NBA 2K16: Review of 2K Pro Am, Play Now Online and Newest Features

Almost every one of NBA 2K16's features is done well. MyTEAM has some welcome additions to its structure and options. The new team customization tool is a big boon for the mode. With full control over the logo, uniform and arena design, you can finally make your team feel like your own.

You can use that same customization tool in MyGM and MyLEAGUE to relocate franchises. If you want to move the Chicago Bulls and completely redesign their brand, you can do that. Once you've chosen a city, the game will automatically realign the NBA to make the teams fit geographically.

No other sports video game has ever allowed so much input on the creation of a team within a franchise mode setting.

It's pretty sweet.

Play Now Online is another new feature. It works similar to FIFA's Seasons mode. You're able to play online head-to-head against other gamers. Every time you win, you move closer to leveling up your team's status.

The ultimate goal is to reach the Greatest of All Time level. Along the way, you'll unlock classic teams that you can use online in the mode. It's a blast to play, and the online portion works excellently. It is a shame that there's an option to buy wins.

For separate amounts of virtual currency, lazy or unskilled gamers can purchase victories to move up in he rankings. This hurts the overall integrity of the mode and the competition.

While those new features go over mostly without a hiccup, the ambitious 2K Pro-Am mode is not functioning as flawlessly. Ideally, the mode is going to allow gamers to take their MyPlayer online to play five-on-five with nine other gamers. Most times, that hasn't been possible. The experience is very frustrating as we've spent a good portion of the last two months waiting on this feature to be available, only to hit this predictable, but still unfortunate snag.

It's almost certain 2K is working to remedy these issues, but as of now it is difficult to find a game. Your MyPlayer will meet in the virtual locker room while others join them, but even when the required 10 players arrive, the game doesn't start promptly.

Once the action actually hits the court, it functions about as well as Play Now Online or head-to-head games in MyTEAM. For now, getting there is the issue. The one thing to remember is that the game only officially released on Tuesday.

Many fans had their copies on Friday for the Early-Tipoff Edition, but it's possible 2K was using the four-day window to work out the kinks. Still, with server stability having been an issue for years with NBA 2K games, it's getting harder to swallow for hardcore fans of the series.

So long as the issues with Pro-Am don't linger, this can still be a strong feature. However, if they persist, it'll be just another concept that didn't live up to the hype.

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