NBA 2K21 Review – Game Winning Mentality

NBA 2K21 is finally here, and while many are excited for the next generation of gaming, 2K Sports are giving fans a reason to not overlook the current gen’s exciting year of basketball! Hands down NBA 2K “is” the best sports franchise to date, with none other coming close. Their only competition, NBA Live, has gone from delays to dead silence as the crown continues to sit pretty. But the question now is why should you invest in NBA 2K21 now rather than later?

In just a few months, many will look to a genre defining what next gens is all about, just as they did with NBA 2K14 as it released for the first time on PlayStation 4. The biggest incentive this year began with choosing the Mamba Forever Edition, granting access to both console generations (PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 and Xbox One to Xbox Series X). And as breakdown 2K21 current gen, we first pay our respects to one of the greatest players to ever bless the court.

Welcome to 2K21

While the NBA Playoffs continue in the bubble, NBA 2K brings the season in fresh from the new neighborhood at 2K Beach to the story of Junior in MyCAREER. There’s even more love support from the WNBA and MyTEAM to ensure gamers will all enjoy a bit of what they continue to love from 2K. Overall presentation honestly looks the same this year, however, gameplay received quite the overhaul. Nothing stands out more than the new shot stick and meter, and yes, the learning curve is a challenge.

2K21 has to be the first year in a while I found myself studying moves and shooting accuracy in 2KU. You can continue to shoot with the square (or X), but the level or success is how you utilize the right thumbstick. As you find yourself missing a ton of shots, don’t be discouraged in the 2K transition. Rather than aiming down and releasing, this year you have to line your shot up with the meter as you release your aim. Pushing up too far right or left will result in an airball, while trying to center your aim into the middle of the shot meter will grant you a good opportunity and skill boost. Perfecting will take quite some time but shows to be more promising in the end. Another skill boost, if the shot stick is considered unbearable, is to turn off the shot meter and shoot with the square (or X). Doing so will give your player a skill boost and increase your chance of making shots look easy over time. Practice makes perfect!

MyCAREER: It’s All You, Junior

MyCAREER, this year called The Long Shadow, introduces a football player who goes by Junior, looking to stay as far away from his father’s legacy of a basketball player. However, coaches pick up his ability to be great on the court and helps him shine in a way he couldn’t imagine. From New York, his father (actor Jesse Williams) continues to push him to become the best he can be. Junior wants the same, but just not in the footsteps of who his father was.

Throughout the story, you create bonds with other players, find love and make tough decisions that could make or break your career. It’s all about getting yourself into the best college and playing for a top draft pick into the NBA. Trying to show yourself as a prospect proved to be a challenge with the new shot stick and your friend and rival Hendrixx Cobb. Transitioning from high school to college, the players on the court all played sluggish. No one could properly throw the ball and hesitated to shoot, stopping in transition rather than completing fast breaks. In college, gameplay became gradually more realistic. Junior dilemma became a bit more of a struggle between doing what he loved and being with who he loved.

The Long Shadow story was rather bland, even with a great cast. There are a few good moments, but not enough to recommend the story this year. A positive however, is the ability to obtain badges quicker for your MyPLAYER before heading over to the Neighborhood, now known as 2K Beach.

Welcome Back to the Neighborhood

Build your reputation in the newly designed 2K Beach. Show off your skills while continuing to earn badges and make the best of your MyPLAYER. In all, the neighborhood feels the same, just with a new coat of paint. A stroll around will take you to Swags for new clothes to wear on and off the court, 2K Shoes have the latest kicks, including Damian Lillard’s new Dame 7’s, which are awesome. Ante Up, go to the Rec, it’s all there again.

The most important question is how fun is the current-gen? Passable. 2K Beach for the most part is best described as the same game with a new arena. The experience isn’t bad, the contrary, 2K21 has done a remarkable job this year. The only issue with 2K Beach is the inconsistency when looking for pick up games. People just aren’t appearing as much, even moving throughout servers I had a hard time finding enough people to play as many in-game sessions as NBA 2K20.

MyTEAM and More

MyTEAM is back this year and has a bigger focus, being one of the best features in sport games today. Create your fantasy team and prove to have the best hand in NBA 2K21. The best feature for MyTEAM is the 2K transition from current to next-gen as it will move over all progress, so there won’t be a loss in your current-gen grind.  But 2K dived much deeper in creating a season and championship games that give players a chance to earn rings each weekend in the new MyTEAM Limited Mode.

MyLeague also has a presence this year, including the WNBA season mode. While WNBA is there, the focus on potential is lacking. Creating a female MyPLAYER for both online and/or featuring a integrated neighborhood. We can only hope NBA 2K21 on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will start making positive drive as it’s the only basketball gaming owning the gaming franchise.

VERDICT

NBA 2K21 is still winning on current-gen. Possibly the most questionable installment as fans thought there’d be little change with the new consoles right around the corner. However, NBA 2K21 is still a phenomenal, rim-rattling experience from the court to the streets. As always, scanning your face into the game truly enhances the personal investment. There’s no reason to second guess, NBA 2K21 is another must have!