NBA 2K24 Review – What’d you have, John, what’d I always have?

After Jordan was honored last year, for winning 23 titles, this year it is Kobe Bryant’s turn (because…24) to be the honorable face of the game. From the cover and collector’s edition called Black Mamba, to the mode dedicated to the biggest nights of his career, the game “wears” his colors. On the one hand, this is a welcome celebration of this great athlete, and on the other hand, another “suspicious” pattern of the series begins to take shape: a recurring appeal to nostalgia and fan sentiment that takes a central role in its promotion, shifting apart from the game, and what it is like A collector’s item for many fans of every athlete.

Of course, at this point, saying that the NBA 2K series is characterized by unquenchable greed is like saying that snow is white. However, as the years go by, it seems to lean more towards the broader commercial environment surrounding the NBA, and I think it aspires to be more than just basketball – it wants to position itself as an integral part of its culture. Like shoes. Some will get Kobe’s basketball shoes and others for fashion, culture and collections.

Anyway, this weird and uncomfortable tension between greedy promotion and pure love for the NBA has been the series for years now, and NBA 2K24 is no exception. Behind all the fancy packaging, endless product placements, and aggressive pursuit of microtransactions around every corner, there’s a basketball game that makes some effort to evolve every year, but it’s also a true tribute to the history of the league. So, to be clear before we start talking about the gameplay and this year’s additions, we have to point out that unfortunately there is no improvement at all in the VC (virtual currency) management part.

Exactly the same tactics as in previous years which would easily push the player, especially if he is involved in the online part and wants to be competitive, spending extra money, are present here as well. I don’t plan to expand further because I’m tired of writing it every year. If you want, you can read my review from last year or the one before.

In terms of gameplay now, I think it’s time to generally accept that this generational change will not (for many reasons) achieve the evolutionary leap we might have dreamed of. It’s now the third year that developers have been working with priority on PS5/Xbox Series versions, so I think safe conclusions can be drawn.

However, every year there are slow but steady steps towards a fundamentally better game. In this year’s title we have the addition of Pro Play technology that has practically allowed creators to translate footage from real NBA games into in-game animations. So instead of relying entirely on motion capture in the studio, they now have a more “natural” source for the virtual players’ movements.

To be honest, I don’t know if this technology has really made a difference, but I can confirm that the gameplay has become much smoother, with a slightly better sense of movement and momentum. In general, the games have a faster pace, the transition to surprise is more enjoyable, the player does not get “stuck” as often or for as long in annoying animation cycles, and his control is certainly more direct and precise. It is clear that the situation is particularly better in defence. Is there still room for improvement? naturally. But it’s a step in the right direction. Overall, I find the game to be excellent on the court, more often than not producing real basketball moments rather than annoyingly contrived moments that expose the limits of its systems.

Yes, it’s still possible that somehow the player behind you will catch you with a weird move and pop up in front of you because he probably has better defense and speed rating, or the tall guy will miss a basket from contact because it was a 60% covered shot. I think if you’ve played a little bit of NBA 2K over the years, you know exactly what moments I’m referring to. However, throws are now completely more rational and reliable, while in general, the player feels more “comfortable”.

The positive spells continue in My Career, which, once we understand that it does not aspire to tell a story, becomes a nice framework that motivates the player more subtly. Dialogue and “sauces” between matches have been reduced, along with bad humor and awkward moments, so there are no longer as many “barriers” to entering the arena – which is the really good part of the title. In this year’s edition, our player is a promising rookie and the game challenges us to reach GOAT status in our careers.

So it starts straight from the NBA, without introductions in college or anywhere else, and has the following very smart twist: It focuses on your battle against the league’s stars who play the same position as you. For example, me, who worked as a point guard, had to compete with Curry, Doncic, Lillard, etc. So, the game suggests you to skip most of the games and focus on these matches. It’s a nice way to “condense” several matches in a season, giving those matches as benchmarks and thus allowing for a multi-season career that won’t require an unreasonable number of hours from the player. Since we’re after career fulfillment, it makes sense that they found a way to make the seasons go faster, and personally, I found this to be a good thing even though you’re often playing against the same opposing teams.

The city, the center in which the events have taken place over the past few years, has now become more lively and stylish as an environment, with enough people wandering the streets, so it is ultimately a “warmer” place to walk around. However, I still find it boring and the option that adds several “unnecessary” moves between its points feels like a chore.

As for the rest of the situations, as is the case every year, the options are many. Special mention to the “Mamba Moments” that if you were in contact with your counterparts in Jordan last year, you know what to expect. It gives the player a chance to experience some of the most iconic looks of Kobe’s career. They are very stylish and if you are an NBA fan they will definitely bring back memories. Additionally, further expanding the options for the WNBA, through My Player you can create a player and compete with the best players in the league just like in My Career.