I re-created my NBA 2K20 gamers appearance in NBA 2K21 with ease, making this years story mode look like a direct follow up, albeit one where my guy has actually returned to college to work his way up from absolutely nothing … again.
Lets begin with the virtue, which is that Visual Concepts production values and apparent dedication to each annual video game as a creative proposal can make the unlimited purgatory of sports video games– its actually great, simply like last year!– feel fresh and worth exploring. The studios presents for flair get a great showcase with The Long Shadow.
For some factor, this still worked for me– until I pulled back into MyCareer, the mode which The Long Shadow, part story, part onboarding, gets new gamers fired up to play. Or perhaps until I visited MyTeam, the card-collection/fantasy sports mode tied into the currency system that also develops a MyCareer run. NBA 2K21 doesnt give me a much better factor to spend my virtual paper there, either.
Earnest efficiencies, from Jesse Williams (Greys Anatomy) as the deceased papa casting said shadow, and the clean, show-don t-tell writing and discussion elevate a basic-as-bread story into an excellent popcorn motion picture. NBA 2K21, with The Long Shadow, gets what other sports video games mostly have not in their experiments with narrative modes: I do not just require a backstory I can believe, however likewise one Im happy to continue.
Real-life college groups are back in The Long Shadow, the story mode introducing gamers to “Junior,” an up-and-comer with a legacy to live up to.Image: Visual Concepts/2K Sports
Oh, dont get me wrong: NBA 2K21 will still demolish hours of my time, just like in 2015s video game. Thats the virtue and the shame of everything.
Exact same player, same game, very same story.
My recommendation isnt much more than a go play it; its fun gut sensation
The shame is that even in its best and most distinct offerings, NBA 2K21 is too comparable to NBA 2K20 for me to provide my recommendation much supporting product beyond a gut feeling, a kind of “yeah, its fun; go play it” mood. Hell, NBA 2K20 likewise brought in a guy from The Wire for its story, and provided the gamer character a lovable however swaggering rival to determine up versus, too. Thats NBA 2K21 for you: It worked last year, so of course it works this year.
However the pity is that even in its finest and most unique offerings, NBA 2K21 is too comparable to NBA 2K20 for me to provide my recommendation much supporting product beyond a gut sensation, a kind of “yeah, its enjoyable; go play it” state of mind. Hell, NBA 2K20 likewise generated a guy from The Wire for its story, and gave the gamer character a lovable however arrogant competitor to determine up versus, too. Thats NBA 2K21 for you: It worked last year, so naturally it works this year.
Nevertheless, thats great to have, but by itself it doesnt make me desire to re-spec my MyCareer player to take benefit of these brand-new capabilities. Nor does it make me want to dive into MyGM with knowledgeable ball-handlers like Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. The absence of attention offered to MyGM for a second year (MyLeague keeps its WNBA upgrade, however has none of MyGMs role-playing) makes NBA 2K21 appear like even more of a genuflection to casual and new fans willing to invest, rather than a nod to hardcore lifers who anticipate a little more effort in the games longest-playing single-player modes.
NBA 2K21 is now offered on Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One; it will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X later on this year. The video game was used Xbox One utilizing a download code supplied by 2K Sports. Vox Media has affiliate collaborations. These do not influence editorial material, though Vox Media may make commissions for items bought through affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygons ethics policy here.
However a change in tone is really all it is. The best efforts of NBA 2K21 are optional, like Shot Stick Aiming; variants of a style, like The Long Shadow; or a more respectful relationship with the player, like MyTeam. And if they arent a case versus sticking to in 2015s edition, they arent much of a case for entering on this years, either.
In introducing Shot Stick Aiming, Visual Concepts rejiggered the remainder of the ideal thumbstick inputs for ball-handling moves (called the Pro Stick). This went better for me, and the Pro Stick, as a modifier for my gamer movement, feels more responsive to instinct, instead of requiring intentional and discrete choices. I can produce more area from a protector and beat my man off the dribble, where I was never ever excellent at doing so before.
An exchange, where gamers can redeem a lots or so grunt-level cards and gamers for a larger shiny card, has actually been added to the video game. This is a step in the best direction, and it appears to speak of a 2K Sports chastened by the bad appearance MyTeam offered NBA 2K20.
Oh yes, there are lots of microtransactions in NBA 2K21s MyTeam, but theres likewise a season-based, battle pass-like system of rewards where virtual currency plays no role.Image: Visual Concepts/2K Sports
Thats not what I get out of Shot Stick Aiming, a brand-new control scheme geared more towards knowledgeable gamers looking for a steeper challenge. Shot Stick Aiming needs the gamer to focus a wedge on the shot meter with the right thumbstick, in addition to releasing that stick at the right time. I could not figure it out, but players who have mastered the old timing-only system might discover it worth an appearance.
The finest efforts of NBA 2K21 are optional, like Shot Stick Aiming; variants of a style, like The Long Shadow; or a more respectful relationship with the player, like MyTeam.
Which, yes, brings us to the obligatory reference of microtransactions. MyTeam in NBA 2K21 is still the exact same arms race of grinding and real-money purchases, but its gotten a huge shift in tone, far from last years nearly monstrous gambling establishment themes.
Shot Stick Aiming adds a degree of trouble, and makes scoring a more determinative effort, but is just available for sophisticated players.Image: Visual Concepts/2K Sports
Provided every chance to be a preening overdog, beginner Vince Washington turns the character Hendrixx Cobb into a warm, credible pal rather. Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire) is simply dubious enough as a streetwise coach to make an endgame choice– one the game even forced me to reassess!
The lack of attention provided to MyGM for a 2nd year (MyLeague keeps its WNBA upgrade, however has none of MyGMs role-playing) makes NBA 2K21 seem like even more of a genuflection to new and casual fans prepared to spend, rather than a nod to hardcore lifers who anticipate a bit more effort in the video games longest-playing single-player modes.
There are changes, even upgrades, in the gameplay, but on their own they dont justify rebooting MyCareer or MyTeam. In other years, or in other sports titles, new controls or adjustments to the core game can still make me go, “OK, now I really wish to play profession with this.”
