I’m a huge basketball fan and am still riding high after my beloved Boston Celtics won the championship last season. Pair this up with Jayson Tatum as the new cover star for NBA 2K25 and it’s probably to nobody’s surprise that I was already on board, ready to catch whatever this year’s offering was dishing out.
We reviewed NBA 2K24 last year and generally thought that while a great basketball sim, lacked any real progressive elements, apart from the Mamba Moments mode, where you play through Kobe Bryant’s most iconic moments and games. But you could argue that too had been done before in NBA 2K11 and NBA 2K23 with the Jordan Challenge.
While NBA 2K25 doesn’t necessarily shake off the shortcomings of its past, it’s a step in the right direction, from the more nuanced gameplay and rhythm shooting to the variety that the revamped MyCAREER mode brings. That being said, microtransactions are still unfortunately as egregious as they’ve been in recent years, as far as MyTEAM is concerned.
Play Like a Pro
NBA 2K25 certainly makes a few smaller, yet important adjustments in the gameplay department. Firstly, the gameplay itself remains similar enough to last year’s, at least on the whole. The sense of weight and movement feels great, and while the supposed revamped dribbling engine feels incredibly familiar, new rhythm shot timing and a new defensive cutoff system feel like welcome improvements.
Shooting has received a decent overhaul with new shot and rhythm timing options, that can be customised to your liking. Shot timing can be adjusted to favour several casual and hardcore players alike. For example, shot timing can be ratings-based, meaning a shooter will naturally make more shots if their statistical ratings are up to scratch. It sounds simple enough, and for most players, this will surely stand as their preferred setting. You can also choose to shoot based on real player percentages, meaning shot chances dynamically change based on how good the player is on that spot in real life. You can low or high-risk rewards, meaning your shot timing is either much more forgiving or much more punishing based on your timing accuracy.
Visual cues like shot metres can also be customised, including ‘green light’ animations that indicate your shot has been perfectly timed. I find these visual cues change every year unnecessarily, as the old ones we had just gotten used to seem to fall by the wayside. It’s more of a nitpick at this point, but I wish they would just keep a single standard animation that hardcore fans can resort to reach year, in addition to the newer cues. A new shot-cancelling feature even allows players to cancel out of more complex animations to fake and blow by defenders, which is a nice touch.
The newer ProPLAY animations and Go-To moves, however, feel like the cherry on top. It’s arguably more important than that, as the ProPLAY system quite literally scans real-game footage throughout the season and applies it to players in the game. Your superstars and favourite players will behave like they do in real life, down to the shot forms, habits and general player movements.
While it might be a little harder to tell when it comes to role and bench players, the new Go-To moves make playing with superstars a bunch of fun. These signature-style moves essentially help break down defences and pull off tougher shots, if applied correctly. For example, Jayson Tatum’s stepback three is way deadlier than that of a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is an absolute menace in the post. It certainly looks the part, and basketball fans will appreciate just how authentic it makes the overall experience feel.
The new defensive cutoff system allows players to use the right stick more efficiently to cut off dribbling lanes and put pressure on opponents. While the right stick has always been used to apply defensive pressure, it now allows you to move the player more effectively across the court, with new opportunities to cause fumbles and turnovers, which certainly feels more natural. Stealing the ball still results in silly fouls, but the newer defensive systems give players a greater chance to steal before even committing to the dedicated steal button.
The Court Beckons
The various modes in NBA 2K25 feel like a mixed bag. Some are good, like the newer focused MyCareer mode, while other modes like MyNBA Eras try their best, but ultimately feel like the greatest hits collection of the past few years.
The MyCAREER mode might just be the way to go for both new and returning fans. The premise is as simple as it’s ever been; you’ll create your custom baller, and take them through the draft and then through the NBA ranks to superstardom. However, the newer Heart of a Dynasty storyline allows players to take their star through four specific games, from high school to FIBA, to open sessions with current NBA stars like Jalen Brunson.
They manage to mix in a cool storyline, where you face off against rival Patrick Wells in a race to the NBA. It’s short-lived, but ultimately a welcome addition to the MyCareer mode, which packs a bit more depth than I was expecting.
