NBA 2K16 Review: Latest Expert Scores, Metacritic Rating and Impressions

It seems safe to say, most people really like NBA 2K16. According to Metacritic, the conglomerate score for the game is an impressive 86. That's before major publications such as IGN North America, GameSpot and Game Informer weigh in.

You can't totally predict what any reviewer will say about a game, but with Tuesday being the official release in stores—and with many already enjoying many of the aspects of the game from Friday's Early Tip-Off Edition—it would be surprising to see a series of low grades bring NBA 2K16's score down.

Here's a look at three of the latest reviews on NBA 2K16.

CBS Sports' Zach Harper (No Score)

While Zach Harper of CBS Sports didn't give a review score, it seems apparent he enjoyed the game. Specifically, he likes the MyCareer mode. Harper wrote: 

"

In NBA 2K16, things were taken a step further with the introduction of "Livin' Da Dream," a storyline attached to MyCareer mode courtesy of Spike Lee. If you're familiar with Spike's many films during his incredible directing career, then you may be able to anticipate a lot of the stories and plot points thrown your way. If you haven't familiarized yourself with what Spike does with his stories, the early parts of MyCareer may blow your mind.

"

There's some definite groundbreaking elements to Livin' Da Dream, but I'm not sure all of them are positive. It feels as if gamers are taken more on Lee's ride than they are allowed to carve their own journey. If this weren't a sports game, that would be fine, but in this genre, the more control you take from the gamer, the worse the experience.

That said, the game is still overwhelmingly solid, but Harper and I differ on our take on this mode.

Games Radar's Rich Grisham (4.5 out of 5)

If there's a review in circulation that best matches my take on NBA 2K16, it's the one written by Games Radar's Rich Grisham. He scored the game an incredible 4.5 out of five stars, and his opening paragraph completely captures my feelings. 

Grisham wrote:

"

NBA 2K16 is what all sports games should aspire to be. Not only is it the most ambitious title of its kind—offering expansive single player, multiplayer, cooperative, offline, and online experiences—it does so in a way that simultaneously respects core basketball aficionados and casual hoops fans. While each of the deep game modes has items I can quibble with, the whole of NBA 2K16 is much greater than the sum of its parts. If—and this is a big if—its online servers manage to stay afloat, NBA 2K16 is not only the best sports game of the year, but one of the best of all time.

"

While there have been a few small issues since the ETO version launched on Friday, the servers have been pretty solid. I've had little to no issues in the new Play Now Online mode, and even MyPARK functioned nicely. The matchmaking portion of 2K Pro-Am still needs some work, but it isn't at a point where it's unplayable.

When you factor in all of the other options and the depth the game offers, NBA 2K16 seems to get better with each passing day.

Hardcore Gamer's Matt Whittaker (3.5 out of 5)

Not everyone is so enthusiastic about NBA 2K16. Hardcore Gamer's Matt Whittaker scored the game as if it were average. That boggles my mind. Whittaker admits the gameplay is stellar, and he briefly comments about the multitude of options, but he cites the same MyCareer issues that I mentioned and inconsistent server problems as the drawbacks.

Whittaker wrote this closing argument to support his score:

"

Evaluating NBA 2K16 as a whole is actually an interesting challenge. On one hand, this is arguably the most mechanically sound sports game on the market and the gameplay improvements that Visual Concepts made are downright superb. The issue here lies with the decision to make Livin ‘Da Dream the focus and backbone of MyCareer falling flat.

"

I'd argue the MyCareer portion of the game is not the primary focus. It's part of the tagline, but the game has so many parts to it, it seems unfair to dog the overall accomplishment based on one mode. Whittaker continues:

"

Yes, basketball fans will likely have a great time playing NBA 2K16 for hours on end, but there are too many small steps back here that can’t be ignored. The good news for fans of sports games is that the first misstep in this great franchise is still a very good game, which speaks to how truly fun its gameplay is.

"

How could a game that will likely have fans enjoying it for hours on end only be a 3.5 out of five? This score speaks to the incredibly high standard the NBA 2K series has set for itself. Were this another sports game, chances are the score might have been higher.

When you set the bar so high over the last 16 years, it's nearly impossible to live up to the hype.

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