On the court, NBA 2K20 is a dazzling experience that matches the energy
and presentation of its real-life counterpart. Enhanced footwork,
dribbling, and player spacing help improve an already sturdy foundation.
However, outside of the surprisingly well-written story mode, NBA 2K20
loses its focus off of the court. NBA 2K20 excels at recreating the pro
game, but opportunities to purchase microtransactions exist at nearly
every corner, and complex modes like MyLeague are given far too little
attention.nba mt
The
first thing I noticed about NBA 2K20 is that everything feels more
intuitive. The learning curve is still immense, but learning the basics
is now a lot smoother than it used to be. A redesigned “2KU”, NBA 2K20’s
optional tutorial mode, is particularly helpful and doesn’t require
more than an hour to get through. Thoughtfully, an on-screen controller
mimics the movement of the desired skill, making it plenty easy to
imitate. Once I successfully learned a skill, like eurostepping toward
the basket, I could move on at whatever pace I felt comfortable. This
allowed for the remastering of skills I forgot about since last year,
and trying out some moves I hadn’t been able to pull off previously at
all.
NBA 2K20 upholds the recent franchise tradition of having
top-notch presentation. Players are expertly crafted to mirror their
real-life selves and a bevvy of apparel options have been added to help
match the NBA’s sense of style. Both players and announcers will flash a
lifeless gaze every now and again, but it wouldn’t be so noticeable if
everything from the player’s shoes to the court floors weren’t so
meticulously crafted. I also noticed some awkward pauses between David
Aldridge and players during interviews, which is a stark contrast to the
effortless flow of commentary from the likes of Kevin Harlan, Greg
Anthony, Chris Webber, Doris Burke and more. NBA 2K20’s stellar A/V
package is rapidly approaching what can be seen on television, and that
really is a remarkable accomplishment.
While the NBA 2K franchise
has always done an excellent job making each player feel unique, having
a renewed sense of mastery over the controls brings out the best in
each player. Pulling off step-back jumpers with James Harden or blow-bys
with Eric Bledsoe is really satisfying, and with improved defensive
A.I., more important than it has been in the past. Defenders are better
equipped to deal with speedy players, especially in transition, where
tactics like “walling up” (a defense strategy used to forced contested
shots near the rim) are employed against drive-heavy players like LeBron
James. Learning when to pull up for a jumper and when to drive it right
to the basket provides a welcomed new layer of frantic strategy.
A
lot of this is amplified by the badge system, which attaches unique
abilities to players that are less tangible than something like the
speed or strength attribute. Take the “Pogo Stick” badge, for instance.
This allows for players like Anthony Davis to quickly regroup after a
blocked shot, making it easier to block several shots in a row. Another
interesting badge is “Worm”, which is attached to players who are better
at slipping through box-outs when rebounding. The total badge count is
about 80, and it really can’t be overstated how much they can be felt
while playing. NBA 2K20 goes above and beyond to make every player feel
and play unique.
The best gameplay addition to NBA 2K20, however,
is the upgraded ball-handling system. Instead of canned animations
taking over mid-dribble, every success and failure I had with the ball
in my hands felt earned. Even flipping the basketball from one hand to
another feels satisfying, especially when you follow it up with a
ankle-breaking crossover from someone like Kyrie Irving. Given how much
time is spent looking at players with the ball, the newly added
dribbling animations help things look different, too. Watching Giannis
barrel down the court with long strides is just as majestic as you would
expect. The pursuit of mastery is NBA 2K20’s best hook, and the
ball-handling mechanics are the best example of that.Click to Buy
