NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

[ChaseB]

About two weeks into its release, it's evident that NBA 2K21 has once again shown why...

Written By: Joel Smith

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[jmmontoro]

We need to stop the lie with gameplay being better because of next gen technology. Gameplay takes very little resources.

[CujoMatty]

Good review.* Agree on all points.*

I had a moment a couple nights ago where I drove to the hoop with Anunoby and beat my man. I took off for a layup and Siakims man came down to help and jumped up to block. I hit the pass button an Anonuby passed around the defender to a wide open Siakim for a swish 3.*It felt so responsive and organic.

I've been vocal and honest about some problems and this game genuinely needs some fixes but the fantastic basketball moments I've been having like the one described above, far outweigh any negatives.

This is truly a terrific game.

[Thrustie]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

Great review. I definitely agree. The gameplay is fantastic and the best I’ve experienced in a 2K game. If this is the foundation moving forward, I’ll be a happy customer. I have concerns about the balancing and some of the design decisions with the myplayer builder but I hope that’s something that will improve in the future.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[alabamarob]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

Great write up.

Passing accuracy is to high. Passing is an important and rare skill. Especially for the bigs. Their pass accuracy should be suspect.

Rebounding started off good. However, I have seen bigs covering way to much ground to get an offensive rebound recently.

Defensive Settings and Help defense not working. No reason the off ball big should be to guarding a non shooting center out at the 3 point line. Shouldn’t be to run 5 out with 3 non shooters on the floor.

With all that being said, this is the best 2k that I have ever played. Hopefully, the patches don’t kill it.

[EccentricMeat]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

As long as 2K can fix the off-ball contact animations (by actually putting them back into the game) the help defense + rotation AI, and the current bugs with the defensive settings, we’re in business. I can’t remember the last 2K where I had so few issues to fix.

100% agree on the defense not rotating away from bigs who can’t shoot on the perimeter. Such basic things missing from the game (that we had even in 2K20) leads me to believe they had to rush the game out the door to match the release date of the new consoles, and can hopefully just copy/paste them back into 2K21.

[emoji1695]

[milkmanbonzai]

The Zion photo comparison is incredible. The people in the forums who still claim there's nothing next gen about the graphics need to kindly stop it with the hogwash at this point.

[Dione2014]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

The Zion photo comparison is incredible. The people in the forums who still claim there's nothing next gen about the graphics need to kindly stop it with the hogwash at this point.

A lot of dudes are out here playing on 720p television sets. Those are the guys claiming there's no jump. If you're running this game on a 4K oled or qled then you'll see a major difference graphically.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Operation Sports mobile app

[statum71]

That part right there....

"We should have a full halftime show with recaps and check-ins on other ongoing games. During a season, a weekly recap show should be shown to talk about the past week in the NBA, or just a news show in general like The Jump on ESPN. The improvement in the arena immersion and entrances there was a nice touch, but these improvements could and should have extended to game broadcasts themselves."

2K has done this brilliantly in the past (College Hoops 2K8). So we know it's in 'em.

[JKSportsGamer1984]

Nice in depth review!

[HoustonHarden]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

We need to stop the lie with gameplay being better because of next gen technology. Gameplay takes very little resources.

its all that matters

[Thrustie]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

Great write up.



Passing accuracy is to high. Passing is an important and rare skill. Especially for the bigs. Their pass accuracy should be suspect.



Rebounding started off good. However, I have seen bigs covering way to much ground to get an offensive rebound recently.



Defensive Settings and Help defense not working. No reason the off ball big should be to guarding a non shooting center out at the 3 point line. Shouldn’t be to run 5 out with 3 non shooters on the floor.



With all that being said, this is the best 2k that I have ever played. Hopefully, the patches don’t kill it.

My accuracy is pretty average and I seem to have more passes that pull people outside their wheelhouse or result in bobbled catches.


Sent from my iPad using Operation Sports

[drugsbunny]

As an eternal skeptic, I have to say that I'm feeling pretty good right now about the future of gaming. I am one that actually enjoyed the small little changes that 2k21 had on the xbox one X. The little small touches made it play better than 2k20. In comes Next generation on the Series X. Now I find myself a little upset that I didn't wait for the Series X release. The extra added changes on the series X has thus negated anything I thought was great about Last gen gaming. The speed of which games load and flow seemlessly, has taken away my ability to think about stopping and going to bed that usually comes with that 20 second load time. Now, that instantaneous load makes it hard to judge. The graphical content has me watching TV prices again for a nice upgrade. The gameplay is as sweet as ever. The addition of tattoos for created players has given me hope again. My Player has the option to sign with a G League team or go to college after high school!!! I can make a dunker who can shoot threes again. I am in love all over again. I am seriously anticipating the future now. Sure, you can easily PC it out and have the same experience, but there is a feeling that console games have been missing that PC games have that is now bridging closer together.  I love it, Love it, LOVE IT!!!!

[EarvGotti]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

Excellent write up. I agree with the sentiment that this is probably the best 2K I've ever played gameplay wise. The new movement system is a gamechanger and it really feels like we are playing basketball out there.

The improvements to charges in 5v5 gameplay is probably my favorite feature of the game. People can no longer just turbo around the court without a penalty. It's truly beautiful.

Pick and Roll defense still has it's issues, especially with bigs not rotating properly to stop drives etc. But hopefully they can iron that out as the year goes along. Dribbling feels fluid and realistic. Defense feels real. The mid-range game is back and better than ever.

If 2K continues to go in this direction with the upcoming games, we are definitely in good hands.

[CujoMatty]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Review - Setting the Standard On a New Console Once Again

As an eternal skeptic, I have to say that I'm feeling pretty good right now about the future of gaming. I am one that actually enjoyed the small little changes that 2k21 had on the xbox one X. The little small touches made it play better than 2k20. In comes Next generation on the Series X. Now I find myself a little upset that I didn't wait for the Series X release. The extra added changes on the series X has thus negated anything I thought was great about Last gen gaming. The speed of which games load and flow seemlessly, has taken away my ability to think about stopping and going to bed that usually comes with that 20 second load time. Now, that instantaneous load makes it hard to judge. The graphical content has me watching TV prices again for a nice upgrade. The gameplay is as sweet as ever. The addition of tattoos for created players has given me hope again. My Player has the option to sign with a G League team or go to college after high school!!! I can make a dunker who can shoot threes again. I am in love all over again. I am seriously anticipating the future now. Sure, you can easily PC it out and have the same experience, but there is a feeling that console games have been missing that PC games have that is now bridging closer together.* I love it, Love it, LOVE IT!!!!

I dont know why people think that next gen 2k21 is doable on last gen PC. I exclusively played 2k21 on PC before PS5 and if anyone tells you they can make 2k21 on PC the same as 2k21 on XBox series X or PS5, then they are lying.

PC gaming is amazing. Mods are amazing. 99% of mods are strictly cosmetic and the other 1% are tools that let you modify options or cheat in myPlayer. I havent seen any real gameplay mods in a long time.

so is 2k21 better on PC than PS4? absolutely. Not even close. But it's no where near as good as PS5. It just isnt.