NBA 2K24 brings you real-life NBA footage to your matches with the brand new game-changing proPLAY technology.
NBA 2K23 was close to as real as it gets, and it’s among the best basketball simulators ever made and it felt very close to a real-life experience. Not only was it revolutionary, but it also made the NBA 2K Series among the top-selling games in the US. And like every year, NBA 2K24 has just arrived, and you know what that means. We’re very close to approaching the new NBA season. It’s been a few months since last season, and thank goodness, the latest instalment has just arrived to keep us occupied until the new season, as well as the entire year.
But with all that said and done, it’s great that the late, great Kobe Bryant is this year’s cover star, and NBA 2K24 has a decent amount of content to honour his memories. A few years ago, the world lost an iconic figure, and today, Kobe’s death still hurts to this day. What Kobe did for the NBA can never be duplicated, and for him to feature as this year’s cover athlete to celebrate NBA 2K’s 25th anniversary makes perfect sense. And it would be even better if NBA 2K24 was superior to its predecessor, particularly the improvements that were shown in NBA 2K23. Not only for the fans, obviously, but to serve as homage to the black mamba.
Unfortunately, I am here to tell you that with NBA 2K24, not enough was done for this to be the case. And some might even go as far as to say that this is a bit of a step-down. However, you’re still getting a highly enjoyable instalment, and are guaranteed the most authentic basketball experience ever. Nonetheless, let’s discuss what improvements, enhancements, and changes were made, as well as the source behind what stopped the game from reaching its full potential.
Well, let’s start with the introduction of ProPLAY, which made its arrival to next-gen gaming. An innovative technology that guarantees realism in the truest form in a basketball game ever. You guys watch the NBA, and you should already know the signature moves, plays, gestures, and more by now. And thanks to ProPLAY, a huge number of animations of your favourite players and so much more deliver actual NBA footage to your matches.
There’s no longer any need for actors wearing special effects costumes for motion capture performances. Instead, a completely natural approach was taken with ProPLAY, as it collected many NBA players’ exact play styles, signature offensive and defensive movements, dribbling and passing styles, finishing moves, dunks and much more. And because of this, players can duplicate what they watch on their TV screens in NBA 2K24 – especially with their favourite NBA stars.
Here are a few examples, you have The Suns’ Kevin Durant, who has his signature jump shot and free throws. Or you have Golden State’s Steph Curry, who has renowned dribbling moves and off-dribble jumpers. Or perhaps the Giannis of the Bucks, backing down his markers and far more resembling real-life behaviours. You have to admit, this is a jaw-dropper and the epitome of a game-changer.
But if you think that’s great, then wait until I tell you about the gameplay enhancements. You may be glad to know that things have taken up a notch by rebuilding dribble combo controls and interior defence. Dribbling and shooting have become more accessible, allowing you to shine regardless of skill level – we’ll speak more about that in a few moments. Moreover, you should learn how to create spaces with your dribbling in order to achieve high-percentage shots. And what better way to learn than with the brand-new feature called dribbling takedowns?
For more on dribbling, takedowns are -according to gameplay director Mike Wang, he explains that each player has two versions: Regular breakdowns and aggressive takedowns. You need to flick upwards with the analog stick to perform regular breakdowns. And for aggressive takedowns, flicking up with sprint health is needed.
To elaborate, these new dribbling mechanics will drastically affect how you play your offence from now on. Additionally, with the new and eruptive dribbling animations, they deliver phenomenal combo sequences, which essentially help shift away from your defenders much more easily and, of course, effectively. What’s more impressive is that you can break out of a combo sequence at any point. Furthermore, in Mike Wang’s words, “this year features all new signature double crosses, heavy cross and escape moves”.
Another new feature is the blowout dribble that involves “a quick burst of speed where the ball handler pushes the ball ahead to get out quickly on the break”. And to execute this, you will have to tap the sprint trigger while moving. But there’s more, much more on the offence. You have the paint play improvement where you can now branch out of a rebound on a putback attempt, and to do this, you will need to press the shoot button after a catch.
Shot timing has also improved but is also more flexible. Whether you’re in the likes of MyNBA or MyTEAM, or just want to chillax and enjoy some Quick Play, shot timing is much more lenient. With NBA 2K24, you don’t have to stress yourself by having to remember every baller’s accurate release to make a shot.
This might seem like NBA 2K24 is slightly removing away from the realism, but it isn’t. Plus, it definitely removes frustration, so it’s a win-win. The same goes for the layout timing, with its redesigned version now allowing for much easier finishes when you reach the rim.
For dunking, you can now forcibly control rim hangs with any dunks that were executed with two hands by simply holding the sprint trigger when a player that has dunked is grabbing the rim. Keep in mind that this specific feature is only applicable to next-gen consoles.
Lastly, it’s great to see an adrenaline boost return to the franchise. It gets sweeter when you realise that the mechanic has been redesigned to simultaneously create a more immersive offence and defence. Offensively, boost will no longer get lost when executing the dribbling combos or moving in much smaller spaces. Which, in turn, results in giving a lot more freedom to elite-level ball handlers.
But enough about offence, let’s discuss the defence. NBA 2K24 introduces skill-based defence that involves paint and perimeter defence, providing more effectiveness on both defences, and you are rewarded for making good reads. Defensive movement has also improved, allowing less sliding and more responses. This results in defenders going to where they’re required to be.
