NBA Live 16: Early Review of GameFace HD, Rising Stars and Live Pro-Am Modes

Like most sports video games, NBA Live 16 is made up of several parts: exhibition, Ultimate Team, Live Pro-Am, GameFace HD and even more. Unfortunately, like always, this game isn't equal in every aspect.

The GameFace HD app, Rising Stars mode and Live Pro-Am all work together. However, a weak link in that chain can cause issues. Let's focus on those three modes since they are among the biggest features in the game. Starting from the beginning, the first thing most gamers will do to maximize their experience is scan their faces to create a realistic image of themselves in the game.

Fans who have played NBA 2K15 and 16 won't be reminded of a nightmarish experience in this aspect of the game. The scanning function is done on your mobile device, and if you have the right amount of lighting, you'll get a really accurate render in a matter of minutes. Here's how it works:

The only issue I've seen in the process is the skin-tone recognition. It doesn't always properly represent the pigment in one's skin, and there's no way to darken or lighten your player's complexion.

Once you've created your player, you can take him into Rising Stars or Live Pro-Am. I'd suggest Rising Stars to start off because it'll get you acclimated to the controls before competing against real people.

The single-player campaign-style mode returns virtually unchanged from last year, minus the GameFace HD inclusion. As has been the case for the last few versions, there's no storyline component to immerse gamers in the experience.

You're charged with guiding your created player throughout a career. You pick his position, size, weight and playing style upfront. Once you choose a style, you're married to that approach, which has its own strengths and weaknesses. That's a very cool addition that has an impact on Pro-Am mode once you begin to play.

Opportunities to level up your player arise throughout the Rising Stars mode, and the changes you make are reflected in Live Pro-Am. While the functionality of Rising Stars is OK, the lack of a storyline makes the mode very bland. It's hard not compare this mode to NBA 2K's MyCareer. It always has a story put in place to augment the mode. That's what makes MyCareer so good year after year.

Live Pro-Am is easily the best part of NBA Live 16.

The concept is similar to what gamers saw in NBA 2K15's MyPark mode. You're able to take your created player online to team up with up to four human-controlled players to battle five more users in a pick-up basketball setting. There's also an element called Summer Circuit.

In this aspect of the mode, you can team up with friends or go solo with bot teammates by your side against computer-controlled teams of NBA players. Doing well in this mode brings the gamer the opportunity to upgrade his or her player.

First and foremost, server stability has been great thus far. That's key with this type of mode. The player class you chose really comes into play here. The best mix of teammates has players who represent multiple aspects of the positional skills chart.

Playmaking point guards with slashing wings and rim-protecting centers are a great combination. There's a little lag from time to time, and the graphics are scaled back a little, but these wind up being a small concession.

The experience in this mode can be great if you have a group of players who respect the game of basketball. However, if you get stuck with a team of ball hogs, it's going to be a tough experience.

There's not much EA Sports can do in this regard, but paying attention to a player's teammate grade is a good way to know which players are likely going to annoy you.

Overall, this mode is enjoyable and could be reason enough for fans to check out NBA Live 16.