By now, 2K Sports’ basketball business model seems to follow the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” logic. Nothing wrong with that, even if some players think that means the game isn’t making the progress that it should. Hey, it could be worse – NBA Live 18 just came out, and it still feels like the developers are trying to figure out which way they want to take the game. (May we suggest something on the Street or Jam side?)
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That said, NBA 2K18 isn’t just a retread, but instead a well-oiled machine that still feels like the best thing going for basketball players. While it still isn’t quite perfect with its slight glitches and its questionable progression system (where you can actually pay to win – ugh), it’s about as good as things get when it comes to slaying your opponents on the court. (With points, obviously.)
First, let’s talk about the gameplay. There are only a few mild touches here and there when it comes to how the game handles, mainly with transition and making sure the shooting system is smooth like butter. And I’m happy to report that the scoring side of things has never felt better. Whether you feel like raining three’s with Stephen Curry, or letting things loose by getting in a good dunk on a defensiveman, the game just reacts as it should. It feels wonderful.
Defense has its moments, too. Feeling the satisfaction of a block has never felt better than it does here, and there’s also some good maneuvering you can do around the court to score the rebound, or maybe even a steal if someone’s got loose hands. Aside from occasional unintentional floor slides that can break up the momentum a little bit, the controls handle great on this side, too.
A Great Looking And Sounding Game
Then we come to the presentation, and this is about as natural as basketball gets, really. Some minor player modeling aside (like weird facial reactions after a dunk from a few particular players), Visual Concepts has done a bang-up job making this look more like the real deal. Player animations are smooth; court details are dazzling; the crowd looks like it’s having fun (even if some of them animate the same way at times – are they twins in separate seats?); and the frame rate is solid throughout. Even on the Switch, the game appears to be running like a charm.
That said, there are minor glitches that could use some work, mainly with camera angles that show players disappearing without a trace, or a few angles that get wayyyyy too close. I assume 2K will patch this at some point, so I’m not worried.
The audio presentation is excellent too, between the great music selections (Def Leppard!), the consistent (and sometimes humorous) commentary from Kevin Harlan and the gang, and good on-court chatter. It’s the status quo for the series, but it’s nice to see 2K sticking with what works. It’s also good to hear Ernie Banks and company chat it up during the pre-game show, even though it sounds like Shaq is a bit distracted at times.
What’s In The Package?
So it looks good and plays good, but what about the surrounding packaging? Well, there are some ups and downs here, but mainly, it’s decent stuff for those of you that live and breathe basketball.
MyCareer returns, and this time it tries to imply a story narrative as it follows your would-be prospect into the NBA league. In some ways, it works, but in others, it drags a bit on storytelling, like when you don’t really care about the agent you’re working with, or the friend that eggs you on. Visual Concepts could probably learn a lesson here from The Longshot in Madden NFL 18, which does a better job as far as building up drama and making you feel the leverage of each choice. MyCareer’s not bad, but there’s room for improvement.
The other modes are fun as well, and online works just as wonderfully as you’d expect, as you can take on other players online and break their ankles accordingly, depending on your skill set. Some sessions can take a little bit longer to connect to than others, so be prepared for that. But once you’re in, you’ll find plenty of territory to dunk in. It’s great to see some street action get involved as well, as you take on rivals on the backcourt and show them whose house it really is. (Reminder: it’s yours.)
You can do this in The Neighborhood, which is a pretty good social space when it comes to connecting to other players, goofing off and trying to get more out of your basketball experience. It probably won’t be too much of a mainstay for you, but there are worse places to hang out. (Like in NBA Live, perhaps?)
Still A Winner, Despite The Flaws
That said, I really do wish 2K Sports would calm down on Microtransactions. The game relies on using a currency system to unlock new goods for your player so you can boost their skills, and provides a secondary option to buy them with money. Some players will obviously go for this in order to get better on the court, resulting in a “pay to win” structure. It doesn’t ruin the game, but progress needs to be earned, not purchased – and I hope 2K Sports will consider doing away with having them so heavily. We can already hear the complaints now.
So, with the visual hiccups, the MyCareer being slightly off and the purchases getting out of hand with some folks, NBA 2K18 doesn’t quite score as greatly as it should. However, the rest of the package holds up exceptionally, and makes up for the flaws. The on-court action has never felt better, and the presentation can’t be beat, especially when it comes to replicating the TV broadcasts that many NBA fans have become addicted to.
NBA 2K18 still scores a slam dunk with authority, but next year, here’s hoping that the team puts focus in a couple of areas so it can rule the court like a king.
RATING: Four out of five stars.
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