You can also thank the enhanced body system for making it harder for hall handlers to evade good defenders. Plus, they can press a ball handler 2-3 times during a single possession, and will make it arduous for them to score. Defensive steals have also returned, with the likes of having more ways to torment ball handlers. And this year, a rebuilt contest logic allows larger weight on body positioning.
Other than offence and defence, NBA 2K24 has other improvements to mechanics you need to know about. Takeover has returned to the franchise, and it also comes with a twist. After you have filled the takeover meter, they can bring up a menu that allows them to select between playmaking, physicals, shooting, finishing, defence and rebounding. And after choosing one of them, they’ll increase the ratings of the specific area. Note that this is also for only next-gen consoles.
Another return is the 2K Smart Play system that makes play calling more accessible for players. To elaborate, let’s say, for example, if you miss a shot, an overlay will appear and inform you of the kind of play that’ll be necessary. Or, as Mike Wang explains, if a player is directing the ball up the count, the overlay will recommend the most logical play and best player for the possession.
If a player like the recommendation, they can tap L1 or the left bumper before they surpass the half-court to perform it. And for players to be able to call their favourite plays, they need to press the left directional, and they can select from up to 16 of their favourite actions. The player is literally calling the shots.
And speaking of calling the shots, NBA 2K24 has a new freelance that’s called comp. This allows players to have total control of AI movements. And as for substitutions, this year, there’s a new substitution and lineups system that features the likes of keeping scorers on the floor and aiding 6th man lineups that are best suited for teams with bench players that can bear the burden.
These are a shedload of improvements and enhancements for the gameplay mechanics of NBA 2K24. I couldn’t identify a single major flaw, and it’s obvious that Visual Concepts has done their homework and passed with flying colours. As for the content, however? It’s a different conversation, and this is where most of the negatives come in.
And we have to start with the Mamba Moments mode, which pays tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, who is also recognised as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. You get to recreate seven of the black mamba’s greatest moments that partly contributed to forming his legacy. You’ll also relive the earlier stages of his career on his path to greatness and complete challenges along the way.
Remember when Kobe faced his mentor, Michael Jordan, in the early 2000s? What would you do if you were in Kobe’s shoes at that moment? Or how about the time when he went beast mode and scored a staggering 62 points in three quarters back on December 20, 2005, against the Mavericks? Can you do better than that?
Or what about Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals between one of the greatest rivalries in NBA history, The Lakers vs. the Celtics? These are a few of Kobe’s most defining moments that NBA 2K24 has on the table. And you’re given the opportunity to have total control in changing their outcomes.
This is quite a fine selection and enjoyable at the same time. But a few more of Kobe’s great moments to recreate wouldn’t go amiss. For example, the game that made Kobe a legend when he had the iconic 81-point game against the Raptors on January 22, 2006. And they could’ve added the moment when he was making a name for himself by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest in his rookie season.
For MyCAREER in NBA 2K24, there certainly are improvements, such as the Key Games feature, where you can engage in key games that are based on rival teams, matchups and more. The same is true for MyTEAM with the addition of the MTP earn rates that have been increased, the new salary cap mode and so on. Seasons isn’t that much shy of improvements either, as it’ll include brand new season pass options and rewards.
As well as The City, where you get to show off your custom-made player as you vibe and tour around an enormous, luxurious, and gorgeous-looking beachfront city. In this fabulous city, you can do so many things, such as enter 3v3 casual competitions, Theatre, Club 2K, side quests and much more. Plus, the city has a brand-new Starting 5 mode, where you engage in 1v1 online head-to-head battles, and take your MyPLAYER and team up with four NBA players against other players. Great news for console owners is that 2K24 allows Corssplay, and you can now play with or against friends who own the game on a different platform.
NBA 2K24‘s MyNBA Eras is pretty much the same as last year, except for an addition being the LeBron Era, where players will take their teams to either face or join forces with King James. Furthermore, they’ll challenge against some of the best NBA players in history. Also, MyNBA Lite is added, which serves as a streamlined ModernEra that comes with simplified systems and trade rules.
As for WNBA fans, in the MyPLAYER online-based mode the W, you can construct your own MyPLAYER, but first, you’ll need to select either of the two backgrounds. You can be the prospect – where you’ve dominated women’s college football, resulting in entering as the number 1 draft pick, and it’s up to you to live up to your potential.
Or the undiscovered gem – even though you were a college prospect, you still ended up undrafted and took your talents internationally. You’ve made a name for yourself in Europe, and you’ve gotten the attention of coaches in the WNBA. You’ve finally received the big break you’ve been waiting for to get into the WNBA, and it’s up to you to prove yourself. And there is the brand new feature called ‘in pursuit of greatness’ where you’re playing against some of the most talented players in the WNBA, as well as form and compare against rivals.
Now, we must address the biggest issue in NBA 2K24 – the microtransactions. It seems like they’re taking over – well, for the majority of the modes, anyway. MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and more are infested with the virtual currency system, and it’s being shoved down consumers’ throats. On top of paying the full retail price for the game, you’ll have to reach into your wallet and spend much more to unlock many of the game’s encouraging features.
NBA 2K24’s introduction of the ProPLAY and Crossplay systems are simply the future of the NBA 2K series. Along with the abundance of enhancements and improvements to furnish the most authentic basketball experience ever. On the other hand, microtransactions have become increasingly problematic, and one would wonder how much damage they could have on the franchise. It’s like one step forward and two steps backward. NBA 2K24 ultimately became a promising young NBA talent that never reached its full potential.
