NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

[Goffs]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

Eastern European prospects don't usually play the Rucker and Dyckman. [emoji12]


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Not my guy lol....thats what makes this game great.

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[scottyp180]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

There are plenty of canned animations in this game man, I'm surprised thered a notion there isn't...ill attribute it to hype. There are a lot of long driving animations you cant break once started.

Its not necessarily always a bad thing either...there are more canned animations then then there ever were in 15, 15 and 16....but I think most will say 18s gameplay is above all
There are canned animations that blatantly take away control, there there are some that improve interaction/realism...there's a lot of the latter. I think the Live realized all that cool physics/ limb entanglement and interaction is cool for replays but doesnt translate into basketball situations as well. This gens Lives suffered from players completely whiffing each other in the paint when trying to make contact. Not so much this year....ill take it.

As much as most of us hate the idea of "canned animations" and losing control of players, I'm not sure it is possible to have a basketball sim without them. Real time physics based engines don't seem to be at the level to produce a game with fluid, responsive controls and life-like animations and movements. In order to get to that point I think a company would need to dedicate years into building and developing a proper basketball centric engine and I doubt there is a company out there willing to spend the time and resources on such an endeavour. At one point this was EA's goal for Elite/Live and it nearly destroyed the franchise.

As for Live 18, the game is definitely a step in the right direction. It's not perfect and a little rough around the edges but I think EA finally has focus with this franchise after years of uncertainty.

[videobastard]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

They could tone down the frequency of the ball bouncing up to the top off the backboard. I have been playing play now without the shot meter with just feedback on. Game has a better feel when your just shooting freely without distractions.

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

I don't see anything happening when I use L1 on defense.

What is it supposed to do? What am I missing?

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You definitely have to get on board with L1 button.

I don't have the game fired up right now, but it was listed as "guard the ball" or something like that.

It's powerful (not in the sense that it's overpowered, but just powerful in that you can do more things with it). Holding onto L1 (PS4) makes your entire teammates defensive so much better. I saw much, much more contested brick shots than ever before.

The primary function is it makes playing on ball defense much easier. It allows you to stay in front of the ball handler much easier.

To illustrate it's real function as a defender. On defense, first switch to the defender guarding the ball. If you don't move your left analog stick, and simply hold the L1 button, your player will automatically move towards the ball handler. Secondly, while holding onto L1, move the left analog stick away from the ball handler and that will allow you to still stay engage but this allows you to keep a distance from the ball handler. Third, while still holding onto L1, release your left analog stick and your player will again move towards the ball handler.

Even during screens and switches, you could hold L1 and simply press X to switch to the closet defender or back to your original defender.

I don't always use L1. I use both L2 and L1 to mix things up, but to intensify your defense including your teammates, simply hold L1.

Use the combination of (holding down) L1 and contesting shot to actually make contesting shots matter. The opposition will tend to miss more contested shots.

Note: I play on the highest difficulty, superstar level. But the above most likely applies to any level.

[Vinsanity115]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

This may become my favorite basketball game since 2K11. Absolutely wonderful basketball mechanics and 100% skill based. I cannot wait to get online vs other humans...can't get over the amount of love it gives 1 vs 1 (offense and defense).

I can't believe how much they left out undiscussed as well...I go into Shootaround mode just to find out all these even more aspects to the game.. Self alley oops Kobe style when stuck, Dirk style fadaways out of post up, shot alterations while in an animation.

There is just so much good involved in this gameplay it's where we should be currently with basketball games from a gameplay mechanic standpoint.

DEFENSE makes this unbeatable imo. It's truly a game inside of a game.


My gripes are the wonky/floaty-ness that takes over on dunks and kind of standard shooting and the lack of variety of signature dunks, signature shots could be improved, as well as interior scoring at times. I'd way rather have the gameplay mechanics first and foremost than anything mentioned above like an abundance of dunk packages, and I also have confidence they will be adding these in now that the have a true foundation of good basketball to rest on.

The thing with the interior play, a lot of iffy blind little push shots just go in with anybody. Sometimes they get blocked, which is nice, but often it's just too automatic.

[ucfberman]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

You definitely have to get on board with L1 button.

I don't have the game fired up right now, but it was listed as "guard the ball" or something like that.

It's powerful (not in the sense that it's overpowered, but just powerful in that you can do more things with it). Holding onto L1 (PS4) makes your entire teammates defensive so much better. I saw much, much more contested brick shots than ever before.

The primary function is it makes playing on ball defense much easier. It allows you to stay in front of the ball handler much easier.

To illustrate it's real function as a defender. On defense, first switch to the defender guarding the ball. If you don't move your left analog stick, and simply hold the L1 button, your player will automatically move towards the ball handler. Secondly, while holding onto L1, move the left analog stick away from the ball handler and that will allow you to still stay engage but this allows you to keep a distance from the ball handler. Third, while still holding onto L1, release your left analog stick and your player will again move towards the ball handler.

