Playing NBA 2K15 vs. the CPU

[Pared]

Just curious what are everyone's thoughts on playing the computer. While I don't want this to become an impressions thread, the focus here should be your experience playing ONLY the computer.

Personally, this year has been so refreshing and I cannot recall another 2k game out of the box where I've enjoyed just playing the CPU. It's not perfect but damn it if this doesn't deserve its own praise. I see the AI doing things that in the past required heavy edicts to rosters and sliders.

I'm also curious if anyone who disliked playing the CPU is enjoying it this year.

Your take?

[Bornindamecca]

The Freelance Offense is a great new addition that greatly improves the spacing and flow of every team.

The CPU responds well to R-Stick moves, but very poorly to zig-zagging, allowing you to walk past them even with a center.

The new shooting tweaks makes defense much more sim and reliable.

CPU coaches make adjustments when you go on streaks. Seems like it's thinking.

All auto-settings for the USER are boo-boo. Customize everything or you will see the dumbest rotations and defensive choices across the board. If you do customize, it plays a nice game of ball.

Rebounding is much improved.

Passing and catching could be more crisp. Seems like people can't step into a jump shot off of a curl. Need more time to see if there is a rhythm that improves this. I might just be too used to 2k14, but often a play will be going well and the pass and catch will allow the defender to recover from a bad position.

Love the new shooting system. Hitting an open, spot up shooter for a perfect release is very rewarding and guaranteed, but it's difficult to hit that release early on. I think players will adjust, but contesting the shots makes it(so far) impossible to get that green bar, so we might have the foundation for a balanced shooting system.

Overall the game is more sim, but the AI seems to have an old fashioned 2k cheese reserve it can tap into to hit contested shots and grab improbably rebounds when it needs to. It forces runs, but I'd rather they did that with smart lineup adjustments and new strategy without the added parmesan sprinkled on top.

[jeremym480]

I've posted in the impressions thread that one of my favorite things about 2k15 is how well the A.I. plays. The CPU runs their offense pretty damn effectively this year. Guards will pull up if they're open or drive past you if they have a lane. The CPU actually looks for their players in the post and they will post up; so all of the Bigs points aren't coming from guards dishing off of penetration and put backs.

Players also seem to play more like themselves. Rondo was killing be driving the lane and would occasionally post up or step back. Big Zeke had 20 and 8 against me when I played Memphis but Gasol was their player of the game with 16 and 16.

Personally, just off of A.I. alone the game is worth the upgrade over 2k14. When you factor in the other gameplay improvements (defensive responsiveness, passing, etc) and the new mode 2k15 really is a no-brainer. I can't wait to really dive in to MyLeague. I may not win 10 games with my Celtics, but it's going to be a blast.

edit: Oh and I forgot to mention that I haven't won a game on All Star yet.

[Pared]

I've seen what you are seeing Born but a balance this year that compliments the user as well. I've had the opportunity to go on runs and feel as if EVERYTHING goes my way. And I love that. It seems fair.

How many times do you watch a game in real life only to see your favorite team lose a lead to silly mistakes? I finally see the CPU doing this, at least on AS. And I don't have to resort to forcing anything, taking multiple timeouts, etc.

And who can't say the don't love seeing the CPU finally take a timeout after crossing half court??

[The 24th Letter]

Completely agree Pared.

I am having a great time playing the CPU...I literally haven't seen the slider screen yet. Don't think I will need to.

I haven't played every team, maybe 12 different teams, and 10 of them played to their tendencies perfectly. It seem's like CPU actually has a game plan. Dirk spent the entire second half going to work on me after being quiet the first half. One legged fades, pull ups, the whole 9. I cant remember the last time I've seen so much variety from the CPU.

Night and day from 2k14.

I agree with Born on most issues except shooting off the curl and CPU runs. I've stomped out some run's and succumbed to some...so it's been a good mix so far

[DonWuan]

If it wasnt for offensive rebounds and putbacks, cpu wouldnt have a chance on allstar/superstar.

[Mos1ted]

This is probably the most balanced 2K yet. Playing on Superstar, I've had games where I won by a buzzer beater, games where I lost by 10, games where I was down by as much as 16 only to come back and win by 12, and all of it felt dynamic. I finally feel like I can beat the best team in the league with the worst team in the league if I play smart basketball and executive effectively. In years past, I always felt that All-Star was too easy (once I learned the game) and Superstar was too cheesy. This year, there is finally a competitive balance that matches my skill level.

I literally only have one complaint (so far) regarding gameplay in 2K15, and that's the clunkiness of the walking animation. If they can patch that somehow, I'm golden.

[aga11ah]

CPU shot percentages are too high. granted.. that's because they seem to find ways to get an absurd amount of layups even when protect the paint is a PoE...

and I think inside shots are too hard for users... this is the NBA... wide open chippies should be going in.