NBA 2K14: Realisitc Gameplay Sets Game Apart from Last Year's Version

Every year a new version of our favorite sports video games are released and some consumers ask themselves this question: "Do I need to upgrade to the latest version of the game?" Many of us base that decision almost entirely on the graphics.

In the case of NBA 2K14, if next-level visuals are your only barometer for improvement, you'll be missing the point and a game that simply plays like a dream.

I've said it more times than I can recall, but I'll say it again: The current generation of consoles have maxed out what they can do from a pure graphical standpoint. The next time you'll see a game that makes you say "wow" in regards to graphics will be on the Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

That said, let's not pretend NBA 2K13 and several other popular sports games had putrid graphics to begin with. The visuals from last year's version were more than acceptable. The biggest area for improvement—and in my opinion the most important aspect of the game—is the actual gameplay.

Anyone that plays the new version and has an appreciation for simulation-style video games would almost have to acknowledge how true to life NBA 2K14 plays. In a brief conversation with 2K Sports community manager Chris Manning (aka LD2K) on Twitter, he plainly states that gameplay was the primary focus.

I'll never fault a developer or publisher representative for making gameplay a priority. I've heard that promise made before with various series and found it to be less than truthful, but that certainly isn't the case here. In the event you haven't read my review, I gave NBA 2K14 a 9.2 out of 10, but I'm not the only journalist/gamer that has given the game high marks.

Owen Good of Kotaku says "Yes, you should play this game" (Kotaku doesn't actually give letter, star or number grades in their reviews). Good points out a few issues he has with the game. "The game feels held back from major change," he writes.

Good does put his opinion into perspective by saying the following: "I've got to be blunt, by any measure I am objectively bad at simulation-quality basketball, owing to an overall lack of familiarity with how the game is played in real life."

I think his lack of familiarity with the real-life game doesn't allow him to fully appreciate how realistic the game plays. It is similar to a casual NASCAR fan reviewing NASCAR Inside Line. Some nuances that hardcore NASCAR fans might appreciate, a casual fan may miss.

Ryan McCaffrey of IGN scored the game 9.3 out of 10 in his review. Ryan and I are completely on the same page, as he says, "With just enough new features and tighter-than-ever gameplay, NBA 2K14 tops its predecessors...again."

While previous versions of the NBA 2K series have offered entertaining brands of basketball, this year's version is on another level when it comes to realism. If you love simulation-style basketball video games, there isn't a more true-to-life experience.

Follow me for musings on sports video games, the NBA, boxing, MMA and the WWE.