The best part of NBA 2K21 so far is the control tweaks
Verfasst: 21.12.2020, 06:52
NBA 2K21 is officially available now, but I only got my entire review copy yesterday morning, so this review in advance will trickle into next week (following the Labor Day weekend). But I was able to 2K21 MT put in a good number of hours yesterday, and at that time NBA 2K21 has made it clear that it has claimed the franchise's record of stellar on-court gameplay. The majority of the updates are comparatively small, like loose rebounds looking and feeling a lot more realistic, but they help add to an already strong base. The best part of NBA 2K21 so far is the control tweaks, like the new aim meter, make for an all-new learning curve. Regrettably, upgrades to the surrounding game modes seem pretty barebones.
The aim-meter mechanic is really hard to master, but has led to some really satisfying one-on-one isolation victories. It is nice having the ability to use the ideal stick exclusively as a dribbling tool till I am ready to pull back to get a shot. The ability to size-up, which can be tied to unique dribbling animations for many of the top players in the league, and isolate is much better than ever. I spent a couple of hours experimenting with different playstyles, like facilitating the pick-and-roll with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. It's tremendously rewarding to use Doncic's dimensions and footwork to make space - something I could not replicate with other guards around the team, like Seth Curry. While it is not entirely new, NBA 2K21's ability to entertain gamers' playstyles is outstanding this season.
Nevertheless, there are already a few frustrating gameplay problems I've come across, also. Fastbreaks seem marginally enhanced, but participant spacing continues to be noticeably off. For example, even my finest three-point shooters will track within the three-point lineup on fast breaks when they'd be better off finding space in the corner. In general, it feels like NBA 2K21 has not fully adapted to the emphasis modern NBA basketball has put 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 that the CPU's capacity to make difficulties for Buy MT 2K21 itself. In my short time with NBA 2K21, I have seen two backcourt violations on wide-open inbounds passes. It functioned as a jarring reminder that I was not, in fact, experiencing a true game of NBA basketball.
The aim-meter mechanic is really hard to master, but has led to some really satisfying one-on-one isolation victories. It is nice having the ability to use the ideal stick exclusively as a dribbling tool till I am ready to pull back to get a shot. The ability to size-up, which can be tied to unique dribbling animations for many of the top players in the league, and isolate is much better than ever. I spent a couple of hours experimenting with different playstyles, like facilitating the pick-and-roll with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. It's tremendously rewarding to use Doncic's dimensions and footwork to make space - something I could not replicate with other guards around the team, like Seth Curry. While it is not entirely new, NBA 2K21's ability to entertain gamers' playstyles is outstanding this season.
Nevertheless, there are already a few frustrating gameplay problems I've come across, also. Fastbreaks seem marginally enhanced, but participant spacing continues to be noticeably off. For example, even my finest three-point shooters will track within the three-point lineup on fast breaks when they'd be better off finding space in the corner. In general, it feels like NBA 2K21 has not fully adapted to the emphasis modern NBA basketball has put 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 that the CPU's capacity to make difficulties for Buy MT 2K21 itself. In my short time with NBA 2K21, I have seen two backcourt violations on wide-open inbounds passes. It functioned as a jarring reminder that I was not, in fact, experiencing a true game of NBA basketball.