NBA 2K20 Review

As a big basketball fan and NBA 2K fan, I notice many significant improvements to the core gameplay of this years installment. Improved dribbling, footwork and positioning all help the game feel more refined and realistic. Another great change is the different point guards have in relation to the centers. This makes mismatching an incredibly important part of the game on both ends of the court. The increased speed of the game also makes the game more dynamic, but might take some getting used to for players of previous games. The game also makes it important to conserve player energy and not abuse the sprint button for the entire game .

NBA 2K20 is the most visually appealing version of the game yet. The improved visuals, lighting and presentation by making most players look almost identical to their real-life counterparts. WNBA is also a welcome addition to the game that feels different than standard NBA play and is worth a try if you want to change things up a little. Unfortunately, the WNBA is does not have an online mode and isn’t as enjoyable as other game modes. Regardless, this new game mode is a step in the right direction and could be expanded upon in the future.

MyLeague is practically the same as last years version and hasn’t had any significant improvements whatsoever. While this mode is considered by some to be the best one in the game, it is being ignored in favor of more profitable modes such as MyTeam and MyCareer. Despite the lack of improvement, MyLeague still is an enjoyable mode that isn’t as time demanding as others.

As the name implies, MyTeam a gives you roster of average players and lets you work your way to the top by constantly improving your squad. While this is fun in theory, the mode is riddled with micro-transactions that are almost necessary if you prefer not to grind for countless hours. This mode is designed similar to a casino which is definitely the wrong approach to take in a game of this caliber. In my opinion, the auction house was funner than playing the actual game since I was able to buy and sell players to earn the currency in an efficient and fast way.

The MyCareer story mode is certainly better than previous installments. MyCareer now hosts a new badge system which allows you to choose which badges you want in each category( finishing, shooting…). While this isn’t usually the focus of sports games,the story was surprisingly well made and featured well known actors such as Idris Elba who is your coach. Just like MyTeam, this mode makes it difficult to progress if you don’t purchase any virtual currency.

NBA 2K20 continues to impress every year with its excellent gameplay and presentation. However, this is overshadowed by some persistent issues such as the heavy dependence on micro-transactions in some modes and lack of improvements in others. Thankfully, the game does provide a new WNBA mode and a more interesting story this time around. NBA 2K20 is the best recreation of basketball yet and these great additions aforementioned outweigh the flaws in some game modes.

GameRev was provided with a digital download code for the purpose of this review.