NBA 2K17 Remains a Solid Buy - Operation Sports

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NBA 2K17 Remains a Solid Buy

Submitted on: 10/28/2016 by Chris Sanner

NBA 2K has been considered the gold standard of sports games. Every other sports game has been judged against 2K's overall quality over the past couple of years.

This year, NBA 2K17 isn't much different.

Initially I gave the game a 9.0, which qualifies as an all-time classic on our scoring scale.

There's a lot to like about this year's game, but more than a month after release and with the NBA season just beginning, it's worth taking a look at the game again to see if it still holds up to those initial lofty impressions.

What Has Changed Since Release?

The biggest improvements have come in MyPark and 2K Pro-Am where a variety of changes have taken place.

If your player is injured in MyCareer, they won't be in Pro-Am, which was an obvious change. Badges and other small problems in the mode now work better.

Gameplay wise we've not yet seen huge changes, and the game still plays relatively like its initial state at release. Mike Wang has indicated some big changes are coming though, so just be ready for that if you jump in during the next week or so.

What Is the Most Enjoyable Play Experience?

Right now, if you like going online and playing, you cannot beat Pro-Am. Getting a team together and playing other teams is just an enjoyable experience with a decently balanced game of basketball. In terms of online gaming with sports, it's about as good as it gets.

If you are more like me and a lone-wolf kind of guy who likes the traditional single-player modes, MyGM still offers the best franchise management experience in all of sports games. I'll end up playing multiple seasons with my OKC Thunder, and for good reason.

Balancing your players' needs, wants and desires with your team's is a fun balancing act. Managing the salary cap along with trying to keep the owner happy? It's all in a day's work. To me, MyGM remains the pinnacle of a well made sports gaming mode and it's well worth your time investment.

The other game modes remain solid as well, though I still don't think much of MyCareer. You'll find there's a lot to love across the board though, and a variety of play experiences to fit just about anyone's need.

Is the Game Still Worth Buying New?

NBA 2K17 remains a great deal at $60. With the NBA season just beginning, the basketball mood will only continue to rise for the next few months, and thus, the online community as well as the overall feel of the basketball season being fresh will continue to justify the game's price.

As a side note, it's kind of silly NBA 2K releases so early as basketball season really doesn't get to the forefront of our attention until December. The game could release at/near opening day and be just fine.

You'll find plenty to do and a robust online community online playing the game every day. Out of the box, NBA 2K17 plays an extremely good game of basketball. Assuming patches don't mess with that experience and only improve it, you are going to continue to have every reason to jump in and play.

There's no reason to wait on a price drop at this point, NBA 2K17 remains a solid buy.

Member Comments

# 41 Walt Frazier @ 10/29/16 02:51 AM

Overall, IMO, the game is great. The new physics alone, for me anyway, were worth buying it yet again.

However....I do think 2K and their marketing team need to review exactly how they use language in future. They are very liberal in describing new features...and often the most minor thing is promoted as being a major feature.

New arena sounds / we visited every arena / we recorded 300 hours= most people would assume, literally, meant new sounds. Yet it is largely exactly the same as 2K16.

That is just one example...but I think a lot of the negativity towards this game comes from people's expectations being falsely hyped by things that do not work / are not in the game / are barely changed etc etc.

# 42 CujoMatty @ 10/29/16 03:30 AM

I'm very critical of the game but Ive played it daily for a month now so obviously it's not bad. I absolutely love mygm and agree it's the best in the biz. I try and communicate the good as well as well as the bad and I understand everyone has opinions and mine are just that, mine , and I always appreciate different perspectives. Almost always I can say that my feelings positive or negative are just a difference of opinion but the fact that there seems to be a lot, if not most people, including the author of this article, not seeing the massive problems with defense, moving screens, and shooting percentages is seriously mind blowing. Also I don't get the attitudes of people saying OS is so negative. I've been here I think 10 years and it's the best moderated forum around. Do people take their criticisms too far? Ya for sure, but those people generally manage to weed themselves out and to insinuate that this is an unpleasant environment is going too far the other way and honestly sounds more like being upset people don't feel the same way as you.
If you want to feel better about this community go spend some time on IGN or any Facebook feed ever. I like this place.

# 43 PPerfect_CJ @ 10/29/16 11:06 AM

Considering all that's currently going on with the game, I just think the TIMING of this article was unfortunate. It was never going to go well.

# 44 Guard-ian @ 10/29/16 11:15 AM

I love NBA2K and I will be buying it day 1 until I die (I am too big of a fan of NBA and videogames to not enjoy this experiencie every year since the beginning -MyLeague and Myleague Online for me), but we all have to understand that nothing is perfect...

