NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 Review – Hot Streak

Let’s take a moment to think about one of the most played modes on NBA 2K19, MyPark, aka the Neighborhood. People spend crazy amounts of VC to not only create the best but beat the egos on court. Personally, I embrace the career before stepping outside the arenas. But there’s one game that keeps me wanting to play a few times, now a part of the 2K family, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2.

NBA Playgrounds was the NBA JAM’ish comeback for players looking for a genuine arcade simulation with more rim-rattling dunks than NBA All-Star weekend. Mainly because most of these moves are literally impossible. That same concept is also what makes everything a jaw-dropping experience, and for the second times fails to disappoint.

I love the new menu options as they are all interactive, like what we see now on WWE 2K19 and NBA 2K19. You’re able to choose from Exhibition, Playgrounds Championship (online), NBA Season and 3-Point Shootout this time around, adding new modes to the sequel. And yes, it’s worth it!

One of the new two new features, 3-point shootout, is one of the highlights and personifies the term “Playground.” In this mode you play against an opponent in a 30 second race to score the most points. Just like in an NBA All-Star game there’s also a money ball allowing you to earn three points on making the “money shot.” In addition, on Playgrounds 2 you can add more time with a special ball that gives you an extra 5 (and up to 25) seconds of shooting time to finesse. Keep in mind though in this mode the meter is unforgiving, Like NBA 2K19, coming close won’t guarantee a shot to go in.

Sadly, the more you play this mode it begins to lose its flair. This is where the NBA Season shine. Not only can you earn your favorite team a few trophies, legends can potentially be unlocked after winning it all. Something rather unique during the season, unlike the original tower mode, win or lose the season keep going. From the 15-game season to the playoffs, I found myself not wanting to take a break until the very end.

In all NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is much more entertaining thanks to new modes and score streak abilities. In P.2. you can freeze the opposing team’s rim, forcing them to miss their next few shots or even temporarily drain their player stats. Simply more icing to lightening ball which guarantees a clean look from anywhere on the court or shot selections that are double its normal score.

Winning games not only level up your player but also earns you baller bucks and golden coins. Baller bucks are earned on and offline through normal gameplay allowing you to unlock clothes, players and points. That’s right, you can leave the jersey in the locker room and wear new, personal gear. And with purchasable items on the table, VC is an option in Playgrounds 2.

If unlocking all the players the normal way is too much for you expect to spend about $10 in VC (Golden Coins) to unlock every hidden player, including all future characters. Even as an option its sort of grimy to see in an arcade version of NBA 2K, yet understandable. Just know the coins and bucks are easy to earn.

Visually there’s not much of a difference from its predecessor. On the Nintendo Switch version the game lagged frequently when playing the 3-Point Shootout as if it couldn’t handle the frames of 2 basketballs shooting at one time.