How To Play Current Gen 2k21 On Next Gen

Game Info

NBA 2K21 (Next-Gen)

November 10, 2021

Platform

Xbox Series 10/Due south, PlayStation 4 (Current-gen on PC, Xbox I, PlayStation four)

Will the real version of NBA 2K21 please stand upward? The "electric current-gen" PC, Xbox 1, and PS4 versions of NBA 2K21 came out dorsum in September, and left me a chip flat, but the game's "congenital from the ground up" PS5 and Xbox Series X/South version has since launched. This side by side-gen iteration is more than than a simple visual polishing, it also revamps gameplay and adds a variety of new features and modes. It's plenty to warrant a new review, and then, here we are!

Of course, just because the side by side-gen version of NBA 2K21 is different, doesn't necessarily mean it'southward better. Traditionally, sports franchises have started off on shaky footing when jumping to new consoles. And then, does the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S version of NBA 2K21 continue the franchise's winning dynasty or will a rebuilding phase be required? Lace 'em up, it's time to hit the courtroom again…

Note: Some aspects of the electric current and next-gen versions of NBA 2K21 are more-or-less identical, so I'm non going to go into great detail well-nigh them here. If you want to know more about, say, the game'southward MyCareer story entrada or MyTeam mode, you can check out my original current-gen NBA 2K21 review here.

The NBA 2K series hasn't retooled its core gameplay in a major way in some fourth dimension. Certain, each new game rebalances and tweaks certain mechanics, but the changes are commonly very evolutionary. Well, the next-gen version of NBA 2K21 changes that. The game doesn't but look improve, it feels totally unlike. NBA 2K21 adjacent-gen completely revamps the series' animation and motion system, and it's surprising just how big a change it is. NBA 2K programmer Visual Concepts has chipped abroad at the problem for years, but the fact is, the series' gameplay has always had a slightly stilted, canned experience. That is now gone. NBA feels refreshingly nimble, fluid, and authentic on the new consoles.

Players plant their feet realistically as they maneuver, ball handlers and defenders trunk upwards and battle in the paint in a conceivable manner, and dribbling and passing feels more than predictable and in the role player's control. I especially like the new "lead pass" mechanic – laissez passer to one of your players using the triangle/Y push button, and they'll start making a break to the basket before they fifty-fifty catch it. This may all sound like minor stuff, merely it all adds up to a much more than satisfying feel. The next-gen NBA 2K21 moves realistically, merely has the selection-up-and-play fluidity of an old-school arcade b-ball game.

NBA 2K21 adjacent-gen likewise directly addresses some of the issues in the electric current-gen version of the game. Shooting was stingy as hell on the PS4/Xbox One, only thankfully, sinking baskets is now much less of a pain. The finicky Pro-Stick shooting does return, just now yous tin use traditional timing-based shooting without whatsoever penalty. Absolutely, this version of NBA 2K21 does feel easier than well-nigh recent entries in the franchise, which some hardened vets may grumble about, but I wasn't bothered. I don't really play these games to grind up the perfect MyPlayer, so every bit long every bit the sport is presented accurately, which is undeniably is, I'm not going to mutter that wins are coming a fleck easier than they used to. At their cadre, sports games are supposed to be ability fantasies, right?

NBA 2K21'south updated activeness is further bolstered by a fairly impressive visual makeover. Arenas expect fantastic, featuring much livelier, more conceivable crowds (Recollect those?) and players await incredible, with every hair, contraction, and dewdrop of sweat captured in minute detail. Well, at least the big stars look incredible. As has always been the case 2K Games, the headliners like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and LeBron James look amazing, just the bench warmers? Not as much. Some look like they've been directly re-create-and-pasted from current gen. HDR is too practical with a bit of a heavy hand, giving NBA 2K21 a slightly harsh appearance that doesn't necessarily match the look of real basketball broadcasts. Don't become me wrong, this is a very pretty basketball game, merely perhaps temper your expectations just a touch.

