NBA Live 19 Review

As much as EA has tried to break into the basketball market in recent years, they have completely failed to stop the domination of the 2K series. With NBA Live 19 they seek to end the reign of that series. There is plenty of work to do but can EA get anywhere close to toppling the 2K basketball empire?

Tutorial

For anyone new to basketball games or those who are unfamiliar with how NBA Live does things, there is an extensive tutorial available from the main menu. This section gives an excellent run down of every gameplay mechanic in the game and provides plenty of opportunities for you to practice them.

There are countless drills as well as 1v1 sessions to hone those skills. After a short period training, you should have a good understanding of everything you need to know on the court. It is a welcome addition and done in a more subtle way than many other tutorials.

Gameplay

So, just how good is the gameplay? For one thing, it is fairly intuitive. Even without the in-depth “Learn how to play” section, it is possible to pick up and get going in a basketball match without any real issues.

Without the complexities of the 2K series, NBA Live 19 can simply let loose with the fun. This mentality works well considering how fast basketball actually is.

However, A.I. opponents do have their problems occasionally and make decisions that seem downright odd. Seeing a defender foul constantly is not uncommon and it can take away from the flow. Yet there is still a fluidity to the teams moving up and down the court as defense is constantly being turned into attack. In that respect, this title has nailed that aspect of its real-life counterpart.