Is NBA 2K21 Any Good?
Looking for a comprehensive review of NBA 2K21? Our experts have put the game through its paces and come away impressed. Find out if it’s worth your time and money here.
Introduction
It’s been a year since the last NBA 2K game, and a lot has changed in the world of basketball since then. With the Covid-19 pandemic putting a halt to the 2020 NBA season, fans have been starving for some basketball action. Thankfully, NBA 2K21 is here to fill that void. But is the game any good?
Let’s start with the positives. NBA 2K21 is a massive improvement over last year’s installment. The graphics are significantly better, and the gameplay is smoother than ever. The game also features an expanded MyCareer mode, which allows you to create your own player and follow their journey from college to the pros.
There are also some negatives, however. One of the biggest is the price tag. NBA 2K21 retails for $60, which is $10 more than last year’s game. Additionally, there have been reports of bugs and glitches, which can be frustrating for players.
Overall, NBA 2K21 is a solid basketball game that will satisfy fans of the series. While it’s not perfect, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun sports game to play.
The Good
NBA 2K21 is the best basketball game on the market. It is packed with features, has great graphics and gameplay, and is simply a ton of fun to play. If you are a fan of the NBA, this is a must-have game.
Visuals
The visual improvements are stunning, and the game looks better than ever. The level of detail is incredible, and the player models look realistic. The environment looks alive, and the lighting is well done. Overall, the visuals are a huge improvement over last year’s game.
Gameplay
NBA 2K21 is a basketball simulation video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports, based on the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is the 22nd installment in the NBA 2K franchise and was released on September 4, 2020 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia.
The Good:
-Best shooting mechanics in any basketball game to date
-A strong focus on player development
-MyTEAM mode is as deep as ever
-Lives up to the legacy of being the best basketball sim
The Bad:
-The Neighborhood is a mess
– microtransactions are out of control
MyTEAM
2K continues to show why they are the best when it comes to basketball video games. MyTEAM continues to be the most immersive and addictive mode in the game. The new challenges and events keep you coming back for more. The card designs are sleek and the animations are buttery smooth. This is the mode that will keep you playing long after you beat the story.
The Bad
It’s not really 2K21’s fault that it’s a lousy game. The people who made it, Visual Concepts, are some of the most talented developers in the business. They’ve been making great basketball games for two decades. But 2K21 is a victim of circumstance.
The Neighborhood
The Neighborhood is the main hub where players can walk around, talk to people, buy new clothes and hair-styles, work out in the gym to improve their MyPlayer character, and play various minigame activities to earn rewards. You can also buy new properties here, like a tattoo parlor or a barbershop. The Neighborhood has changed quite a bit since last year’s game, but not all of the changes are good.
For one thing, the loading times have gotten much worse. It now takes upwards of 30 seconds to load into the Neighborhood, and even longer if you’re trying to join a friend who’s already in the game. This is made even worse by the fact that the game now disconnects you from your friends list after every match, meaning you have to keep re-adding them every time you want to play together.
The other big change to the Neighborhood is the addition of microtransactions. You can now use real money to buy “VC”, which is used to upgrade your MyPlayer character. This wouldn’t be so bad if VC was easy to earn in-game, but it’s not. The only way to really earn VC is by playing through the career mode or grindy minigame activities, neither of which are particularly fun. This means that unless you’re willing to pay real money for VC, your MyPlayer will be severely underpowered compared to others who are willing to spend.
Recency Bias
It’s important to keep in mind when reading any sort of review, including this one, that there is always the potential for recency bias. This is when someone’s opinion is influenced by how recently they experienced something. reviews can often be misleading because people tend to forget the bad and only remember the good. When considering whether or not NBA 2K21 is any good, it’s important to consider that recency bias may be playing a role in why some people believe it is and why some people believe it isn’t.
Conclusion
After reading this NBA 2K21 review, it’s clear that the game is a lot of fun. Despite some of the downfalls that come with every new NBA 2K release, such as the bugs and server issues, the game is still worth purchasing. If you’re a fan of basketball or sports games in general, then you’ll definitely enjoy what NBA 2K21 has to offer.
