Release Date: October 10 (Europe), October 7 (North America)
Platforms available on: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Sports
Genre: Sports
NBA 2K15 starts with a repeat of the 2014 Playoff final between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat, a match set to the beats of Pharrell Williams's awesome soundtrack.
Featuring some of the league's best teams and players, this is a match designed to show off as much as introduce the new gameplay tweaks. And when a game looks this good, you can't blame 2K Sports for wanting to brag.
Player animations are incredibly smooth, courts reflect the arena lights like never before, crowds feel more diverse, while players have a greater range of individual behaviours, from the way they dunk to the way they warm up.
It's not a stretch to suggest that it looks like the real thing when you cast the briefest of glances at the action on the court.
The illusion is shattered only when the camera zooms in on a player, although player likenesses (and particularly the tattoos) are still improved on last year.
2K Sports has showered all aspects of the presentation with the same love, introducing new features like NBA 2KTV to the main menu.
The soundtrack is the cherry on top of what is a wonderfully presented sports game that looks and sounds excellent.
Featuring interviews with NBA players, tips, highlights and more, it's a really novel way to foster an NBA 2K community, and could prove handy for amateur players like myself hoping to improve.
We also love the surprisingly hilarious pre-game segments involving Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal. This TV-style presentation is something we feel should be included in all new-gen sports games, and it's great to see it here.
Curated by Pharrell Williams, the soundtrack also deserves special praise. Not quite the hip-hop overload we were expecting, it's instead an eclectic mixture of music from all different genres.
Tracks by artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, Public Enemy and Pharrell himself are complemented by rockier numbers by the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys and Death from Above 1979.
We especially love Junior's 'Mama Used to Say', a jazzy song from the 1980s that feels right at home among the razzle dazzle of the courts.
The soundtrack is the cherry on top of what is a wonderfully presented sports game that looks and sounds excellent.
But make no mistake, NBA 2K15 is much more than just a good-looking game. It's another deep and technically proficient sports sim from the masters of the court.
Small upgrades, like the new shot meter at your player's feet, make a huge difference to the in-game action, giving users a clear indication about when to shoot.
Removing any guesswork, it's something that makes the game more accessible to rookie players, without dumbing anything down for hardcore fans.
Likewise, streamlined stat development in MyCareer mode makes player development more straightforward without sacrificing depth.
MyCareer, a mode where you guide a player to the top, also benefits from fully-voiced interactions with coaches, PR representatives and even NBA players who serve as mentors.
Cutscenes are quite cheesy at times and the conversation system is limited, but it definitely adds personality to a game mode that's supposed to be about growing as a character.
Small upgrades, like the new shot meter at your player's feet, make a huge difference to the in-game action, giving users a clear indication about when to shoot.
The same goes for MyGM mode, which places increased focus on the manager's relationship with players and owners, as well as fun distractions like dealing with social media and setting parking and ticket prices.
Even more control is offered as part of MyLeague, which lets users control almost every aspect of the league and even play as all 30 teams. This level of control does come at a price, as it can be difficult to navigate.
Unfortunately, our online experience has been marred by some noticeable lag, something which makes a fast-paced sports game feel unplayable.
It's a shame because online modes like the intriguing MyPark (where players can form crews and challenge others on street courts) are less appealing as a result. It has improved since our first outing, although there are still issues with waiting times.
Hopefully this is something that can be completely eradicated, although fortunately there's more than enough to be getting on with in single-player.
NBA 2K15 builds on the foundations laid down by its predecessors, providing an all-star basketball experience marred only by online issues.
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