NBA 2K16 is a hard act to follow. It was one of the most complete sports video games ever made. That’s obviously my opinion, but there’s a fleet of journalists who feel similarly.
When the last two versions of a series has an average Metacritic score of 84.5 (PS4 and Xbox One) there’s no questioning the critical reception.
Needless to say, the bar is set high. Does NBA 2K17 deliver an experience fit to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps? Here are the pros and cons.
Positives
Faster And Smoother Gameplay
Flow has always been one of NBA 2K’s greatest attributes. The on-court action has always had the type of symmetry that has escaped the NBA Live brand, and that’s one of the biggest reasons 2K’s series has enjoyed more success.
That aspect of the game has seen yet another leap in quality. The action is quicker and boosted by even more fluidity.
If you were simply watching the way the on-screen players move from 15 feet away, NBA 2K17 could pass for a real NBA broadcast (if you’re playing on broadcast view).
Tons Of New Animations
Part of what makes the game’s action look so authentic is its array of animations to fit almost every possible situation. Most of the new animations stem from situations created by contact.
This not only makes the game look better, it also makes the gameplay more realistic.
Dribble Moves Are Appropriately Complex
Pulling off sick dribble combinations isn’t as easy as it was in the last two games. Instead of simply flicking the stick in one direction to initiate a full size-up, you’ll have to chain moves together with a series of stick movements.
That might sound complicated, and it can be, but that depends on how fancy you want to get.
The more skilled players on the sticks will be able to string moves together like a virtual ball-handling maestro.
Because it’s more challenging, the payoff for breaking ankles is much higher. Perhaps the best part of this alteration is that you don’t need to master this skill to have fun.
However, the more you learn the better you’ll be.
Defensive Concepts And Offensive Philosophies Are In Full Effect
AI-controlled players rotate quicker on defense and offensive players who are moving without the ball aren’t allowed to simply roam free as they hunt for soft areas in the defense.
Deflections and other types of ball pressure bring defense into the game as much as it has ever been.
The development team has also done a great job incorporating different offensive strategies and freelance sets. You don’t have to run plays to make your team play realistically.
I Dig Blacktop
Blacktop has come a long way from where it was last year. You can still play one-on-one, two-on-two, etc, but the presentation has been enhanced.
There’s now a crowd with audio support that creates a scene reminiscent of a Rucker Park Summer League contest.
Blacktop is also a great place to try out dribble combinations. 2KU is the aspect of the game designed to help you hone your stick skills, but for whatever reason, I found more satisfaction practicing my moves on blacktop.
The MyPlayer World Is Beautifully Meshed
MyPlayer has long been the nucleus for the most popular modes in the NBA 2K universe, but in previous years, there’s been a few slight disconnections between your created character and the various modes where he can appear.
In NBA 2K17, we’ve finally been given a completely holistic MyPlayer experience equipped with working components and undeniable cohesion.
It began with the successful launch of the MyNBA 2K mobile app that has delivered the most accurate face scans since 2K pioneered the concept in 2015.
It continued with the release of The Prelude (the most useful and relevant pre-release demo in history), and finished with the final unveiling of the full game.
This is as complete of an experience for a created character we’ve seen in a sports title.
Gone are the shackles from Spike Lee’s Livin’ Da Dream storyline. It was well directed, but Lee’s heavy-handed storyline was imposing on a world where choice is most appropriate.
It’s been replaced by a vast RPG-like element that truly makes it feel like MyCareer.
Even more, there are branches like MyPark, Pro-Am and MyCourt that add even more layers for your virtual hoops alter ego.
Multiple Announce Team Concept Is Phenomenal
During my Madden 17 review, I described the commentary in EA Sports’ latest gridiron as follows: “the best I’ve ever heard in a sports video game.”
I’m not backing off that statement, but NBA 2K17 is a very close second.
The addition of a rotating third chair in the in-game announce team is next level. I’ve been asking for multiple announce teams for years.
This is just a taste of that concept, but it breaches new ground in the area of sports video game audio.
What keeps Madden 17’s commentary just barely ahead? The addition of new player and team-specific stories holds a little more weight than three extra announcers, but man is it ever close.
Visual Presentation Is Second To None
The audio presentation may not sit at the top of the sports gaming universe, but the visual side is unmatched.
From proper statistical overlays to attractive score bugs and lower thirds, NBA 2K17 looks like an NBA TV broadcast, but it remains practical for gameplay.
I still hate that the playcall menus invade almost a third of the screen during local head-to-head games, but that’s the lightest of objections.
Nearly The Pinnacle of Customization
There isn’t much left to add into NBA 2K’s creation suite–especially as it pertains to team, arena and uniform creation.
You can still upload images and completely customize just about everything related to your team’s identity. Only this year, even more depth has been added.
Gamers can now create team sets (arena, uniform and logos) to share for use in MyTeam as well as MyGM and MyLeague.
The Depth Of MyGM And MyLeague Is Breathtaking
I’ve just about run out of superlatives to describe the MyGM and MyLeague modes in NBA 2K.
