10 Gaming Franchises That Suffer From Extreme Over-Complication
9. NBA 2k
While it's good that the dribble moves have moved to the right stick in recent entries, the control scheme for NBA 2K is still mind-meltingly complicated. There are modifiers, button combinations, roll-outs and spin moves to perform, all of which seem to require the dexterity of a classically-trained octopus pianist. This isnt necessarily a bad thing as you can play and have success without knowing the controls in and out on easy difficulties, but once you get into situations involving the low and high-posts, as well as real opponents, things become a crap-shoot as to what moves and buttons do what and where... and you'll panic. Simply put, NBA 2k is intimidating. If you're a new player entering into the 2K fold, prepare for a daunting and frustrating journey as you'll make your big men shoot threes, point guards attempt dunks, and offensive three second violations become your best friend. Unlike Madden Football or MLB: The Show, NBA basketball is a fast-paced game where you rarely get a second to think, adjust or take a breath and a wrong button press results in the other team getting the ball and easy points. As a result playing the NBA 2k series is an investment. You'll start like the fat kid in gym class who gets passed the ball and chucks up a wing and a prayer just to get rid of the thing, and by the time you've invested a few hours, you're comfortable enough to hold, dribble and move, but unless you're willing to study the controls and dig deep into tutorials and Youtube videos to experiment on your own, you'll find many of your shots blocked, jukes duped, passes intercepted and far too many things happening you don't want too - remaining unsure why. NBA 2k is one of the best series' going on consoles, and making it less complicated - while maintaining its complexity - is one of the few things Visual Concepts could do to drastically improve an already excellent - but needlessly obtuse - franchise.
