Gameplay
While I’m far from ready to compete on a professional level at a basketball sim, I feel competent enough to play with, and hold my own against, people online year in and out. My game plan mainly consists of basic pick and rolls and off the cuff spontaneous plays, which don’t work as well in NBA Live 18 as one might think.
Going up and down the court I found calling plays to be substantially more effective than I have in any basketball game in the past. While it was occasionally fun to drive and dish, I enjoyed myself a lot more making play calls and carrying out a well-designed offense than just trying to make something happen off the dribble.
On the defensive side of the game, man to man coverage felt fantastic and balanced, allowing for the contesting of open shots and forcing players to pick up their dribble before they might have been comfortable. I constantly felt like I was in control during every possession and that I could impact the game and make a stop if I set my mind to it.
While it might not be as easily accessible to pick up and play as the game has been in the past, and there are a few issues when it comes to calling some plays and setting screens, the extra emphasis on defense and offensive play calling adds a great amount of depth to NBA Live 18’s on court action.