Oblong

Let's get one thing right out of the way, the 2nd next gen iteration of EASPORTS hard court offering is a marked improvement over the prior. While NBA Live '14 wasn't a complete train wreck, it did leave a lot to be desired in the way of realistic game play and variety of modes to play. From what I've played thus far, NBA Live '15 corrects many of the previous deficiencies and provides a much more complete experience that I believe will keep me engaged much longer. While many consider the NBA2K basketball game the benchmark, I personally have been a longtime fan of the Live series and yearn to see it return to its greatness of the 1990's. What I really appreciate about the EASPORTS games are their continuity between titles making it easier for me to slip right into the action whether it be creating a pro or managing an "ultimate team". In NBA Live '15 I immediately became interested in these 2 modes aptly named "Rising Star" (create-a-pro) and Live Ultimate Team or LUT for short. Each are very familiar to Madden, NHL, or FIFA players and provide an excellent progression system to keep you engaged and wanting to play one more game to level up or earn coins for packs. Beside those single player modes I've also had the chance to play some head-2-head local matches giving me a fair amount of time to comment on the gameplay itself. The controls are responsive and it doesn't take long to get the basics of passing, dribbling, shooting, and defense down. That said, one early complaint is that the tutorials provide only the basics of offense and ignores teaching the more in-depth moves or anything about defending. I am hardly a top tier video game b-baller, in fact my deficiencies are one reason I gave up on the 2K series in 2013. On the lower level of NBA Live '15 I was able to hold my own though not necessarily dominate throughout. I'm not sure if it is game design or my own doing but I've seen very realistic "runs" where your team can get hot or cold providing a great ebb and flow to games. Never did I feel I couldn't come back if I played smarter nor did any lead feel safe. While this could be a result of my chosen difficulty level, I did find the AI logic somewhat suspect in the waning moments **** by their shot selection and clock management. Yes, they do foul when needed, but they also will burn the clock on offense when behind. The graphics for NBA Live '15 are much improved over last year with players looking far more realistic and not having that "clay-like" appearance of the past. Crowds and the benches near the court look good and react accordingly as the game dictates. There is still some stuttering in some animations and a little bit of player sliding. I've seen some really cool animations, a fair number of reused ones from last year, as well as some things that may having you scratching your head not sure what you just witnessed. Overall the game itself does a fine job of mimicking something you would watch on ESPN right down to the scrolling halftime breakdowns of hot and cold players, top 3 plays, and more. I guess I can best summarize my time with NBA Live '15 as pleasurable but still yearning for more. EA has taken a big step in the right direction with this franchise but it may yet be another year or 2 before it has the ability to fully compete with NBA2K. In some areas, like properly functioning online play and accessibility for casuals, NBA Live is already a worthy option and deserves support to build upon. I can't quite fully recommend this game as a full price title even Though There Is enough content Now to deserve it. If you come across a deal it's certainly worth taking a chance on.

If you are reading this review and others from random internet guys like me I get it as I do the same thing for many games I’m just not sure about. It’s especially the case with yearly release titles like Madden as we all wonder – is this version worth putting my previous version to bed or is it skip year? This review isn’t for the hardcore, you buy every year without fail and nitpick it death. I get that, as I have my share of guaranteed must-buys. My words are for those like me who are football fans and video game players wanting to see if EA SPORTS can make those 2 worlds collide and offer something that feels, looks, and plays like what we watch on Fall Sundays but is also fun to play solo, with my buddy next to me, and possibly with others across the world. We want depth while at the same time not be bogged down by complicated controls. We want to see amazing catches, savage hits, and nail-biting endings but we also don’t want it to be too over-the-top nor feel like our actions on the field aren’t properly rewarded or penalized. If you can relate to those ideals then read on as this short review may prove helpful for your buying decision. I’m going to make it real simple if you are on the fence….Madden 15 is “The One”. You know what I mean. Run, don’t walk – this is the version you need to have, there is no reason to wait for next year. The amount of love and detail that has been added to this version is nothing short of amazing. It looks absolutely beautiful on next gen consoles. The animations are smooth and full of variety. Defense is finally almost as much fun to play as offense. EA SPORTS has put together a package that has an overwhelming amount of depth while at the same time keeping menu navigation and gameplay controls easy enough for anyone to understand. One of my favorite new parts of the game is the training which provides a better understanding of not only how to play the game but also the chess match that is going on between offensive and defensive play-calling in real life. What you learn could fundamentally change the way you have been playing video football and also give you a new appreciation of the sport itself. I haven’t played all the modes offered and likely never will get to them all. There are plenty of reviews out there that will go into particular details that you may want to investigate further. Others may focus on glitches but I’ve yet to find anything that is a buzzkill. What I have done is go “old school” and played my boys head-2-head on our sofa and we have had more fun in the past 5 days than we have had in the past 5 years of Madden releases. The NFL should be very proud to see their league brought to life so realistically in a video game. Bottom line – Madden 15 is a gem. I’m going to stop writing because you need to stop reading and go get this game!

Finally a golf game you can sink your teeth into with a proper simulation mode. What they have done with draws/fades, penal roughs, and smooth putting finally makes you feel like you are in between the ropes of the PGA Tour. The Connected Tournaments add much needed life to live tourneys allowing you to play either with a group of friends or strangers. Graphics are improved, the Legends are a nice historical add-on including the ability to play the Augusta National course as it was in 1934. This version has the potential to be the best TW game ever in it's run going back to PS1 days. A must purchase for the golf fan, the simulation fan, or anyone with an interest in getting away from blowing things up and just having a nice relaxing stroll with some friends.

I consider myself a casual fan of the Madden series though I do get the game every year to play a few seasons with my beloved Titans. While I do see minor differences each year, this year has really struck me a big step forward for the series. I love the integration of Game Face and immediately utilized it to create myself to use as a high draft QB for the Titans in the new Connected Careers Mode (which replaced the prior Franchise Mode). I also got an online Connected Career started with some friends and it's great fun for all of us to have HB's and measure our progress. I also love the Kinect integration on the 360 as it really immerses you in the game calling plays and making strategic adjustments at the line - and much simpler than button presses. But the biggest improvement of all is the new engine which makes every play for more interesting and unique than previous years that had canned animations. Yes, you will see some odd stuff here and there but for the most part it provides some very realistic and exciting scenarios. The graphics look great and the statistical overlays, game presentation, and commentary are all that you would expect from a game representing the NFL experience. Overall, this game is a keeper and I look forward to playing it out while following the NFL this year. Great job EA!!!