NBA 2K21 Review in Progress

  • If you would like to make currency and have not pre-ordered to get 100,000 VC off the bat, earning it can feel like a grind -- however you'll find myriad ways to achieve that. Playing in MyCareer and The Neighborhood are the most effective means of scoring VC, particularly if you win and perform nicely. Answering questions correctly during episodes of NBA 2K21 MT, using your Daily Spin in Jeff's Arcade, earning endorsements, and finishing shooting challenges at MyCourt also see it. Persistence is the major way to bag VC without having to spend real dosh.

    I'm GamesRadar+'s sports editor, obsessed with NFL, WWE, MLB -- and very sometimes things that don't possess a three-letter acronym. Namely: Bill Bryson, Pitch Perfect, and the Streets Of Rage Collection. I've got two kids who aren't really old enough to play Madden yet. Soon, thoug...

    NBA 2K21 is officially out today, but I just got my entire review copy yesterday , so this review in progress will trickle over into next week (after the Labor Day weekend). However, I managed to devote a good number of hours and in that time NBA 2K21 has made it crystal clear that it's maintained the franchise's record of stellar on-court gameplay. Most of the upgrades are comparatively modest, like loose rebounds looking and feeling far more realistic, however they also help add to an already strong base. The very best aspect of NBA 2K21 so far is the control tweaks, such as the new aim meter, make for an all-new learning curve. Regrettably, upgrades to the encompassing game modes appear pretty barebones.

    The aim-meter mechanic is actually difficult to grasp, but has already led to some quite satisfying one-on-one isolation victories. It is nice being able to use the right stick exclusively as a dribbling tool till I am ready to pull back for a shot. The ability to size-up, which can be tied to unique dribbling animations for lots of the top players in the league, and isolate is much far better than ever. I spent a few hours experimenting with different playstyles, like facilitating the pick-and-roll using Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. It is tremendously rewarding to use Doncic's dimensions and footwork to make space - something I couldn't replicate with other guards around the team, like Seth Curry. While it's not completely new, NBA 2K21's ability to entertain gamers' playstyles is exceptional this year.

    That said, there are a couple annoying gameplay issues I have come across, also. Fastbreaks seem marginally improved, but player spacing is still clearly off. For instance, even my greatest three-point shooters will track within the three-point line on fast breaks when they would be better off finding space in the corner. Generally, it feels like NBA 2K21 hasn't completely adapted to the emphasis modern NBA basketball has set on the three-point line. Quick catch-and-shoots aren't as common as they should be, and closing out remains far too simple on protection.

    Similarly frustrating is the CPU's capacity to create problems for Cheap MT 2K21 itself. It functioned as a jarring reminder that I was not, in fact, experiencing a true game of NBA basketball.