The reviews are in for "NBA 2K18" and "NBA Live 18," and for the first time since 2009, basketball fans have two good video games that are worth considering picking up.
"NBA 2K18" has an incredibly impressive feature set to go with more refined and complex gameplay, while "NBA Live 18" is an easier game to just "pick up and play" and offers a well-designed career mode.
"NBA 2K18 REVIEW: Legend grows with latest edition
Both games, however, also have their share of drawbacks. "NBA 2K18" is being heavily criticized by media and fans alike for its aggressive implementation of microtransactions, while the franchise mode in "NBA Live 18" has proven unsatisfying for those who primarily rely on that mode to provide value over the long term in its place as a traditional staple of sports video games.
Which game is the right one for you? The latest episode of the Press Row Podcast features a panel of reviewers discussing the ways in which each of the games excel, where they come up short and how they compare in a number of areas.
The panel of sports game experts includes myself as host (Sporting News, Pastapadre), Owen Good (Polygon), Kat Bailey (USgamer), MillsGamingTV (Operation Sports) and Richard Grisham (Out of the Park Developments). The Press Row Podcast can also be subscribed to on iTunes and many popular podcast delivery apps.
Among the other subjects raised during the show are impressions specific to the Nintendo Switch version of "NBA 2K18," accessibility vs. complexity, vanishing MyPlayers which have cost thousands of "2K18" gamers hours of time and a lot of money, whether sports games have started to focus too much on concepts that are barely related to the leagues they are licensed to represent, how much time is required to become a good player and to reach a point where enjoyment can be had and where both "NBA 2K18" and "NBA Live 18" stand in the intense and ultra-competitive sports game month of September.
The Press Row Podcast is sponsored by GamerSaloon, where you can now sign up now and receive a 50 percent bonus on your initial deposit by using the referall code "pressrow." Gamersaloon lets you play any game, any time, for any amount of money to win cash prizes.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and can be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.