However I will be a much happier player when NBA2k make the paint a respectable place and not the way to get easy and money points, that's one of the endemic problems of the saga... In my book, that's the main difference with the real world, in the NBA is not that easy to lead pass to paint for the easy and uncontested basket.

Cheers! ;-)

# 45 ILLSmak @ 10/29/16 01:58 PM

After spending enough time playing 2k17 as well as watching the beginning of the NBA season, I can say without a doubt that 2k17 does not at all emulate NBA basketball.

It doesn't do it in myleague, it doesn't do it in mycareer, and it certainly doesn't do it online.

I believe this is due to fundamental flaws in theory (that is, what should work, how it should unfold) opposed to slider/gameplay adjustments.

When you are playing 2k, it might be fun, but it's not at all like basketball and immersive in that manner. This difference is beyond what should be between 'game' and 'life,' so I don't think that's a valid explanation.

I've made suggestions, and I have more. If 2k would like to make a thread that was a discussion of making the game play more 'realistic', I would post in it. If someone else would and it wouldn't get locked, I would post in it, but I'm not going to type up any more stuff and have it probably not be seen by anyone.

-Smak

# 46 tavinc @ 10/29/16 07:21 PM

Personally I'd give 2k17 a 7, while it's a major improvement over 16 game play wise and it's the most fun I've had since 2k12 (which i feel is the best 2k) the changes to the feel post patch and the issues that were fixed last year but returned knocked it's score down, like many said before the patch the gameplay felt so smooth and fast and free, it almost felt like real basketball, but it definitely feels slower and heavier now, the lag in pro am csn be annoying and its a pain when you get booted out a game before it starts or during it for no reason, and that free throw camera glitch needs to be fixed asap i may still make them but I'm shocked it hasn't been fixed, but the improvement to the post game and defense feel great, if 2k can fix the serious issues, then 17 could and would be great

# 47 u0180077_gorduj @ 10/29/16 08:09 PM

http://www.senscritique.com/jeuvideo/XCOM_2/critique/106407854

This goes for various other aspects of the game and basketball. You need to understand both the player you are controlling and your opponent.

http://www.gamesreviews.info/

# 48 u0180077_gorduj @ 10/29/16 08:09 PM

This goes for various other aspects of the game and basketball. You need to understand both the player you are controlling and your opponent.

# 49 Smirkin Dirk @ 10/29/16 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psydefx


	it remains a solid buy for people seeking an arcade experience or for people who don't understand the game of basketball. i mean, when you have zero interior defense in this game then something is really really wrong.

This is simply not true.

# 50 BBallcoach @ 10/29/16 11:09 PM

My league > My GM

# 51 life4eva @ 10/30/16 03:59 AM

Highly and I mean HIGHLY disappointed with this game....... First and foremost gameplay feels clunky, definitely NOT SMOOTH. Fast Breaks are still a problem as defense cpu catches up to you instantly..... For that matter if there is a loose ball or strip and it's a turnover your opponent is right there at the basket with you which is totally unrealistic......

3's are ridiculous in this game, played a couple of online matches and users just chucking them up from any angle with a 50% success rate is horrible......

Doesn't feel fluid, seems honestly like a step back from previous 2K games. honestly I think I like 2K 14 much better in regard to speed and separation. I don;t know man, but I feel really disappointed with the gameplay and the way the players move........

# 52 GisherJohn24 @ 10/30/16 12:58 PM

For me, 9 playing offline and 6 for the online stuff. The gameplay is amazing with the exception of a few gameplay hitches and bugs and stats being a bit unrealistic at times, but the physics, and the gameplay over hte court make this my PLAYING 2k game of all time. 2k12 still being a close 2nd. I love just playing with my friends on the couch and I play 2 to 3 games a day and I never get tired of it and I'll play it till next year. Not many games can do that. I alreayd grew tired of Madden and the Show, but I never get tired of this franchise. 2k17 is no exception. 100% worth 60 bucks.

# 53 DirectFX @ 11/01/16 03:25 PM

9.0 vote must have been rigged.. Guess 2K must have some influence here to push the game rating.
They killed the mycareer mode by limiting skills so mypark players won't get OP.
Now need to spend VC on everything and seems 2K pushing buy VC to get a decent pro..
My league/GM has big bug with insane 3pt ratings , bad CPU logic still drafting/trading/signing players at one position instead of a balance team..

# 54 Mike2001 @ 11/01/16 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abuC


	In it's current state I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone, and I'll be skipping the game next year until after the first several patches hit.

I usually wait about a month or two before buying but this year the game was a gift

Sent from my SM-G925T using Tapatalk

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