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NBA 2K25 Review: Improved gameplay, MyCareer headline new edition

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•09/12/24•

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NBA 2K25 Jayson Tatum First Look
Courtesy of 2K

NBA 2K25 comes at an interesting time. No, it’s not out earlier or later than normal, but the basketball video game comes nearly two months after EA Sports College Football, one of the most anticipated sports games in recent memory. And while College Football and Madden NFL 25 have received a lot of attention (good and bad), NBA 2K25 stands on its own two feet with its smooth gameplay and revamped modes.

One of the biggest things stressed for this NBA 2K game is the gameplay. While it’s not a major difference from previous NBA 2K games I played, there are 9,000 new ProPLAY animations that have been added, including 1,500 dribbling animations and 1,100 signature shot animations, making it very realistic.

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But one of the things I love about the gameplay isn’t necessarily the on-court action. The fans in the game are more life-like than what you see in any football video game. In fact, a Dance Cam has been added whenever there’s a timeout, and while that might not be a big deal for many, it’s still a cool thing to see because it shows the development team put in the work to make the atmosphere like an actual NBA game.

My favorite mode to play in the NBA 2K games is MyCareer, and a new feature added is Heart of a Dynasty. This is where a player can relive their journey from high school to FIBA games in a new flashback story. It’s a nice option instead of just playing NBA games.

The City is smaller in NBA 2K25

And speaking of MyCareer, The City has been downsized. One issue I had with previous versions of the game is The City was too big and some of the buildings were just there for decoration. That is not the case with 2K25 as every building has a purpose.

A couple of other features of the game I wanted to point out are The W, and Learn 2K. NBA 2K has made the effort to make The W a strong feature, and while I haven’t had the chance to explore all of it, I enjoyed playing games with teams like the Indiana Fever or Atlanta Dream. And yes, Caitlin Clark is as good in the game as she is in real life.

Learn 2K is for those who are new to the game and want to master their skills. Most gamers will dismiss this part, but I enjoyed playing mini-games despite being a (somewhat) a NBA2K veteran.

There’s of course MyNBA and MyTeam, and while there are new additions to both features (ie. The Steph Era). They both feel similar to what they were last year. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’m likely to spend more time with MyCareer and The W than any other features.

There’s going to be those who say that NBA 2K25 is a carbon copy of previous NBA 2K games. The reality is while it’s not a perfect sports video game, it’s as entertaining and as deep as any video game you will play this year.