Most Overlooked Current Gen Games - Part Eight

There's no shortage of great video games out there, but not all go on to sell millions or get a huge following. That's why SuperPhillip Central's "Most Overlooked" series of articles came to fruition. SuperPhillip Central once again puts the spotlight on some games that either fell through the figurative cracks or just didn't get as much attention as they may have deserved from the gaming populace. This edition's list features super speedy mascot racers, precision platforming with bikes, and one underrated series of b-ball playgrounds.

Before you leap in to this edition's five choices, check out past installments of Most Overlooked Current Gen Games with the following links:

Current Gen - Part One
Current Gen - Part Two
Current Gen - Part Three
Current Gen - Part Four
Current Gen - Part Five
Current Gen - Part Six
Current Gen - Part Seven

Team Sonic Racing (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)

We start with the most recently released game on this list, and although Team Sonic Racing reached number one in its first week in the UK market, the competition wasn't all that taxing. In May 2019's NPD results for the U.S., Team Sonic Racing failed to make much of a dent on the sales charts, debuting at 19th place with all systems included. It's disappointing, as the game is considerably a great deal of fun with excellent and enjoyable track design, sensational speeds, and an engaging campaign mode that can be played alone or with help from a friend. The lack of SEGA's other all-star characters like previous SEGA + Sumo Digital racers and releasing a month before the more ambitious and hyped Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled certainly didn't do Team Sonic Racing any favors.

Trials Rising (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)

The latest in the long-running Trials series, Trials Rising, came and went in its launch month last February without too much fanfare. Between the levels, which are the best in the Trials series, and the wonderful "one more time" gameplay, Trials Rising delivered an immense amount of thrills and--if you're as amateur a player as I am--spills. The added rider customization options brought forth a lot of creativity within the Trials Rising community, but things like loot boxes, inventory glitches, and slow progression put off many players and potential players-to-be. Still, even with the issues--and this isn't of course a means to excuse them--Trials Rising ended up being a raucously good time that encouraged patience and precision in perfecting levels, besting times, and hitting the top of the leaderboards.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)

We go from one game with microtransactions and loot boxes to another with NBA 2K Playgrounds 2. No doubt the figurative taste of the overall unsatisfactory NBA Playgrounds put many players off of the 2K-funded sequel. However, if you don't mind the randomness of unlocking the particular NBA all-star you want to play as, as the game uses a system where you earn players randomly from purchased card packs (which can be bought with in-game currency or yes, real-world money), then you'll find a lot to enjoy about NBA 2K Playgrounds 2's most important part of its B-ball experience, the actual gameplay itself. Dunking the ball on your opponent and making a clutch half-court buzzer-beater will never stop being entertaining (unless you're the opponent, of course), and I happily spent dozens of hours engaged with NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 after overestimating how aggressive the microtransactions would be coming from 2K. (Note: They weren't a force to be reckoned with whatsoever.)

Super Bomberman R: Shiny Edition (PS4, XB1, PC)

Success on the Nintendo Switch does not mean success on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Steam. At least that's the story of Super Bomberman R's debut on the latter three platforms. Not only did the players on these platforms get an exclusive character each, but they got the broken-in version of Super Bomberman R. Essentially, Switch owners were beta testers as the game added patches and updates to make for a better game. Said better game was what PS4, Xbox, and Steam players received right from the get-go with all of the AI difficulties balanced, camera issues worked out, and content like new characters and arenas added. Unfortunately, it's good luck finding anyone online to play Super Bomberman R with if you're searching for a random lobby to join, as the game's online scene is a ghost town.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes (NSW)

With the official E3 2019 announcement of No More Heroes 3, it's an opportune time to mention the side game that predates it and even hinted at NMH3 as well, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes for the Nintendo Switch. Always destined to be a cult favorite at best and left to obscurity at worst due to its gameplay style and wacky, eccentric charm, Travis Strikes Again managed to be an entertaining ride from beginning to end. The isometric perspective and hack and slash gameplay wasn't always on point, but the style and sheer insanity of the story and intriguing characters more than made up for it. I always wanted to see what strange twist would pop up next. With the game announced to be arriving on more platforms, I hope more players will get to deep dive into Travis Strike Again: No More Heroes in anticipation for the third mainline installment in the No More Heroes series.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 (NSW, PS4, XB1, PC) Review

For the past month or so, I've dribbled, dunked, shot, stole balls, pushed other players, and blocked shots like Michael Jordan in his glory years. Obviously I didn't do this in real life, but I did do so in NBA 2K Playgrounds 2. While the NBA season continues, why don't we take to the court together with this in-depth review of a surprisingly solid b-ball romp?

The court is your playground, so let's play some ball, y'all.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 brings with it high-octane, 2-on-2 b-ball with lots of engaging arcade action. Starting off, you get some Card Packs to open to unlock some random players to select from to play as. As you'll see as you begin playing, each player has their own stats based on how good, bad or ordinary they are at 2-pointers, 3-pointers, dunking, blocking, stealing, and running without blowing a lot of stamina.

