBA 2K16 release week. Those who pre-order the game ahead of release will get access four full days before its available to those that didn’t pre-order. For early buyers the NBA 2K16 release day is September 25th, not the following Tuesday.

 

That doesn't mean there are no victims left over after 2K Sports emerged from its deal with MLB in 2012. As soon as the contract was signed, gamers were immediately left with no choice but MLB 2K. In 2006, when I was working a different job, not following video games at all, I remember asking a GameStop clerk where MVP 06 was. (I was shown, of all things, a college baseball video game.) Over the next six years, MLB 2K's inability to fix its lingering deficiencies easily overwhelmed whatever gameplay or presentation breakthroughs it introduced.

 

That's the really interesting thing about My Player: you actually have a persona. The mode is far more than a series of sometimes incoherent menus that feed you statistical data and let you sim to the parts where your player actually gets on the court. The mode includes tons of great ways to keep you playing, from a teammate rating that goes up and down depending on how you perform on the court, to a series of drills designed to help you upgrade your stats (that must be performed in between paychecks), and even post-game press conferences, where your answers to reporters' questions will affect your chemistry with your teammates, as well as your standing throughout the league, and with your local fans.

 

2K Sports states that this feature should take a minimum of three minutes using natural light. In my own experience, it took about 40 minutes and loads of ingenuity to get it right. I had to move my lamp behind my television as well as have flashlight shining in my face just to get an "above average" rating. Next the game says that you were skipped in the draft and must now try out for teams just to get signed for 10 day contracts. If you perform well enough under a 10 day contract, the team will sign you to a contract for the rest of the year. Once the offseason begins, you get to experience a free-agent summer with teams from every direction trying to get you to play for their team. And the beauty of it is that you ultimately get to choose who you want to play for.

 

One of the first things you'll notice in NBA 2K16's gameplay is the increased bumping and physical contact. It's a welcomed addition to the gameplay that brings defense back into the fabric of the experience. Last year's game was a little too free flowing at times, and games could easily turn into three-point shootouts. This year, the make-to-miss ratio is much more realistic. Even the best three-point shooter doesn't make every open three, and that's reflected in NBA 2K16.

 

Despite a lack of massive changes, NBA 2K16 is still the premier basketball experience that I don’t see being unseated any time soon. The gameplay is as satisfying and fun as ever, and when combined with the TV style presentation it is amazingly realistic. The majority of the game modes have seen some small improvements, although online play can still be a complete mess - which will make 2K15 incredibly disappointing for some. If, like me, online isn’t necessarily your thing then you should definitely pick up 2K16, even if you are a casual basketball fan. However, if you plan to only play online you might want to give it a miss, or wait until it gets fixed.

 

Still, NBA 2K16 is a really strong basketball sim, and one of the best sports sims overall. What it does well, it does very well, and its sports movie-like storytelling and outstanding presentation has yet to be replicated by any other sports game. Already, I'm feeling the itch to take it to put Andre's hurt feelings behind me and take my game to the next level with the Knicks. Coach Rivers is counting on me.