Basketball is not exactly a sport that is often enjoyed by most people in South Africa, but much like Madden, often the game strikes a chord with people who don’t always enjoy watching but prefer to play. As was with the previous outing, NBA 2K24 the MyCareer and MyTeam modes are very much pay-to-win via microtransactions, but let’s hope that NBA 2K25 has enough enjoyment in other departments to overcome the microtransaction shortcomings…
Modes
As a gamer who has never taken to the court on an NBA game before this was a rather daunting task. I have tried my best to lay out the various modes that NBA 2K25 provide as best I can, if I get stuff wrong, please excuse me, I am a Rugby, Cricket, cars and MMA guy!
MyCareer – Money Maker #1 will have you focusing on the player character using the city and various modes to become the main attraction in his team and hopefully build a legacy. This mode seems to be enormous and could be fun when you dig in and put in some hours.
MyTeam – Money Maker #2 is much the same as the previously mentioned mode but instead of using a single player you are now in control of a complete team and become the greatest team to ever play. Both this and the MyCareer version are heavily focused on you spending real-world money to purchase upgrade packs for your player and team to improve.
MyNBA Eras – This is the franchise mode that lets you play through eras spanning the last 40 years of the NBA. You will be able to control the likes of Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Steph Curry. Each era will look slightly different as there are filters applied to make each era present the way it was during that time.
Play Now – this is how you can jump into an online game or an offline exhibition match.
WNBA – WNBA will allow you to quick play, start a MyCareer, playoffs and more using only the WNBA.
Learn2K – is where people like me, who are new to basketball games, can learn the ropes via many tutorials to improve the much-needed skills for this game.
2KTV – seemingly a staple in these games, an ever-present network show that covers all things NBA 2K
On the Court
I have been fortunate to have played and participated in many different sports at a reasonably high level and with that in mind I can confidently say that any sports game worth its salt must first be realistic in its mechanics, this is where many games like the Rugby games by EA has failed so dismally. NBA 2K25 is not the same, just like EA has done with the FIFA franchise, 2K has invested in tuning and improving the finest of details and pushing the boundaries on them in every iteration.
What I have noticed in my rookie outing on the court is the feeling that bodies have momentum, unlike older sports titles and many other shooter games, where the character almost feels weightless, in NBA 2K25 you are not able to stop on a dime and change directions like you are a rollercoaster, this is very important as you need to plan your attack and pay attention on defence. Even for someone who does not know the strengths and weaknesses and different styles of each player, it is extremely demanding when moving between players where some have quick and abrupt moves and others are more methodical. If you are not taking note every time you make a move you will have a hard time keeping your shoot percentage up.
Presentation
From the very first moment the game started it was clear as day to see, this game is gorgeous! The detail on the faces and the hair is tremendous, where hair and beards of players of colour can often look flat, 2K has hit it out of the park.
2K has tried to improve on the arenas which usually get less attention in games like this so often the crowd will look like something out of PS2-era games. 2K25 has improved but the crowd still doesn’t have the polygon count that the players have but its a step in the right direction for sure.
To keep the realism going there are half-time and time-out dance routines, audience minigames and a full-on presentation like the real deal. If you are a fan of basketball and you are looking for a realistic experience then the atmosphere created in 2K25 is unmatched at the moment.
Verdict
NBA 2K25 is a great game for those who looking for amazing on-court action and deep game modes that can occupy many hours of your time and have immense progression. The microtransactions do leave a bad taste in your mouth as it certainly feels like it is a pay-to-win gimmick which never sits well with anyone who has to spend hard-earned money for the game and then more to actually do well.
reviewed on PC via Steam
special thanks to Prima Interactive for the review code
