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NBA 2K18 Review for Xbox One

NBA 2K18 Review for Xbox One

NBA 2K18 Dominates the Court

It’s difficult to imagine Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and the rest of the Dubs crew will defend their second title in three years as the NBA season kicks off in October. As we usher in yet another season, we turn to the only thing that will keep our sanity from now until opening tip: NBA 2K18 . After all the hype, all the heavy promises made by Visual Concepts, and the endless amount of anticipation, this day is finally here. NBA 2K18 busts onto the scene in classic 2K style with just about every new feature under the sun and double the replay value as last year’s installment in what may be the best sports simulator of the year.

That’s a bold claim to make, but I truly feel NBA 2K18 is the pinnacle of Visual Concepts’ success. They’ve done a masterful job of further pushing the envelope by once again blurring the line between sports simulator and RPG in Run the Neighborhood. This expansive, player-centric, and intimately personal mode has morphed into something us basketball fans have always envisioned by further expanding out the live-the-life presentation style.

For starters, no pun intended, Run the Neighborhood encapsulates everything we love about the created-player game mode within the NBA 2K franchise. It boils down all the favorite sub modes down into one user-friendly platform built around an actual neighborhood that players can navigate. No more jumping through several menus to play your favorite offering, simple walk your MyPlayer character to the specific mode within the world and start playing. This unique concept gives players the freedom to not only select their favorite created-player platform but it also allows them to interact with fellow players in a Destiny -type open world.

The best part is, every game mode is as well represented and equally satisfying as the last. MyCareer, NBA 2K18 ’s flagship created-player mode, is where players can build a baller from the ground up in an excited platform. Playground Park is a fun spot for players to run pick up games with local or online players up to 5-on-5. Pro-Am Circuit provides a grueling, but entertaining opportunity to join an online team and climb the ranks in the hopes of becoming the best one within the multiplayer circuit. Practice Gym is a nice, quiet place to hone your skills in the confines of your personal gym. Finally, Dunk Contest is where players can perfect their dunks against any online challengers.

Jumping into a multiplayer game within any of the aforementioned game modes couldn’t be easier. Despite lots of online chatter about Early Tip-Off users encountering Data Out of Sync errors and controller problems, I had no issues whatsoever. Players simply navigate to the location within the neighborhood, walk up to the venue, and hit the “X” button to jump into that game mode. Of course, some modes take longer than others to get going, as they’ll need a full roster of players to get started. The Dunk Contest, for one, took extra long to start, as no one seemed to be around and up for the challenge. I guess my dunks are too strong!

MyCareer has certainly received the biggest improvements from last year’s installment. One noticeable difference is the sheer amount of content thrust into NBA 2K18 . Everything from gear and player upgrades to challenges and storyline interactions have all been beefed up. Unlike last year, where several gamers felt the offering got stale after the first season of MyCareer, NBA 2K18 seems to further extend both the storyline and the feeling of being engulfed in the NBA lifestyle. The completely revamped endorsement engine, which actually takes into account your public interview responses and off-court actions, interactions with past and present NBA players, and events surrounding game days are a vast improvement from last year.

NBA 2K18 Screenshot

The one blemish in MyCareer has to do with the new storyline. It’s intriguing, especially since the new character takes a nontraditional path to the NBA, but downright cheesy at times. I admit, it was difficult to see the dynamic Orange Juice duo of Freak and Justice Winslow fade into the rearview, especially since Michael B. Jordan’s stellar performance added to the overall authenticity and feeling of being an actual NBA player. Our new protagonist, DJ, is hardly our old pal Freak. Perhaps I haven’t spent enough time with him or maybe I’m simply still missing the dynamic Orange Juice duo. Whatever the case may be, I do know the storyline feels forced, portrays every ethnic stereotype under the sun, and tries too hard to capture your interest. On top of that, players will have to muster their way through the unskippable, lengthy cut-scenes. The storyline is rough, jagged, and certainly has potential, but it’s less than impress straight out of the gate.

