To point to one example, it’d be that the crowds simply don’t sound excited enough or angry enough depending on the moment. The rims sound different in the arenas, as well as the buzzers, but the ambiance is still off overall. There was a big focus on making each arena sound unique this season, but adding some unique sounds doesn’t cure everything. The audio also falters a bit when it comes to the in-arena experience. But Doris Burke and Brent Barry really shine. Chris Webber sounds like he’s eating his microphone at times, and Steve Smith is sort of boring. However, having this amount of variety doesn’t come without some flaws. David Aldridge is now roaming the sidelines, and Greg Anthony and Kevin Harlan are joined by a rotating crew of new announcers, such as Chris Webber, Clark Kellogg, Doris Burke, Brent Barry, and Steve Smith. The commentary remains the best and most varied in the sports genre.All of the action on the court is highlighted by commentary that remains the best and most varied in the sports genre. When things like that happen there’s no recourse, so the outcomes can sometimes feel unfair. I can’t control how much heat to put on a pass I can’t control how long it takes players at times to get in position to start a play and I can’t control moments where I’m pushed 10 feet away from the ball handler on defense just because some random big man pushed me backwards under the rim. Having this level of control all over the court is great, except when that control then vanishes. In the past, “green” didn’t always mean the shot would be successful, which could be confusing as there was no clear reason why getting a perfect release mattered. I also need to mention that the shooting mechanics have been tweaked so all “green” or perfect releases lead to made baskets.
On top of that, now that rebounds can be tipped out rather than just corralled, I’ve even seen instances where DeAndre Jordan tips a rebound back towards an open J.J. Redick and Damian Lillard feel especially terrifying this season, and the AI is even smart enough to step back and make sure to get both feet behind the line for a three-pointer rather than a long two-point shot. Redick and Damian Lillard feel especially terrifying this season.On some level, though, the passing not always being pinpoint-accurate does perhaps save the defense. The same can be said for some AI players still not quite running the right lanes during a fast break.
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The loopy passing that crops up here and there is especially frustrating because it interrupts some chances to really zip the ball around the perimeter to the open man for an open jump shot. The added area creates more unique opportunities to score, and that leads to things like more creative passing, more fouls, and more scrambling on defense. This idea of pace and space is all-important in an NBA video game. This same type of flow carries over to shooting, where for the first time it feels like I have an ability to pull up off the dribble and really play in the space between the three-point line and the paint. In previous NBA 2K games I often felt stuck in animations and not in control at all times, but now it’s much easier to string together dribbling maneuvers and put together a sequence that can leave defenders behind.
Again, it’s all about options and NBA 2K17 provides plenty of them.Īllen Iverson’s recent induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame feels all too perfect, as NBA 2K17’s focus on chaining together crossovers and spins seems like an homage to the signature style of its former longtime cover athlete. In addition, you can now use the right stick to go for more varied steal attempts, or you can just continue to press the steal button. On the court, some smart new tweaks let you get an extra boost to the accuracy of your jump shots by pulling straight down on the right stick, but you can also just press the “shoot” button if that doesn’t feel comfortable. I’m not in love with the grind of M圜areer mode, but the amount of options at my disposal in MyGM means I don’t care if I spend one more minute in M圜areer. It's all about options and NBA 2K17 provides plenty of them.The same concept applies to just about every facet of NBA 2K17. Sometimes I get flustered by a floaty pass or thrown off by a player like Kevin Durant or Andrew Wiggins looking far too skinny, but then I’ll hit a deep three with Steph Curry that makes the fans at Oracle Arena go ballistic and I’m all-in again. It’s a game that celebrates the athletes, taps into the excitement of a big-time dunk, and allows me to customize who I want to be on the court.
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The NBA 2K series as a whole works for me because it excites me as an NBA super fan.