NBA 2K15: Release Date, Top Player Ratings, New Features, Preview and More

On Tuesday Oct. 7, the virtual basketball world will get its freshest taste of the goodness that has become the NBA 2K series. NBA 2K15 releases on Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC. 

The game is jam-packed with new features that have made it one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. Let's take a quick look at what's new and a glimpse into the player ratings.

News Flash: LeBron James is the Highest-Rated Player

image from NBA 2K15, provided by 2K Sports

With a 98 overall mark, the Cleveland Cavaliers' superstar is the top dog when it comes to player ratings. I could waste text explaining why this is a correct assessment, but that would be like trying to explain why money is a useful resource.

It's pretty obvious.

Just behind James is NBA 2K15 cover athlete and reigning league MVP Kevin Durant with a 95 rating. Small forwards rule in the real NBA, so why not in the video game? 

Here's a look at the top-four rated players in the game. You can see all of the player ratings here.

• James, 98
• Durant, 95
• Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, 91
• Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 90

Let's look at features.

Face-Scanning

NBA 2K15 is taking the concept of putting yourself in the game to the next level. In this year's game on PS4 and Xbox One, gamers will be able to use the PS Camera or the Kinect to scan their faces for a realistic photo recreation of themselves.

I had an opportunity to test it out, and I can say from experience that the results can be stunningly accurate. Here's a video showing the results I got while at 2K headquarters in Novato, California.

This technology can be used in conjunction with your MyCareer and MyGM experience.

If you don't have the camera, you can still use the new and improved create-a-player suite to come up with a solid version of yourself.

New MyCareer Story

In NBA 2K14, the MyCareer experience took on more of a role-playing feel, and the storyline was a fresh injection for the concept.

In NBA 2K15, the same angle is taken, except there's an all-new story. Your MyCareer player begins his journey as an undrafted rookie who has to work his way up the ladder from unknown to superstar. Here's a video that shows the opening scene.

MyLeague

For gamers who love customization, it doesn't get much better than MyLeague. This is the sandbox feature that allows gamers to control almost every imaginable option in a virtual NBA season.

You can import rosters, change player's physical attributes, control preset injuries, play or watch every game from an entire season and much more. 

This mode will probably get the most love from me on my PS4.

MyPark, Jordan Rec Center and The Stage

Back in NBA 2K11, a mode called "Crew" allowed gamers to take their MyPlayers online to team up with friends against other teams of created players. The mode garnered a cult following and was among the most requested over the last three versions of the game.

Last year, a watered-down version of the concept was introduced called "MyPark." While it did offer some of the qualities of the original Crew mode, it didn't come through entirely.

This year, the developers are not only bringing the original Crew concept to the PS3 and Xbox 360, they are also upgrading the Park to MyPark and adding new layers.

Take a look at the video introducing this year's version of co-operative online play.

With a plethora of new features on the way and the traditional gameplay, NBA 2K15 could be a candidate for game of the year. We'll see how it all comes together on release day.

Stay tuned for a full review Tuesday.

Follow Brian Mazique aka FranchisePlay, the Sports Video Game Journalist