Instead of the loose narratives and scattered cutscenes of the previous MyCareer modes in previous games, Lee came up with “Livin’ Da Dream,” the framing device for the first six hours of the MyCareer mode in “NBA 2K16.”
As a writer, producer, and director, Lee actually turned it into a feature film which many gamers find unnecessary. And instead of players choosing their own path for their playable characters to greatness or oblivion, they are forced to take in one player only whose name is Frequency Vibrations or Freq.
Freq already has his own story in the game and whether the gamer likes it or not, he would have to live with the character the rest of the way in charting his basketball career all the way to the NBA.
Critics say that aside from being filled with cliché, shallow, and ridiculous, “Livin’ Da Dream” has actually gobbled up the excitement from the mode, to the point that many are saying that Spike Lee may have misunderstood the appeal of the MyCareer mode in the first place.
Instead of being a fun and free-wheeling take to greatness or oblivion, the current MyCareer mode becomes an oppressive and narrow experience and at odds with the mode’s actual gameplay and character development.
2K Sports has yet to make a statement to respond to the criticisms now being receive by the MyCareer mode of “NBA 2K16.”