NBA 2K25 Review: A Renewed Basketball Experience
Immersive MyCareer Experience
When starting the game, you're immediately thrust into the world of MyCareer, embodying the role of MP. The journey begins with a visualization exercise of your character imagining an NBA Finals victory. From there, you choose your ideal position—whether it's Power Forward for in-close shooting, Point Guard for playmaking, or another role—and set out to prove yourself on the court. I chose Power Forward, landing with the Los Angeles Lakers, only to compete against LeBron James for a starting spot.
The City, an expansive social hub for the MyCareer mode, returns with some noticeable upgrades. While visually, it's still a bit lacking at times (with the frame rate dropping to 30 FPS), it feels more vibrant and alive than before. You can choose between two crews—Rise or Elite—and each offers unique courts to compete on. These choices don't impact gameplay significantly but provide different aesthetics and environments for casual and competitive play.
Despite these improvements, navigating The City can sometimes feel overwhelming with its endless shops, courts, and missions. However, the sense of growth and progress is ever-present. Meeting with coaches, strategizing media approaches, and discussing endorsement deals keep the professional hustle front and center. It's not just about playing ball—it's about building your brand and career.
On-Court Gameplay: Improvements with Some Hiccups
When it comes to the actual gameplay, NBA 2K25 introduces several new features to freshen up the experience. One of the standout additions is Rhythm Shooting, which feels both intriguing and challenging. The Shot Meter remains a point of contention, but with Shot Timing Profiles, players can customize how their shots work, adding a layer of personalization to shooting.
However, shooting can still be tricky. I found myself missing several three-pointers despite only being slightly off-timing. That said, the feel of the game on the court is solid, with more natural movements from both ball handlers and defenders. The improved animations, enhanced dribbling mechanics, and the ability to shoot and cancel shots on the fly give you more control, making the gameplay smoother than ever.
Defensive gameplay, though, still feels like it needs some fine-tuning. Blocking, in particular, is difficult and doesn't feel rewarding, especially since it doesn't contribute to your Teammate Grade. But on the positive side, the momentum of players feels lifelike, and movements such as weaving through defenders or executing fast breaks are incredibly smooth.
Overall, NBA 2K25 excels at offering a realistic basketball simulation experience. The dribble mechanics, player momentum, and shot-canceling abilities are all welcome upgrades, but there's still room for improvement, especially in defense.
Visuals and Presentation: A Cinematic Experience
The NBA 2K series has always excelled in its presentation, and NBA 2K25 continues this trend. From the detailed animations of players' movements to the realistic beads of sweat on their faces, the game looks and feels like a live broadcast of an NBA game. Commentary is as immersive as ever, and the overall presentation captures the energy and spectacle of the sport.
That said, there are still a few issues with character models, particularly NPCs in MyCareer. These models don't boast the same level of detail as the NBA players, which creates a noticeable contrast. Despite this, the voice acting and cutscenes are solid, keeping the narrative engaging.
MyTeam: More Options but Still Pay-to-Win
While MyCareer may be the most personal journey, NBA 2K25 also delivers a robust experience with its MyTeam mode. MyTeam is all about building the ultimate squad, collecting cards, and taking on opponents. This year introduces new game modes like King of the Court, and for those who prefer single-player, there's a revamped Breakout mode. The latter features a unique board game layout with various match types and objectives, adding a fun twist to the usual gameplay loop.
For many players, one of the most welcome changes is the return of the auction house, allowing users to buy and sell cards. This helps expand the in-game economy and gives players more ways to customize their teams without relying solely on packs. However, like past years, the grind for better cards and VC (Virtual Currency) remains heavy, and the temptation to buy NBA 2K25 MT (MyTeam Currency) is always looming.
Despite the return of the auction house and new modes, the pay-to-win elements of MyTeam are still problematic. Many players find themselves purchasing NBA 2K25 MT or VC to remain competitive, which can feel unfair to those who prefer to grind for their rewards. The constant push towards microtransactions takes away some of the fun, and while the economy might feel a bit more open, it's still frustratingly geared toward those willing to spend real money.
Conclusion
NBA 2K25 may not reinvent the wheel, but it successfully refines what the series has always done best—offering an immersive, detailed basketball experience. Whether you're playing through MyCareer's compelling storylines or building your dream team in MyTeam (and maybe deciding whether to buy 2K25 MT), there's a lot to sink your teeth into.
While microtransactions and some lingering gameplay issues hold it back from being the perfect basketball game, NBA 2K25 still stands out as the go-to title for basketball fans. Its improvements in player control, animation, and customization make it the best-looking and best-feeling game in the series yet, but fans will continue to hope for further refinements in the years to come.