NBA2K20 Review: MyCareer's brilliance is the main draw-in of 2K's recent instalment
The excitement of 2K day is always one filled with optimism and reservedness. Are we going to get a game much too similar to the previous year's instalment? Is MyCareer going to offer us more customisation and their best storyline to date?
What NBA2K20 has done is met those expectations, bringing players the most enthralling MyCareer mode alongside the much-needed introduction of WNBA franchises and players.
As was the case with NBA2K19, MyCareer is once again the standout game mode from 2K, produced by LeBron James' SpringHill Entertainment.
There's no tedious cutscenes you'll be wanting to skip at the start, throwing you right into the action with arguably the most realistic MyCareer storyline of recent years. The customisation is always one of the key elements to a MyCareer, and after being guided to use the NBA2K20 app, your face is now upon a 6'7'' power forward. Or keeping it 'realistic', a 5'9'' point guard.
Starting off a plucky college student, you work through some college games alongside the Summer League before making your way into the illustrious world of the NBA.
A nicely done cameo of Idris Elba as your coach makes the usually long prologue whizz by, and before you know it, you're already hooping with the best. You may not get the trip to China as you did in NBA2K19's MyCareer, but in this version you follow a much more realistic path to the NBA, sprinkled with a little NCAA controversy too. Could it have been delved into more by the production team? Probably, but it adds a little something to the best MyCareer thus far.
In regards to gameplay, much like that of EA Sport's FIFA 20, there isn't too much that can be said to have changed drastically. The controls and mechanics remain the same as its predecessor, though some new flashy animations and much smoother pick-n-roll plays allow games to flow much more fluidly.
A rather useful training guide allows even the most seasoned pro to brush up on their technique, but there isn't really anything that has been added - like 2K19's Takeover - that would have the casual gamer confused.
MyTeam remains a very much pay-to-win scenario - like FIFA's Ultimate Team - but that shouldn't push players away. Yes, there's nothing more annoying than coming up against someone who's bought their way to success, though the pride that comes from building your own roster should suffice...somewhat.
Yet, there seems to be something lacking from these exciting additions. Maybe it's because you end up seeing seasoned pros' ball handling decrease for no reason, or watching another rebound bounce off Rudy Gobert's fingers into touch. At least that can be forgotten about online, whether you're playing 1-on-1 of 5v5, as there's something far more acceptable about your own player accidentally dribbling the ball into touch than watching the computer direct Kyrie Irving's fourth misplaced pass of the game in MyCareer.
That isn't to say everything has been superb for 2K20 since launch when it comes to their multiplayer. Although not experienced at our end, many have seen their games disconnect or even fail to connect far too often, though Visual Concepts have since said they'll be sorting that out ASAP.
It doesn't take away from the fact that NBA2K20 is an improvement on the 2K19, which is exactly what both the 2K team and players want from a new game.
For sports simulations are at a point where there isn't really much else to do with how the game plays, but when you send LeBron James on a mazy, driving run to the basket after being teed up by Anthony Davis, you'll realise just how much you're ready for the new NBA season to start.
NBA 2K20 and NBA2K20 Legend Edition is available now for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
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