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Aug 1, 2019 · 2K20 gameplay is here! We're showcasing familiar faces in new places around the NBA landscape. You can jump on the sticks to play NBA 2K20 on #2KDay 9/6. Pre...
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Popular NBA 2K League faces Dirk, Hood & Rigby joined us on the 10th episode of the Said N' Done Podcast to talk about "Untold Stories From the NBA 2K League...
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Nov 10, 2020 · New York, NY – November 10, 2020 – 2K is proud to announce that NBA® 2K21 for next-generation consoles is now available worldwide. Releasing today for Xbox Series X|S and on November 12, 2020 in certain jurisdictions for PlayStation®5*, NBA 2K21 is built from the ground up to fully utilize the incredible power, speed and technology enabled by the next-generation of consoles.
- NBA 2K20 excels at recreating real-world basketball, but loses focus off of the court.
- Every IGN NBA 2K Review Ever
- Beyond the Court
- Verdict
By Ben Vollmer
Updated: Jul 7, 2020 7:31 pm
Posted: Sep 10, 2019 12:06 am
On the court, NBA 2K20 is a dazzling experience that matches the energy and presentation of its real-life counterpart. Enhanced footwork, dribbling, and player spacing help improve an already sturdy foundation. However, outside of the surprisingly well-written story mode, NBA 2K20 loses its focus off of the court. NBA 2K20 excels at recreating the pro game, but opportunities to purchase microtransactions exist at nearly every corner, and complex modes like MyLeague are given far too little attention.
NBA 2K20 upholds the recent franchise tradition of having top-notch presentation. Players are expertly crafted to mirror their real-life selves and a bevvy of apparel options have been added to help match the NBA’s sense of style. Both players and announcers will flash a lifeless gaze every now and again, but it wouldn’t be so noticeable if everything from the player’s shoes to the court floors weren’t so meticulously crafted. I also noticed some awkward pauses between David Aldridge and players during interviews, which is a stark contrast to the effortless flow of commentary from the likes of Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Chris Webber, Doris Burke and more. NBA 2K20’s stellar A/V package is rapidly approaching what can be seen on television, and that really is a remarkable accomplishment.
While the NBA 2K franchise has always done an excellent job making each player feel unique, having a renewed sense of mastery over the controls brings out the best in each player. Pulling off step-back jumpers with James Harden or blow-bys with Eric Bledsoe is really satisfying, and with improved defensive A.I., more important than it has been in the past. Defenders are better equipped to deal with speedy players, especially in transition, where tactics like “walling up” (a defense strategy used to forced contested shots near the rim) are employed against drive-heavy players like LeBron James. Learning when to pull up for a jumper and when to drive it right to the basket provides a welcomed new layer of frantic strategy.
Learning when to pull up for a jumper and when to drive it right to the basket provides a welcomed new layer of frantic strategy.
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A lot of this is amplified by the badge system, which attaches unique abilities to players that are less tangible than something like the speed or strength attribute. Take the “Pogo Stick” badge, for instance. This allows for players like Anthony Davis to quickly regroup after a blocked shot, making it easier to block several shots in a row. Another interesting badge is “Worm”, which is attached to players who are better at slipping through box-outs when rebounding. The total badge count is about 80, and it really can’t be overstated how much they can be felt while playing. NBA 2K20 goes above and beyond to make every player feel and play unique.
The best gameplay addition to NBA 2K20, however, is the upgraded ball-handling system. Instead of canned animations taking over mid-dribble, every success and failure I had with the ball in my hands felt earned. Even flipping the basketball from one hand to another feels satisfying, especially when you follow it up with a ankle-breaking crossover from someone like Kyrie Irving. Given how much time is spent looking at players with the ball, the newly added dribbling animations help things look different, too. Watching Giannis barrel down the court with long strides is just as majestic as you would expect. The pursuit of mastery is NBA 2K20’s best hook, and the ball-handling mechanics are the best example of that.
Speaking of MyLeague, it’s received disgracefully few enhancements in 2K20. It’s also one of the few modes left untouched by microtransactions. MyLeague is so close to being feature complete that it would be easier to ignore the lack of improvement if some of the major problems, like the inability to sign-and-trade players, were seen to. Some quality of life changes were made, like the option to force wins and losses (in the case that you want a particular result while simulating), but it’s clear that MyLeague wasn’t given the attention it deserves. Unfortunately, it’s mostly ignored in favor of the casino-like MyTeam, which provides a host of complicated problems for NBA 2K20.
Check out the "House of Next" trailer for 2K20 below:
The best thing about MyTeam is also the worst thing about MyTeam: it provides an endless set of things to do. It became immediately clear to me that the mode’s centralized goal is to extract as much money as I am willing to give up in place of having to grind out various mundane challenges. Not only did I find myself disinterested in grinding tasks with a roster of bottom-of-the-barrel players, unlocking a “premiere” pack costs anywhere in between $5-10, and even then there is no guarantee of who or what I would be receiving. To make matters worse, the entire mode and its UI is designed like a casino, all the way up to a lifeless roulette wheel that randomly stops upon a prize. The only redeeming quality to the entire mode is a card-pack ripping sound effect - which only served to remind me of how preferable real-life card collecting is to the joylessness of MyTeam.
The available game modes aren’t universally a disappointment, however. The MyCareer story mode “When The Lights Are Brightest” is the best entry for NBA 2K yet. It kicks off with an entirely new create-a-player feature that allows for a host of possibilities. I went with a lengthy, defensive-minded power forward, but a wealth of options gave reason for future creations. MyCareer also boasts a new-and-improved badge system that allowed me to avoid needless grinding for specific badges in favor of choosing them myself.
It's clear MyTeam's central goal is to extract as much money as I am willing to give up in place of having to grind out mundane challenges.
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NBA 2K continues its tradition of upping already tremendous gameplay, emulating the real-life sport in ways that didn’t seem possible just years ago. The inclusion of the WNBA may be this year’s biggest step forward, especially because it does an excellent job showcasing the many gameplay improvements from last year. MyCareer also continues to impr...
- Ben Vollmer
Sep 15, 2024 · Getadose. Lists of the top YouTubers and gaming channels you should check out for tips, cheats, walkthroughs, and more. Over 2K fans have voted on the 40+ people on Best 'NBA 2K20' YouTubers. Current Top 3: Chris Smoove, KOT4Q, Troydan.
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For two decades, NBA 2K has redefined sports entertainment, establishing itself as an important piece of hoops culture by creating basketball video games with an immersive experience in the palm of your hand. Whether you choose to play as some of the biggest NBA and WNBA stars on the hardwood in PLAY NOW, test your managerial skills within ...
