The countdown to the start of the new NBA season is on, with fans frantically scouring the NBA odds, adjusting their fantasy teams and fantasising about how their team could, with just the right wind behind them, do something special this year.
It’s also silly season, where the building excitement and the lack of on-court action clash spectacularly, leaving us with articles, podcasts and TV shows with titles like “The Top 5 Slam Dunks of All-Time” and “The NBAs Most Underrated Players Ever.”
Fortunately though the recent release of NBA 2K25 at the beginning of this month has helped to lift us out of this tedium. Now there’s something far more interesting to discuss and, a virtual way to get our basketball fix until tip-off on October 22.
If you’re not one of those who waits up to buy the new game at a minute past midnight every year and are on the fence as to whether or not to buy this year’s instalment, read on to find our thoughts on the game.
YOUTUBE EMBED:
(The Season 1 trailer for NBA 2K25.)
What’s New?
The problem with almost every major sports video game franchise is keeping each instalment fresh, exciting and engaging, often without the impetus of meaningful competition to spur on developers. The result is that the sports game market is poor, especially when compared to other gaming genres as developers rest on their laurels and take their playing base for granted.
Out of all the titles, NBA 2K is probably the game franchise least guilty for complacency but that’s not a particularly high bar. The new features to this year’s title make NBA 2K25 one of the most active sports games, but in our opinion, they don’t really justify the game’s high price tag.
Below are 5 of the main updates/improvements to NBA 2K25 from its predecessor:
- Smarter AI: There isn’t a sports game on the planet that doesn’t make this claim annually, but NBA 2K25 has some legitimacy to theirs with the AI feeling a lot more competent and organised this year.
- Better Graphics: Again, another frequently made claim but one that the game has delivered on with animations in particular looking a lot better.
- Ray Tracing: Speaking of graphics, an issue splitting the industry at the moment is whether or not Ray Tracing should be included to improve graphics. NBA 2K25 have introduced it to The City as somewhat of a mini-trial. This is likely to delight some and infuriate others.
- The Auction House Returns: The franchise have listened to fan feedback and brought back this feature following the uproar when it was removed last year.
- Dribbling Overhaul: In short the game mechanics have been dramatically improved to give players more control when dribbling and make everything seem more realistic. Once players have adapted to this change, we’re confident it will be a resounding hit.
YOUTUBE EMBED:
(Acquaint yourself with the new mechanics before hopping into online games.)
How has NBA 2K25 been Received?
Brilliantly and terribly. In recent years everything has become polarised, there’s no middle ground anymore and certainly no shades of grey. You either have to be totally in agreement with something or vehemently opposed to it and the reaction to NBA 2K25 reflects that.
On one end of the spectrum you have a large swathe of fans who are big in the online community declaring that this is the worst version of the game to be released ever, which can be seen from the shockingly low 2.1 Google rating that the title currently has.
On the opposite side there are those claiming NBA 2K25 to be the dawning of a new age in video gaming. Many of these have written glowing reviews of the game online, doling out 5 Star and 10 Star reviews like candy. So, what to believe?
NBA 2K25: The Definitive Review
We have sat down and played the game, as we do every year and resisting the allure of polarisation, we think that NBA 2K25 is a pretty good game. Is it everything we wanted and more? No. Do we still feel like a cash cow being milked with in-game transactions? Absolutely.
But, do we think it’s the worst game ever released and a dramatic downgrade on last year? Absolutely not.
There are enough new features to keep the game fresh, it’s still eminently playable and more than mildly addictive. So in our books, that makes it a very decent sports video game and one that the majority of people will enjoy.
