NBA 2K17

NBA 2K17 is the 18th title in the NBA 2K franchise of basketball simulation games, and it’s a good one. Released in September of 2016, it was praised for the visuals, gameplay and amount of available content. It doesn't matter if you are a sports simulators newbie or a loyal fan of a franchise, you will enjoy 2K17 either way.

Nothing will blow your mind in this entry, but improved graphics, customization options and new animations add to the immersive feel of the game. You create a character and play through his career in MyCareer mode, take over an entire organization in MyGM and MyLeague or create your own team to contest in MyTeam mode.

Graphics 5/5

The graphics are noticeably enhanced - 1080p hardwood courts and players look remarkable. Character models are detailed, their likenesses impresses. Cloth and skin textures, lighting effects and visual dynamics make the game look spectacular. Expanded range of movement animations makes the gameplay more fluid and realistic. There is even a possibility to download an accompanying app to scan your face when creating a player, but the results don't strike with the resemblance.

The game is not flawless, and the cut-scenes reveal those imperfections, but during the interactive gameplay, the visuals are top-notch. NBA 2K17 is so polished that all the flaws pale against an incredible general performance.

Gameplay 4,5/5

MyCareer, MyTeam, MyLeague, MyGM, MyPark, Pro-Am - NBA 2K17 has so much to offer, and each mode is a complete and thought-out thing.

MyCareer is a central and the most challenging mode of them all. You create and customize your own player and build his career from college basketball to the NBA, hopefully. You begin at the end of high school and pick a college to begin your journey. You interact with various characters to build up relationships and social networks and don’t forget to practice the essentials. You earn VC (Virtual Currency) and can spend them on skills upgrade, apparel, animations, customization items or cards to boost your performance.

Building a career in MyCareer mode is a tough task. Even college games are unforgivable - a small mistake can mess up your entire course. The regular season only adds to the harshness. Despite being a real struggle, MyCarrer is in-depth and requires a solid time investment. There is a coherent narrative too.

By the way, Michael B Jordan is your mate, and he appears in series of dull and unskippable cut-scenes.

You can compete with other player’s characters online in MyPark mode and show off your skills and apparel. A Pro-Am mode is also an online one, multiplayer for more experienced players.

Trying to enter online games can be frustrating, don’t even dare to venture online without a perfect connection. And the online game itself is slow and glitchy, spoiling the experience and making it impossible to maintain a fluid match.

If you are a complete noob, don’t worry, as there is a 2KU mode for practicing. You can practice and polish movements, shots and passes here, accompanied with context-sensitive prompts and advice.

MyTeam mode is all about building your perfect team with a collectible card system. MyLeague and MyGM modes let you take over your own customizable team and gain entry to NBA. In MyGM you fulfill the role of coach, maintain a realistic, functioning team and complete tasks trying to impress the owner. MyLeage contains more customization options, enabling to create a team from scratch. You’ll create an expansion team, and even team’s logos and jerseys. You go through seasons, change your team’s members, compete in the games with other teams and participate in off-season events, like the draft.

Controls 4/5

The controls are not that easy and require practice to master. A 2KU mode for training comes in handy here. Basketball is a game with a whole bunch of rules and 2K17 manages to remain a balance between playability and authenticity.
You can use steal, shoot and pass buttons on your keyboard. There are more passing options, ompared with previous games - use B to throw a bounce pass or Y for an overhead lob. Unfortunately, keyboard and mouse support is limited - there are no prompts anywhere explaining the buttons. The right analogue stick is a more comprehensive tool - you can perform chains of dribbling, passing and shooting moves, a jump shot or go for a more pinpoint steal attempt.

Replay Value 5/5

NBA 2K17 is an immersive and engaging experience. An amount of content and an in-depth story will make you return again and again.

Besides, the gameplay is extremely challenging, it’s not a one-time thing, which you can sprint through in a couple of hours. You’ll have to put in time and effort to gain success in MyCareer mode or to expand your team in MyGM and MyLeague game modes. Impressive depth of the game adds to the replay value.

In-game purchases

The game costs $59.99 and you can also buy different Virtual Currency packs with the price starting at $6.69 for 35000 VC.

The bottom line

NBA 2K17 is the best title in the 2K series. Furthermore, there is no equal sports game concerning depth and general quality. Upgraded visuals and new animations, realistic and immersive gameplay make 2K17 a remarkable entry. It impresses with depth and detailing and is well-worth the money. We highly recommend delving into engaging NBA world that 2K17 provides.

• Graphics 5
• Gameplay 4.5
• Controls 4
• Replay Value 5

Pros

Improved visuals and customization options;
Expanded range of animations;
In-depth story mode.

Cons

Glitches in online modes;
Limited mouse and keyboard support;
MyCareer mode can be extremely struggling.