As a die-hard basketball fan who’s been playing this series since the days of NBA 2K10, I must say that 2K25 has both its highs and lows. The new shooting and dribbling mechanics have certainly brought me closer to the court, making every swish and crossover feel like a triumph. It’s as if I can almost hear the cheers of the crowd and feel the sweat dripping down my forehead in the heat of the game.
In simpler terms, NBA 2K 25 offers significant upgrades in gameplay and visual presentation, yet it fails to completely address problems seen in previous versions, preventing the series from attaining the heights of nostalgic admiration.
Despite the many aspects that NBA 2K25 gets right, the prevalence of microtransactions tends to diminish the overall enjoyment, a trend that’s not unique to this game. The NBA 2K23 community voiced their displeasure with MyCareer when they were compelled to spend real money on Virtual Currency in order to enhance their player’s abilities, and similar complaints surfaced among players of NBA 2K24 as well.
In non-VC situations, I frequently find myself at a disadvantage against my online competitors, even within the MyTeam mode. Regrettably, this issue persists in NBA 2K25 as well. However, despite some underlying problems, the novel features have an irresistible allure that keeps me engaged and eager for more.
NBA 2K25
- Price: $69.99 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch), $69.99 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
- Developer: Visual Concepts
- Release Date: September 6, 2024
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
NBA 2K25 trailer
ProPLAY animations finally find their footing
2K Sports revealed their innovative technology named ProPLAY, intended to mimic iconic basketball moves such as jump shots, slam dunks, lay-ups, dribbling techniques, and more from NBA stars. Regrettably, this feature failed to translate effectively, resulting in jerky and unrealistic animations.
2K25 made a significant leap forward, which is fantastic news. The dribbling in this game feels the best it has in years. I’m not an extremely skilled player, but executing Kyrie Irving’s Dribble Breakdown to outmaneuver a defender or scoring using Luka Doncic’s signature move was simple and rewarding.
To put it another way, although there have been improvements, the system still requires some adjustments. The gameplay speed needs to be increased significantly since players seem slow and don’t exhibit the quick, agile movements you’d expect from top-tier athletes. This was particularly apparent when defenders appeared to be rooted in place rather than shifting positions to offer help defense, or ball handlers struggled to maintain pace during fast breaks.
In summary, Visual Concepts is commendable for producing seamless and genuine animation work. I have high expectations that the quality of ProPLAY will keep growing.
Shooting advancements get contested by community members
As a fan of competitive game modes, I always appreciate a developer introducing a mechanic that separates high-level and low-skilled players. However, 2K25’s attempt to appease casual and competitive users only causes more division.
“Shot cancelling enables you to transition from a shot attempt into another move or dashing towards the hoop instead. With practice, you can keep your opponents off-balance and second-guessing their strategies. The Shot Timing Profiles innovation grants points for consistent, well-timed shots. Selecting the High-Risk Reward option provides an edge in shooting compared to regular attempts; it increases the likelihood of perfect releases if timed correctly.
Just like Rhythm Shooting introduces a skill disparity by requiring players to simulate a shooting action using the right joystick and rewarding fluid motions, mastering this mechanic along with the other two provides a greater sense of control over successful shots and missed attempts.
However, that is all negated by the randomness added to three-point shooting. NBA2KLab discovered that the excellent shot timing window significantly shrinks after the fourth consecutive three-point shot made in a row, making it nearly impossible to score more than four consecutively.
In a different phrasing, Mike Wang, the director of NBA 2K25, defended the adjustment by stating it aimed to align the three-point field goal percentage within the game to match real NBA player statistics. However, I’d like to express that such a change shouldn’t discourage players from excelling at the game.
Despite that, all of the shooting changes are a welcome addition.
Core game modes are what you expect
In contrast to the novel features, the game modes don’t have much to discuss. If you’re familiar with the series, you already have an idea of what’s in store, and even beginners can pick up on them quite easily.
In my opinion, the recent update by MyGM that includes a fresh RPG-style point distribution system and perks is commendable. However, I found myself preferring the simplified version of MyNBA due to its less tedious dialogues, tasks, and unrealistic demands from owners.
Among all aspects, I found the various time periods particularly captivating, as this game title also includes “The Steph Era”. Managing a team and attempting to thwart the potential Warriors dynasty proved to be an intriguing test of skills.
In simpler terms, my experience with MyTeam fell short of what I had hoped for. Typically, I’m quite fond of Ultimate Team game modes found in sports games. After finishing the offline Domination challenges, I anticipated it would set me up nicely for online competition. However, I found it challenging to discover alternative methods to accrue MT and acquire beneficial cards for my team without resorting to real-world spending.
my Team hosted some exclusive promotional activities featuring thrilling card offerings, however, I found them somewhat challenging to acquire. In my personal gaming journey within MyCareer, the experience mirrored this as I relished the challenge of playing offline and advancing organically through NBA matches, which remains an enjoyable aspect for me.
As soon as I attempted to enter the Park and engage in some gameplay, I found myself significantly underprepared. Enhancing my player using Virtual Coins was an option, but it wasn’t something I was keen on pursuing.
TopMob Review Score: 3/5
2K25 could be a fantastic buy for basketball enthusiasts, provided you’re willing to overlook the substantial impact of microtransactions in MyCareer, MyTeam, and some minor issues. The fresh shooting and dribbling mechanisms effectively contribute to a realistic gaming experience.
Experiencing this feels like slipping into the sneakers of my most admired NBA legends, and the gameplay itself leaves you yearning for more.
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2024-11-14 18:48