Beyond that, we get a newer revamped version of ‘The City’ to roam around in, which blends both online and single-player elements. You’ll be able to step into the Proving Grounds for smaller games and participate in the broader Affiliation feature in which you choose to back either the Elite or Rise options, each with access to their unique courts, and even refined Streetball matches. It’s generally the most packed mode, and while it all feels familiar enough, the fresh coat of paint makes all the difference.
The MyNBA Eras mode allows you to experience games across the Magic vs. Bird Era, Jordan Era, Kobe Era, LeBron Era, and the brand-new Steph Era. It essentially allows you to jump into that era and control everything about the league at that time, complete with accurate visual effects and courts. I didn’t have any real issues with this mode, but found it’s banking on the new Steph Era being enough. Sure, that’s a fantastic NBA era, but it’s not doing enough to shake up the mode on a broader scale.
Everything else also feels relatively untouched. The W mode is still there, allowing you to play through the WNBA season, while modes like MyGM also prove incredibly deep, but equally costly. It’s amazing how much you can manage in the MyGM mode, but I feel like many of the conversations and interactions just feel bland, lacking any of the stakes and weight that these conversations would hold in real life.
The MyTEAM mode also feels familiar to fans, although we now have a new list of weekly and seasonal challenges to run through in either single-player or multiplayer modes. Play games to earn rep and rise up the ranks, and collect as many decent cards as you can to make the ultimate lineup. The Auction House certainly helps with painting extra VC in the bank, but it never quite fixes the crazy amount of money required to get ahead fast.
Unfortunately, microtransactions still feel like a slap in the face. Yes, there are plenty of ways to earn VC (Virtual Currency) in-game, but thanks to the special editions that come out at launch, it seems everyone has a decent 85-90 overall player to take to The City with them. The main menu even brings pop-up ads with it that are incredibly infuriating.
You see the menu, with the first option being their MyCAREER mode. You click the ‘X’ on PlayStation or the ‘A’ button on Xbox to proceed, only for an ad for a card pack or season update to cover the screen. And just as you’re about to press that confirm button, you’re now basically agreeing to purchase this new pack. It happened to me on more than a couple of occasions, where I was immediately brought to a confirmation screen about purchasing a new card pack because I had pressed the button as the ad popped up on the screen. To add insult to injury, NBA 2K25 has been given an ‘M’ ore mature rating here in Australia, as the game now essentially promotes simulated gambling. Go figure.
Look the Part
Thankfully, NBA 2K25 looks great and runs well. It feels par for the course at this stage, but players look incredibly accurate and it also feels like way more players than usual have been treated to face scans this year. It’s common for a few new and bench players to look a little wonky as their faces haven’t been specifically scanned for the game, but I haven’t noted anything ridiculous as of yet. Unfortunately, older players don’t quite look as good on average. I’m a die-hard Boston Celtics fan and by extension a huge Larry Bird fan. It’s great to have that Magic vs. Bird Era, but they still look a little off.
That being said, most current-gen platforms will get an even 60 FPS experience, which also feels par for the course at this stage. I just wish the menus were a little more exciting this year. Once again, not a huge issue, but everything just looks a little bland. On the other hand, this year’s soundtrack slaps.
Final Thoughts
NBA 2K25 isn’t necessarily reinventing the formula this year, but it’s doing a bunch of things right. From the customisable shooting options to ProPLAY animations, things are as crisp and accurate as they’ve ever been.
The new MyCAREER mode is great, but it’s a shame that remaining modes like MyNBA Eras and MyGM weren’t given the same love. The MyTEAM mode benefits from the Auction House, but can never shake its money-hungry hands of the overall experience.
That being said, this still feels great in the hands, and it’s certainly worth checking out for both hardcore and casual basketball fans alike.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Improved gameplay; Impressive and accurate presentation; Mamba Moments mode is still entertaining; MyNBA Eras mode rules
Lowlights: Punishing MyCareer and MyTeam modes; MyCareer mode could use a refresh
Developer: Visual Concepts
Publisher: 2K
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 with a code provided by the publisher.