As usual, NBA 2K21 is roughly split up into three parts – MyCareer, MyTeam, and the MyGM/MyLeague franchise modes. MyCareer is carbon copied from the current-gen games, featuring the aforementioned cinematic prologue, admitting with much-improved presentation. You lot once over again footstep into the office of "Junior," a gifted baller who struggles to live up the mixed legacy of his father, a legendary college player who somehow never fabricated it the NBA. We've seen this "bright-eyed up-and-comer makes information technology the NBA" story earlier, but this is a solid take on the formula. If you already played through the prologue on PS4 or Xbox One, information technology'south not really worth tackling again, just yous can skip straight to grinding through the NBA flavor if you want.

Visual Concept'due south major focus is on the latest version of their social hub, which started as "My Neighborhood" dorsum in NBA 2K18 and was reinvented as the "2K Embankment" for the current-gen version of 2K21. On next-gen consoles, the hub has been expanded into "The City," a surprisingly-large (it will take yous at least a few minutes to run across) basketball-focused city. The Urban center is divided into neighborhoods with players being able to bring together one of iv unlike affiliations, and NPCs at present walk the streets handing out simple RPG-like quests. These additions are nice, just ultimately, The City quickly starts to feel a fleck sterile and empty, with well-nigh of the new space being devoted to, you guessed information technology, cosmetic-shelling shops. Worse, I've noticed some issues with performance while playing in The Urban center, although that has improved with updates. If you're ane of those players who spends all their time playing Rec or Pro-Am games in the hub, The City volition likely be a welcome update (once all the issues are worked out), but if you've always ignored 2K's picayune microtransaction-pushing towns, y'all can continue to practice so.

MyGM and MyLeague has long been one of the most neglected parts of the NBA 2K package, and that doesn't really change hither. The next-gen version of NBA 2K21 consolidates MyGM and MyLeague into a single franchise way called MyNBA, which allows you to freely tinker with individual teams also equally the league as a whole. This is probably a smart move, and the amount of options for customizing your experience are impressive, but I can't help but feel we're getting away from what I personally want from a franchise way, namely, more personality and storytelling. Yes, you can still turn on RPG elements as an option, but they're simply that, an option. It seems similar Visual Concepts is giving upwards on the idea of MyGM as a structured challenge and turning franchise style into more of a fantasy basketball game tool. And hey, some may capeesh that, but information technology'south not actually for me. At least women get in on the franchise mode fun this year with their own MyWNBA way. The ladies don't get quite as many options, but you can blueprint your own female MyPlayer, guide her and her team through a season or playoffs, craft your own league, and more than. Information technology's a nice beginning, which Visual Concepts hopefully builds on in future games.

NBA 2K21'south Ultimate-Team-manner MyTeam mode is directly carried over from current-gen consoles. In fact, it's the but mode that allows for crossgen salve transfers – yeah, yous'll have to start your progress all over in every other manner. Thankfully, this yr's MyTeam retreats from the much-criticized casino theme of final yr to a Fortnite-like seasonal construction, but of grade, random card packs are still integral to the fashion. Personally, I'1000 going to continue keeping my distance.

And that'due south about all there is to say almost NBA 2K21…er, for the second time. As you'd expect, there's plenty of content to piece of work through on adjacent-gen consoles, although the game doesn't really feel any bigger than past entries in the series. Whether that new $70 price tag is justified, is upwardly to yous.

This review was based on a PS5 copy of NBA 2K21 provided by publisher 2K Games. You can grab NBA 2K21 Mamba Forever Edition, which includes a next-gen upgrade, at a disbelieve hither.

NBA 2K21 (Next-Gen)

NBA 2K21 makes a solid debut on side by side-gen consoles, but may fall short of some fans' razzle dazzle expectations. The game looks impressive, if slightly uneven, and new animations make for silky-smooth on-courtroom activeness, but a lack of unique, worthwhile content holds the overall package back. If you've been waiting for NBA 2K21 on PS5 and Xbox Series X, or bought the Mamba Forever Edition that comes with a complimentary upgrade, this is certainly the all-time version to play. That said, if you don't take access to the upgrade (or a PS5 or XSX for that affair) yous don't need to feel also bad well-nigh sticking to the K League this year.