Last years next-gen debut of the NBA 2K series was a disappointment to many. Being a straight up port it offered the awesome all around experience that it has been known to create; however the $20 bump in price really wasn’t worth it seeing as you were only in a sense, buying better graphics. This year’s installment however will not disappoint as 2K Sports have made numerous adjustments and added several features that makes this installment a true contender in this year’s NBA title bout.
Arriving at the main menu you’ll notice something different. Taking a page out of the NBA Live franchise, 2K has also attempted to change the way one navigates the menu system. Instead of being taken directly to a list of game modes you arrive at a screen which is already set-up for a quick game. Simply choose the teams and you are immediately taken into the arena for a first class basketball experience. Navigating these new menus will take some getting used to as you no longer use the B button as the “back out” option. Instead you simply pull right on the right thumbstick and it brings up the menu. Pull right again and it exits you. A bit awkward at first; yes, but once accustomed it saves time and streamlines many redundant processes.
The overall game, which is considered the best all around game on the market by many, has received small but noticeable improvements. Post-play has finally received the attention it deserves. Now backing down your opponent isn’t worthless as you can tap the Y button for a pro-hop which, depending on your player’s positioning, can leave you open for a hard dunk or set you up for a graceful hook shot.
The opposing A.I. has received a significant boost in most cases. The computer can tell when you are about to roll off a screen and will adjust their defense accordingly. Or if one of your players is filling it up from everywhere on the court the computer will start double teaming and trapping your player on the sidelines. All of this carries over until the last one or two minutes of the game. Then the A.I. starts to have mental blocks such as going for a 2 point shot when they need 3 to stay in the game, and sometimes not shooting at all. But overall the A.I. will challenge you more than in previous years.
Thankfully charges have been toned down quite a bit. In previous installments you could almost always draw a charge even if you didn’t have position. Now drawing a charge is no easy task and makes it that much more rewarding when you do accomplish it. Along with taking a charge the ability to continuously throw full court lobs has also been toned down. Now the computer picks those kinds of passes off at will. These small but noticeable changes have made the game better in that every possession counts. Every time you miss a shot or turnover the ball you know that your opponent, whether it be human or computer, will attack the hoop with more ferocity.
