ACasualPlayer
NBA Live 19 2018
Log Status
Completed
Playing
Backlog
Wishlist
Rating
Time Played
48h 21m
Platforms Played
NBA Live 19 is a good casual-sim. Gameplay isn't as simulation-like and realistic as NBA 2K, but good enough to play casually with a bit of depth and intuitiveness. A fair bit of control stick options and offensive/defensive moves exist, whether you want to play on a casual level or serious level. Like all sports titles, Game speed and sliders can be tailored for your preferred playing experience.
Live was once king in 05 and 10, then had a rough transition when it debuted on the Xbox One and PS4. 19 isn't nearly as good or feature rich as installments from past generations, but it's the best out of the current run of NBA Live titles.
Franchise Mode (formerly Dynasty) lacks some basic features. Considering how in depth and advanced other sports titles Franchise modes have gotten, Live 19's is certainly playable, but mostly forgettable. The One, which is the single player Career Mode, provides a lot of fun. You create a male or female baller and pick a position which gives you certain abilities and stats to specialize in. It's very RPG like in the sense that you only control your player during Career Mode games (can call for teammates to pass to you) and you are awarded a post-game score analysis based on how well you perform in game. Best part is this mode does not have any sort of microtransactions and leveling up your player is simple.
Online modes such as Live Run and Court Battles I can't comment on due to jumping into the game late in its life cycle (around 2020) and the online component likely being dead.
Ultimate Team, controversial as it may be and microtransactions aside, is actually a decent mode. I can't speak for Madden or FIFA or even NBA 2K's versions since I never dived into them. But NBA Live 19's seems fair. The way it works if you are given a few thousand single player challenges across different categories. Most consist of final 30 second to 3 minute, 4th quarter challenges where you have to either keep your team in the lead, or come back from a 4, 6 or 10 point trail. More difficult and involved challenges come later. Winning these awards coins (or sometimes bronze/silver/gold packs and players depending on the challenge and difficulty). Coins are used to buy packs or cards in the market, which is an auction house people can use to buy, sell and trade cards. Card prices for gold players was cheap, though this was largely due to the fact that I played this game around 2020, as most people probably put their player cards up for sale since they have quit the game and moved on. You can play online with your Ultimate Team player squad or take your UT into a custom exhibition mode. Even then, I still stand by my comment that this Ultimate Team mode was fun, fair and not predatory or pay-to-win.
The addition of WNBA players is a nice addition, even being able to create a WNBA player in The One Career Mode was something I enjoyed. Though, a WNBA Ultimate Team could have been interesting.
Yes, NBA Live 19 is fun. Not as great as favorites like say NBA Live 2005 and 2010 and whatever else is in between, but likely the best Live game to date. Worth it for the casual basketball fan that wants something simple, but not too arcade-like.
Live was once king in 05 and 10, then had a rough transition when it debuted on the Xbox One and PS4. 19 isn't nearly as good or feature rich as installments from past generations, but it's the best out of the current run of NBA Live titles.
Franchise Mode (formerly Dynasty) lacks some basic features. Considering how in depth and advanced other sports titles Franchise modes have gotten, Live 19's is certainly playable, but mostly forgettable. The One, which is the single player Career Mode, provides a lot of fun. You create a male or female baller and pick a position which gives you certain abilities and stats to specialize in. It's very RPG like in the sense that you only control your player during Career Mode games (can call for teammates to pass to you) and you are awarded a post-game score analysis based on how well you perform in game. Best part is this mode does not have any sort of microtransactions and leveling up your player is simple.
Online modes such as Live Run and Court Battles I can't comment on due to jumping into the game late in its life cycle (around 2020) and the online component likely being dead.
Ultimate Team, controversial as it may be and microtransactions aside, is actually a decent mode. I can't speak for Madden or FIFA or even NBA 2K's versions since I never dived into them. But NBA Live 19's seems fair. The way it works if you are given a few thousand single player challenges across different categories. Most consist of final 30 second to 3 minute, 4th quarter challenges where you have to either keep your team in the lead, or come back from a 4, 6 or 10 point trail. More difficult and involved challenges come later. Winning these awards coins (or sometimes bronze/silver/gold packs and players depending on the challenge and difficulty). Coins are used to buy packs or cards in the market, which is an auction house people can use to buy, sell and trade cards. Card prices for gold players was cheap, though this was largely due to the fact that I played this game around 2020, as most people probably put their player cards up for sale since they have quit the game and moved on. You can play online with your Ultimate Team player squad or take your UT into a custom exhibition mode. Even then, I still stand by my comment that this Ultimate Team mode was fun, fair and not predatory or pay-to-win.
The addition of WNBA players is a nice addition, even being able to create a WNBA player in The One Career Mode was something I enjoyed. Though, a WNBA Ultimate Team could have been interesting.
Yes, NBA Live 19 is fun. Not as great as favorites like say NBA Live 2005 and 2010 and whatever else is in between, but likely the best Live game to date. Worth it for the casual basketball fan that wants something simple, but not too arcade-like.