There's an experience and leveling up mechanic for each player. To begin, it's as simple as playing continuously as a given player and playing well. If you want to advance a given player beyond the Gold rank, you need to complete a checklist of objectives for them, such simple tasks like performing two dunks in a game or doing five crossovers in a game to more challenging objectives like blocking two dunks or scoring five 3-pointers in one game.

Watch out. There are legends on the court!

As you level up players, they become more skillful in games. For instance, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 uses a gauge system when a player attempts to take their shot. Stopping the gauge as close to the middle of the green area (as opposed to the red, orange, or yellow) results in a better likelihood of the ball going in the net. Bronze-level players will more likely have a low 2-pointer stat number. As they level up to silver, gold, and then possibly diamond (done by completing all of a player's objectives), their stat numbers improve, allowing them better chances to score 2-pointers.

Fly like an eagle into the future--the future being a slam dunk worth two points.

This leveling up system can be a bit of a pain in the butt, though. For one, every player you get starts out with weak stats. Sure, they can be somewhat competent or even excel in one or two areas of the game, but they'll be lesser players all the same--even if they're Legends or Epic players like Kevin Durant or Allan Iverson, for example. This usually results in a lot of missed shots, frustratingly so, and a weak on-court experience. Furthermore, if you wish to play online with your favorite players and actually be competitive, you'll most likely need high leveled characters just to stand a chance. The player imbalances can result in some really lopsided games with one team's players shooting 3-pointers with ease while the other team struggles with simple layups and jump shots.

Still, when you get comfortable with the controls--which truthfully take some getting used to--and you level up your players enough, you'll find yourself easily laying up shots, performing finger roll baskets, killer dunks that have players leaping high into the air and jumping off the rim to slam the ball through the basket, blocking shots and even the occasional dunk attempt, pleasing the crowd with team and self-alley-oops, and much more. NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 succeeds in the most important area of all--it's just plain darn fun, and I say that as someone with a passing interesting in basketball and the NBA at best. Perhaps I'd be more interested if St. Louis had an NBA team to call its own... Just sayin'.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 contains plenty of content to it to make for an arcade basketball game that'll have you spending a lot of time on the dozen themed courts within the game. Whether you're having an Exhibition game on a steamboat in St. Louis (See? At least 2K and Saber Interactive didn't let me down) or having a 3-point contest in the middle of the Outback in the Australia court, you're going to be delighted with the incredible hustling and bustling environments and backgrounds on each court.

Light up the already lit up Seoul court even more with some skillful shooting.

Meanwhile, Season Mode offers a a little over a dozen games to play as your favorite team, selecting a duo of players on the roster to take to the court and compete against other teams in your own conference. This leads to the NBA Playoffs, the Conference Finals, and then the NBA Finals themselves--all of which are a best 2 out of 3 set of series. Winning a championship as a team unlocks a special Legend to add to your collection of players. There can be a bit of a grind to play through 14 or 15 game seasons plus the playoffs to earn new Legends, but it's another optional goal to shoot for in NBA 2K Playgrounds 2.

This lottery pick froze the other team's net. They'll have to hit the net with three shots to unfreeze it.

Exhibition Games can use custom rules, such as choosing your court and basketball used, game time, how many seconds are on the shot clock, and whether lottery rules are used and which ones. Lottery rules include temporary things like two times the points for dunks and three-pointers, infinite stamina, a sped up shot clock for your opponents, and a ball that become caught in a blaze, allowing you to sink a shot from anywhere on the court--as long as your shot isn't blocked. All of these bonuses are temporary and randomly selected as rewards when the blue basketball meter on the bottom corner of the screen is fully filled. This is performed by successful shots and steals on the court by your team.

A big concern I had with NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 was how microtransactions would interfere with the game. There are two currency within NBA 2K Playgrounds 2--Baller Bucks, which are earned from normal play, and Golden Bucks, which can be earned from completing daily challenges, earned from opening Gold Card Packs, and yes, purchasing with real world money. Getting Card Packs is performed by spending Baller Bucks, which come naturally and more often than Golden Bucks. If you are wanting to earn every player right off the back, you'll have to spend some actual money to purchase enough Golden Bucks to unlock the entire roster.

He's on FIRE! Wait. Wrong NBA game series.

Otherwise, if you're just like me, and were in no hurry to unlock everyone, you can just play through the game normally, hoping to unlock NBA players you're familiar with. No doubt NBA fans will want the best players in their roster, such as Lebron James or Michael Jordan--both players I lucked out on getting very early. Therefore, the RNG nature of opening Card Packs for the hopes of getting the NBA all-stars you want to play as can be maddening when you keep opening packs and get players you don't want rather than the ones you do. Still, if you have the patience to do so, by playing the game organically and completing daily challenges and opening Card Packs to earn Golden Bucks, you'll eventually get enough to unlock the entire roster by spending the 4,000 needed of the game's premium currency through ordinary play and perseverance.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 more than satisfies my desire for NBA Jam-like game that doesn't merely copy the formula, but instead adds to and iterates on it. The experience on the court is fast, fluid, fun, and exciting, having a bit of a learning curve at the beginning, but then easy to shoot and move like an NBA pro. While the level up, player unlocking, and microtransaction systems in place gave me some pause, overall, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 sinks its shot from mid-court for an amazing three-pointer.

[SPC Says: B+]