NBA 2K18 Screenshot

Despite MyCareer’s jumbled storyline, the nuts and bolts of NBA 2K18 are solid. Each gameplay mode is centered on enhanced player movements, improved button controls, and optimized overall flow. As you would expect with an annual installment, the game takes incremental, but impactful steps forward on each of these fronts. The shooting mechanics have been updated and improved as well, with a more straight forward meter, along with significant developments in passing, setting screens, boxing out, and fast breaks.

NBA 2K18 feels tighter. The AI of both teammates and opponents has been revamped, thanks to 2K’s new Motion System, to reflect the NBA’s developing style of run and gun offense. Players will get out and run the break by filling lanes and cutting to the basket, rather than jogging down court waiting to get back on defense. More important, 2K has done away with the dribble and off ball animations in order to give players complete control over the game. This can be hugely beneficial when playing against a team that dominates the half-court game. The Warriors, Suns, and Thunder put on a clinic when displaying the full capabilities of the AI on a fast break, and the Spurs, Cavs, and newly minted Timberwolves run the pick and pop to perfection without any animation lag.

On the flip side, defenders will no longer “stick” to your offensive player regardless, of how fast or how many times you throw a move at them. Players have the ability to complete perfectly timed crossovers and systematically breakdown a player as they if they were playing in real life. The best part is, gamers can alter moves midstream to further react to oncourt situations. It may seem like small cheese in the grand scheme of things, but is the kind of improvement what we want from a new installment in an annual franchise.

NBA 2K18 Screenshot

If the fancy game modes and vicariously living through NBA players isn’t something you care too much about, NBA 2K18 provides a wealth of alternate options. The returning Schedule Challenge is an awesome concept where players can play a 30-day schedule for each of the 30 NBA teams. MyTeam is a Madden -inspired game mode where players open packs of cards to build the ultimate fantasy team, MyGM is your typical general manager sports simulator where you get unlimited control over any one of the 30 NBA teams. Each one is satisfying in its own way.

New to the series are the Super Max and Pack & Playoffs modes. Super Max has players build a 13-man roster on a limited budget to see how far they can go. It is an interesting concept, but definitely not my cup of tea. I felt it lacked customization. Pack & Playoffs forces players to utilize five ballers from packs opened before each game to take on NBA 2K18 gamers from around the globe. Again, it is another interesting concept, but the lack of depth seems to keep me from sinking some serious time into this mode. Still, this year’s installment certainly has something for each basketball fan, both hardcore and casual alike.

When all is said and done, NBA 2K18 is a solid title that will carry you long into the winter with its upgraded features, massive amount of content, wide range of game modes, and overall better presentation. Its minor setbacks pale in comparison to the positives infused within this title. Yet again, 2K and Visual Concepts have combined to provide basketball fans another great installment. It’s safe to say you can skip the NBA Live resurgence all together and stick with NBA 2K18 .

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
Graphics have been incrementally improved, with noticeable enhancements in player models, arena details, and player movements. 4.5 Control
It has vastly improved controls with a brand new style of play utilizing 2K’s cutting edge Motion System. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The game comes packed with several quality tracks, but also contains its fair share of annoying ones. You’ll be unchecking your fair share of songs on day one. 5.0 Play Value
The 2K franchise stays on top of the replay value mountain with NBA 2K18. 4.5 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Run the Neighborhood The future of sports career modes has arrived, allowing you to play the game the way you like. Build your career in NBA games, hit the courts in The Playground Park, join the Pro-Am circuit, or explore the shops and venues in an all-new open neighborhood setting. Featuring new MyPlayer upgrade and endorsement systems, our biggest cast of characters to date including NBA players, and so much more.
  • The Road to 99 The overarching meta-game that rewards users for improving their MyPlayer’s overall rating, regardless of which modes they choose to play. Featuring a unified badge system across Pro-Am, Park and your NBA journey in MyCareer, your attributes, animations and badges all combine to define your play style on your road to a 99 overall rating.
  • Classic Teams Play with 62 of the NBA’s greatest teams from the past, including 17 new additions. Pit your favorite classic roster against current NBA teams, replay epic Finals matchups, find out if Shaq & Kobe can compete with the great Lakers teams of the past, or matchup the ’97-98 Bulls against the ’15-16 Warriors to settle the argument once and for all. The possibilities are endless.

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