NBA 2K24 Review: Gameplay Clips, Features, and Much More

Without a doubt, NBA 2K24 is one of the greatest basketball simulations in recent memory.

That’s not a statement to be made lightly, but the impression is given by the combination of improved animation and extensive gameplay changes, including AI and even substitute behaviour.

The ProPLAY method, which has a fitting name, forgoes the typical motion capture that has frequently caused animations in previous games to appear robotic and monotonous. It has been replaced by more fluid animations that are created on the fly and may only be available to specific celebrities.

Indeed, the shift brought about by this implementation alone is astounding. It replicates an on-television ball in a way we haven’t seen before, giving superstars a sense of individuality, and has an impact from every point of the court.

The shot time modification is beneficial. Due to the fact that players may choose their own release point, it is less timing-based and more precise.

This is a good moment to point out that the gameplay is still as challenging as you want it to be because the harder shot metres are not activated on easier levels. Shot separation is another item that substantially helps in this situation; with the appropriate actions, cleaner looks are rewarded than in the past.

With layup time as a standard component and naturally varies in difficulty based on simple attempts vs. floaters, reverses, etc., cutting to the basket has advantages this year as well. Similar reasoning applies to dunks, where players may amusingly regulate rim hangs on two-handers and offer timed dunks on dunks in traffic.

Players may now instantly try a shot after an offensive rebound, adding a layer of strategy that really happens regularly and reviving inside offence.

Not that internal defence suffers as a result. Defenders in the paint seem to slip less this year, making it simpler to reach crucial areas.

Overall, paint play has received a great sweeping improvement as the series emphasises the genuine height and weight contrasts between players competing for rebounds and placement.

Those anxious about the quality of handling this year may relax, as the improved dribble combo controls are really satisfying. Normal dribbling manoeuvres are executed by flicking the right stick, whereas aggressive moves are executed by holding sprint and doing the same.

The adrenaline system has likely undergone the largest, though most subtle, adjustment to the gameplay’s flow. Last year, a ball handler’s pace reduced after running out of adrenaline. The player’s shooting skill is now nuked.

It’s a highly entertaining shift because if a guy can clamp a gifted ball-handler, it rewards solid defence. However, it also results in more tactical offensive gaming as opposed to simply hammering dribbling moves.

In terms of more strategic gaming, the Takeover power is no longer locked. Instead, once the bar is full, players may decide which Takeover ability to use, greatly enhancing a particular area—useful for instances like a crucial defensive possession or when a team needs a huge shot.

Additionally, new substitute behaviour that doesn’t only replace five players at once enhances the fun and realism of playing against AI opponents. The algorithm tends to favour having scorers on the pitch at all times, thus there aren’t many notable scoring droughts to take advantage of.

NBA 2K24 is a remarkable achievement in gameplay given the years of effort put into making it accessible to players of all skill levels. It has the typical pick-up-and-play potential for enjoyment and depth that results in significant competitive skill disparities as well.

The game’s pace has been significantly enhanced, there are fewer robotic events, and a greater focus is placed on strategic choices. Most importantly, it just feels amazing. More quick breakouts, noticeably superior off-ball AI, and pure enjoyment are happening than perhaps we’ve ever seen before, giving players more control than before.

NBA 2K24 Review: Graphics and Presentation

It’s not meant as a slight when I remark that at first sight, NBA 2K24 doesn’t seem to change all that much from the game from the previous year.

Because of the intense stadium immersion and broadcast-styled camera angles and presentation (such as those sweet, sweet cinematic camera angles on dunks and greened deep shots), there is still a stunning amount of photorealism present in all aspects of the production. The experience is further enhanced by the customary accurate crowd and announcer comments and banter, whether from those in the booth or even overheard on the courts.

Although comparing this game to the one from the previous year wouldn’t help the current one much, it still looks fantastic. Once again, the era-specific work—including the installation of the LeBron Era—shines the brightest. The degree to which some of the era-specific greats have been authentically reproduced is something of a love letter to the game of basketball. And the same holds true for the pundits’ in-depth contextual chitchat at the Kobe-specific moments.

It should be mentioned that the immersion element is greatly aided by the ProPLAY implementation. Inbound passes and other little details that weren’t given importance during the mo-cap now appear distinctive or at least interesting.

The editing option in this year’s game also extends to full-fledged replays, allowing players to add various editorial touches that will undoubtedly make discussion of the game on social media platforms much more fascinating.

An entry was always going to lag behind the series in terms of improvements given how far ahead of the curve it was. But it only makes sense that the effort was put into making sure the remainder of the game was up to par when the presentation package was this great.

NBA 2K24 Review: MyTEAM, Features and More

Given that the great Bryant is featured on the cover, the MAMBA MOMENTS mode is the package’s standout feature this year.

The new model isn’t all that unlike earlier iterations that included people like Michael Jordan. Though exclusions like the 81-point masterpiece stand out, it’s still fantastic to go over some of Bryant’s most memorable moments.

The historically accurate MyNBA eras, including the aforementioned new LeBron period, are once again a highlight of the package. Even without considering the presentation, it’s a delight to join in and see the sport’s true progress.

MyNBA Lite, a condensed variation of this, facilitates quicker immersion in the action. Again, this strikes the perfect balance between the beginner and the veteran, and skipping the in-depth information in favour of simply playing with the selected rosters is a good choice to have.

MyCAREER, luckily, has less fluff in the shape of cutscenes and side interactions and a speedier ramping up of the action. To put it mildly, it is greatly welcomed to be able to enter games of significance more quickly than in the past.

Players are ensured that they grasp crucial periods and situations in which simulating may be useful by a new essential game element.

This year’s city is a brand-new seaside community equipped with shops, modes of transportation, sidequests and streetball courts where players sweat it out in pickup games while other players watch.

New this year is a Starting 5 option for one-on-one play where participants choose their teams and the rest is filled in automatically.

In terms of the story, the encounter in the city leads to a battle between the RISE and ELITE factions. While it’s great to support a team and genuinely influence the results, it’s crucial to emphasise that each team truly offers gaming advantages that are worth taking into account. Both have aesthetically distinctive home bases.

MyTEAM, a game that can be played alone, is returning and promises big improvements.

One is a brand-new salary cap mode that has three two-week sessions every season where the real salary cost of player cards in a lineup varies to keep things interesting. As opposed to repeatedly playing against the same cards, it’s a wonderful approach to mix the meta.

The game promises higher experience gain rates and an overhaul of the experience system as a whole, which may pique the curiosity of potential gamers more. Although it’s good to constantly get experience for playing the way a player likes, it still feels like something that should have been included a long time ago and doesn’t stop the mode from feeling like a massive grind.

The dismantling of the Auction House in favour of a new player market is by far the most divisive development. On the one hand, it makes sense to be able to accumulate money and purchase specific cards through games at predetermined prices. On the other hand, it’s difficult to overlook the fact that players may purchase the rarest cards as soon as they go on sale by using real money.

The entire game is permeated with the unavoidable pressure of microtransactions that lurk at every corner. Every six weeks, a new season of a battle pass is released. This year’s MyCAREER and MyTEAM seasons have been merged, allowing players to earn incentives for free while still having the option to buy the Pro and Hall of Fame season passes, which come with additional benefits.

Despite what a few viral videos of bugs might reveal, performance everywhere is as good as it has always been. There are a tonne of appealing choices in the menus once more, with a new standout being the ability to conceal the unique assets made by other users.

NBA 2K24 Review: Gameplay Clips, Features, and Much More. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.