Even during screens and switches, you could hold L1 and simply press X to switch to the closet defender or back to your original defender.

I don't always use L1. I use both L2 and L1 to mix things up, but to intensify your defense including your teammates, simply hold L1.

Use the combination of (holding down) L1 and contesting shot to actually make contesting shots matter. The opposition will tend to miss more contested shots.

Note: I play on the highest difficulty, superstar level. But the above most likely applies to any level.

Yes, as a defender this activates the 1-on-1 game, what 18 is built on. IT will follow the ball handler around and be able to cut him off, bump him, force pick-up, steals, etc... all about timing and predicting where the ball handler will go.

LT/L2 = Guard your Man
LB/L1 = Guard the BALL... BE CAREFUL with this though.. if you switch off the on-ball defender, say power forward/center under the basket.. he will come running towards the ball handler leaving his man wide open..

As i said and posted last night.. LT/L2 should be held at all times on defender..even OFF-BALL.
Go back to page 54, post #425, shows video of off-ball.

[thedream2k16]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

I know they want to grow their fanbase but there's an issue with automatic animations on offense and defense. I jump for rebounds without pressing a button many times which gets me out of position and my guy jumps up to steal alley oop passes without me pushing a button. We don't need this much hand holding EA.

[xCoachDx]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

I noticed when I backed Curry into the post with a Lebron the CPU instantly doubled me. Pretty cool

I noticed some double teams in the right situations but they aren't coming from the right places. I've repeatedly seen doubling from the weakside off of Klay Thompson, shouldn't be doubling off of him anyways but certainly not from the opposite side of the floor.


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[strawberryshortcake]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

Yes, as a defender this activates the 1-on-1 game, what 18 is built on. IT will follow the ball handler around and be able to cut him off, bump him, force pick-up, steals, etc... all about timing and predicting where the ball handler will go.

LT/L2 = Guard your Man
LB/L1 = Guard the BALL... BE CAREFUL with this though.. if you switch off the on-ball defender, say power forward/center under the basket.. he will come running towards the ball handler leaving his man wide open..

As i said and posted last night.. LT/L2 should be held at all times on defender..even OFF-BALL.
Go back to page 54, post #425, shows video of off-ball.

Prior to using the L1/LB button, even with right analog stick contest, way too many contested shots were going in for the NBA play now CPU (offline superstar level). As soon as I started using L1 (PS4, more there were more contested bricks by the CPU.

I'm still going to be using L2 in conjunction with L1, but when I need to truly contest a shot, it's most likely going to be L1. They don't always miss, but now it feels like I'm rewarded for actually contesting their shots.

Secondly, the right analog contest stick doesn't seem to always respond.

[Vinsanity115]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

I know they want to grow their fanbase but there's an issue with automatic animations on offense and defense. I jump for rebounds without pressing a button many times which gets me out of position and my guy jumps up to steal alley oop passes without me pushing a button. We don't need this much hand holding EA.

I'll gladly take that over an alley oop being an automatic button every time like it was at the beginning of 16 (never played that after the demo)

[thedream2k16]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

Prior to using the L1/LB button, even with right analog stick contest, way too many contested shots were going in for the NBA play now CPU (offline superstar level). As soon as I started using L1 (PS4, more there were more contested bricks by the CPU.

I'm still going to be using L2 in conjunction with L1, but when I need to truly contest a shot, it's most likely going to be L1. They don't always miss, but now it feels like I'm rewarded for actually contesting their shots.

Secondly, the right analog contest stick doesn't seem to always respond.

you have to jump its the only way to defend a shot consistently

[Vinsanity115]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

WOW. Getting a big switched onto an elite guard (Love onto Curry in this situation) is absolutely beautiful spot on. Exactly how it should be. You can absolutely cook them and get them on skates but it's not as simple as back forth back forth always, pretty awesome.

[DJ]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

OK, Live, I see you.

I played a good bit of Live 15 and 16, and will say after playing the 18 Demo that it was a good move to pass on releasing a game last year.

The career mode looks like a blast. The ESPN integration in the Demo was really well done. I can see myself actually playing this mode.

Like how the demo throws you into a pickup game featuring the league's best players. Kyrie hit some crazy scoop shots, similar to how he was scoring against GSW in the paint in this year's Finals.

Hit a sweet transition 3 with Curry. He's lethal in the game, as he should be.

AI still needs some work, as there's still instances of players not moving and the ballhandler just dribbling the shot clock down before hoisting up a contested shot. Rebounding seems hit and miss.

[young22]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

The tip slams off free throws, the crazy blocks, and those reverse layups need to be toned down. I like the layup animations, just lower the success rate. And the blocks do not all need to go out of bounds.

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[Lisac]

Re: NBA Live 18 - Demo Impressions

After a 2yr layoff if this game doesnt allow you to edit anything it will be truly disappointing as this is the most fun Ive had playing a Hoops game in years!