NLSC Your source for basketball video games.
From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #520 of the NLSC Podcast!
Which generation produced the best NBA Live and NBA 2K games? This week, we join the community in nominating the golden age for each series. We also recap our exciting co-op Parsec sessions with NBA Live 2000 PC and NBA 2K2 for GameCube, which in turn leads us to reflect on the 2000 Phoenix Suns and the fantastic NBA of the 80s. Additionally, we check in with Troydan’s ongoing quest to pull 100 Overall MyTEAM cards, discuss the drawbacks of digital ownership and the need for physical media, and note an unfortunate side effect of declining the new Terms of Service in NBA 2K24.
Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:02:58 — 43.6MB)
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Brilliant episode guys.
The greed and a lack for better words, evil/calulated model that has really spiraled the last 5-6 years by 2k and their VC system/pay to win is mind blowing.
Spending 42 times the price of the game to pull a card?
Im pretty much done with this franchise since 2k22, last game bought, but have been done with its VC/Mycareer since 2k17.
Obviously they are at fault, but as consumers we need to not buy in to this shit either.
Great conversation around the golden age on 2k/live games.
Im replaying some of the older titles in my collection, 360 era with 2k10-11-12-13.
All fantastic, but i really prefer and think the Xbox 1/PS4 era was the strongest.
Still solid and great gameplay, but nore content and deeper/better offline modes.
Having player lock instead of position lock( 2k16) has really made my gaming better and more fun, i can now play 4×12 qtrs without it taking ages.
Also the option to sim in and out of games (2k16 and fw) if wanting to has really made it better.
2k17 and its advanced rotations option is also a great implemintation, now i can decide when and where my players plays.
so that gen of games is my favourite one, starting with 2k14 which i still play, got my Mycareer going, only downside to that game for me is not being able to practice/try out your jump shot/dribbling anywhere.
Still play 2k15 and a Myleague, downside not having a player lock.
2k16 is my go to game, 3rd season in, got a Myleague on 2k17 as well.
Love 2k19, downside cpu being way to clingy on your player, and finally ,just finished a season on 2k20, which i really like, but thats where the cpu started to go downhill a bit, especially on defense, see my ai controlled defenders not being good/smart enough at times.
But yes, 2k14/15/16/17/19/20 is my GOAT period when it comes to 2k
Thanks for the kind words and tuning in! We always appreciate it.
As I said on the show, my golden era is kind of cross-generational for both series because it encompasses the tail end of one and the beginning of another, though I do stand by my firm picks as well. Unfortunately not everything gets better over time, and greed and the push for recurrent revenue is affecting gaming as a whole these days.
I just haven’t been able to warm up to NBA 2K on PS5. I can see its good points, but the PS4 generation and older favourites are way more appealing to me right now, so I’m definitely with you there!
Still think The Xbox Series X/S/PS5 gen started ok, yeah 2k21 wasnt a very good game, but 2k22 still plays great.
but (here we go) cant really like them anyway, too polished?
And im not too comfy with the movement either, sliding, def awarness/smartness from the cpu ai isnt that good vs XB1/PS4 gen, maybe the online community want shortcuts?
Thats what the content creators/influencers on FIFA wanted, skill gaps and no cpu defending, thats why we have a fifa/Ea fc with sliding all over the pitch and extremely stupid ai.
Way to happy playing 14-15-16-17 and even 19-20 to bother with newer titles
They’re definitely not terrible games – not when NBA Live 07 for Xbox 360 is the bar in that regard! – but I just haven’t been able to get into them. Player movement is a bit too sluggish for my liking, and I don’t think they’ve been able to get the shooting right for most of the generation so far, mostly because they’re catering to the elitist online crowd.
It just comes down to previous games being more fun on the sticks, so it’s hard to give them up! And as long as there’s something to keep us hooked – franchise, career modes, etc – there’s no need to.
Thank you for a thoughtful message! 🙂 I’m itching to re-download NBA 2K16, the latest 2K I own. I felt steady ramping up in 2K’s demands to players’ pocketbooks from 2K14 to 2K16. I play NBA Jam OFE and Live 19 a bit.
Its a really good game, set it up right and youll really have seasons and seasons of fun.
Would really recomend 2k17 as well,cant put away my Brooklyn Nets MYleague atm.
brilliant game.
Cant really find joy in newer 2ks