NBA 2K has been a great basketball franchise for a long time now and the latest edition of the game shows that it is not ready to rest on its laurels just yet
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NBA 2K16 was a brilliant game, it looked good, had a good roster of NBA players and the gameplay was near flawless. NBA 2K17 builds on that, and there are very few changes from last year’s hit. Major amongst them being the player animations and graphics of the game. The changes have made the game smoother and easier to handle than previous versions and the updated graphics look very realistic.
There are also some gameplay issues that have been solved in the new version. It definitely seems like you have more control than you did before, especially during defense.
Like 2K16, 2K17 also features impossibly good commentary by Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Doris Burke and Kevin Harlan, with a few more additions to the TV crew. The experience of the environment is somewhat surreal because you feel like you are watching a live telecast. That experience is fortified by the unique crowd and the aural experience in every stadium.
MyCareer mode is back, this time with many familiar faces straight out of Hollywood. Like last year, it plays like a movie. This time you are a high-school player who has to work your way to greatness. Completing tasks and playing games lets you upgrade your player and unlock stuff. There are also micro transactions in the game where you can pay to move forward by buying some virtual currency. Considering how hard the modes are to progress, virtual currency might be a viable option for many. MyCareer is also better integrated. There are a lot of overlaps, which make it worth playing through the mode, despite the tediousness.
Your character can also be used in MyPark, where you play street basketball in different locations other than stadiums. It is a welcome change in pace, giving you a breather between the familiar stadium stages. If you want to be the big NBA boss, then MyGM will fulfill that fantasy as well. You can control everything — personnel, staff, finances… all of it. There is a lot of depth in NBA 2K17 that will keep you engaged till they release one next year.
NBA 2K17 is by far one of the best sports franchises in the market. It is so far beyond its competition that there is no choice but to compare it to previous versions. There are only a few changes since 2K16, but they do make a difference. If you don’t own a copy of 2K16, we recommend you get the latest one, even if you aren’t a fan of basketball or sports-based videogames. But if you do own a copy of 2K16 you have to ask yourself if you really need 2K17.
For diehard fans this is a futile question, but for the casual hoop-enthusiast there isn’t enough to warrant a new purchase.
NBA 2K17
Rating: 4/5
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K Games
Platform: PC, PS4, XBO, PS3, X360
Price: PC: '2,499; PS3/X360: '2,499; PS4/XBO: '3,499
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