Every year, the options get more verbose and cater more to the demographic that lives and breathes with the franchise mode concept in sports video games.
As a proud member of that group, I can say without hesitation, MyLeague and MyGM are the undisputed standard bearers as it pertains to franchise modes.
This year, the modes include:
- league expansion up to 36 teams,
- relocation and rebranding for all teams,
- full team and league management for MyLeague Online,
- offseason trades and injuries,
- annual league meetings that can lead to rule changes,
- jersey retirements and more.
Quite honestly, there isn’t much you can’t do within these two features.
Negatives
Skinny Players Look a Little Odd
The folks at 2K are working to create realistic player models, but their efforts to represent the thinner guys went a little awry.
Players like Kevin Durant look abnormally skinny and instead of adding visual realism, the lanky guys hurt the cause.
A little more proportion would have been ideal.
Missing Legends
If Pro Evolution Soccer gets raked over the coals for not having the necessary licenses, to a degree, NBA 2K17 has to held accountable for missing legends players.
To be fair, PES is missing licenses for players and teams from the core and current crop of the soccer scene.
Classic teams are a bonus, so not having the likes of Moses Malone, Reggie Miller, Rasheed Wallace and Steve Nash isn’t quite as impacting as the absence of Manchester City’s logo, etc.
That said, 2K has opened a can of nostalgic worms and there’s no turning back now. NBA 2K17 still has the same healthy amount of classic teams that NBA 2K16 had, but they’ve lost the use of players like Malone and Nash, and have never had full access to Miller or Charles Barkley since they retired.
Obtaining the license to use an entire classic team means getting individual agreements with every important member of that squad. That can be problematic, but it would be great to see 2K create a legends free agent list.
It could be used for the MyGM and MyLeague modes.
That would likely satisfy fans who are jonesing for a more complete list of legends.
No Draft Mode In MyTeam
There aren’t many holes in NBA 2K17’s feature set, but with Madden scoring a major win with its Draft Champions mode, and MLB The Show following suit with its Battle Royale concept, the onus was on NBA 2K to deliver a similar experience to its fans.
For whatever reason, it didn’t make the cut this year.
Some Slightly Weird Ball Physics After Deflections
Ball physics have been improved in most situations, but there are a few instances where the flight of the ball appears to be unrealistically altered.
It doesn’t happen a lot, and I’ve never seen it in Pro-Am or MyPark, but it’s noticeable enough to mention.
Halftime Show Could Be Better
Presentation matters, even at halftime. The Ernie, Shaq and Kenny Show is cool, but the highlights just play as you listen to generic comments from the trio.
If you think that’s nitpicky, blame Visual Concepts for their stellar halftime show in NFL 2K5. That was two console generations ago, but no other sports game has been able to nail the halftime show quite like that.
Lingering Limitations For CAPs During Roster Creation
During the pros section, I refered to the customization suite in NBA 2K17 as “nearly the pinnacle.”
The missing piece is in the create-a-player suite. While we can create players as tall as 7’7” (which is up from 7’2” last year), we still can’t give goggles or change the physical build.
You could create a guy who is 5’7” 350 pounds, but his body will still look as if he works out seven days a week.
Also, you can’t apply tattoos to created players (unless it’s a MyPlayer) nor can you alter the ages of legends on the classic teams.
Lastly, there’s still not enough options to choose from with hairstyles.
Sometimes I wish I could take one of those posters off the wall at the barbershop, scan it and send it to the developers at 2K to offer some suggestions.
Where’s The Kobe Effect?
There was a lot made of Kobe Bryant appearing on the cover of the Legends Edition, but The Black Mamba doesn’t play a big enough role in the game.
I understand he may or may not make an appearance in one of the modes, but it would have made sense to have a feature like Mamba Moments.
A single-player mode similar to the Jordan Challenge from NBA 2K11 would have been appropriate considering his recent retirement and association with the 2K brand.
As it stands, Bryant feels about as underutilized in NBA 2K17 as his teammates the night he dropped 81 points on the Toronto Raptors.
Overall
NBA 2K’s depth continues to set the bar for the genre. Like always, NBA 2K17 is several games within one. However, the amalgamation of modes delivers an especially tight package this year.
The smaller issues only slightly hamper the overall experience. 2K has delivered another classic the moment you rip off the plastic.
- Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC (PS4 version reviewed)
- Developer: Visual Concepts
- Publisher: Take-Two
- Release Date: September 16, 2016 (Early Release)
- Price: $59.99
- Score: 9.1 out of 10
(Review code provided by 2K Sports)
Mazique’s Review Philosophy
Mazique’s Review Scale
- 1 - 4 (Not even worth your time)
- 4.1 – 5 (Serious issues with one or two redeeming qualities)
- 5.1 – 6 (The dev team did some things correct, but there are multiple issues)
- 6.1 – 6.9 (This is a playable game in most areas, but there’s likely one tragic flaw)
- 7 – 7.9 (Good game with some underdeveloped areas)
- 8 – 8.9 (Excellent release with some minor issues)
- 9 – 9.9 (About as close to perfect as possible with minute omissions or missteps)
