The annual holiday gaming season may not have arrived yet, but players can get their “festive game” early. NBA 2K25 has officially launched across various platforms. As fans of the series know, the NBA 2K franchise has never been without its fair share of criticism. For example, NBA 2K24 on Steam received a flood of negative reviews. However, after the release of NBA 2K25, many players have expressed more positive feedback, particularly PC users who finally get next-gen graphics on the platform, marking a significant leap in visual quality. For console players, while graphics haven’t seen massive improvements, the revamped movement system is a major step forward. In fact, this is arguably the best release since NBA 2K17. So, how does the game perform? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review of NBA 2K25.
Graphics: A Next-Gen Leap for PC, Steady on Consoles
PC players have finally received a next-gen version of the NBA 2K series. Unlike consoles, where hardware is fixed, PC users can upgrade their graphics card and processor, and the better the hardware, the more impressive the next-gen graphics in NBA 2K25 become. With a 4080 GPU, players can experience 4K resolution, ray tracing, and high-end effects, bringing them closer to a real NBA game atmosphere.
However, the complexity of PC setups can bring its own challenges. As the first next-gen version on PC, some players have reported issues like crashes, frame drops, or launch failures. Since NBA 2K is a long-running game series, these issues should be resolved over time. Players can also tweak their hardware to better suit the game.
On the console side, graphics haven’t improved drastically. There are some subtle enhancements in stadium effects and lighting, but overall, the visual improvements are modest. That said, the game still shines compared to other basketball games, as NBA 2K pushes realistic graphics to their limits. Consoles provide more stability, offering a smoother experience right out of the box—something that’s not always achievable on PC.
In summary, high-end PC hardware can unlock the best visuals in NBA 2K25, while consoles provide stable performance with next-gen graphics.
Movement and Controls: Simplified Yet Richer Gameplay
To replicate the real NBA experience, visuals alone aren’t enough—player movements must keep pace. In NBA 2K25, the PROPlay system has been updated to version 2.0, giving more players personalized animations. This rich movement system allows for more seamless transitions between actions on the court. One of the most significant changes is the simplification of controls.
The new “rhythm shot” feature allows players to execute a complete dribble and shot sequence simply by pushing the right analog stick upward. Dribbling has also been simplified—players can perform dribbling actions by moving the left stick, and these can be combined with various shooting moves, replicating real-life basketball skills and offering smooth gameplay.
While the core gameplay modes haven’t changed much, NBA 2K25 introduces several tweaks to each mode. These include MyCareer, MyTeam, Basketball League Era, Quick Play, and WNBA modes.
MyCareer: Customize Your Own Journey
The MyCareer mode remains one of the most popular features in the NBA 2K series. Players can create their own character, select an NBA team, and join their favorite stars for a career in professional basketball. Players can customize various attributes of their created character, and for those who admire NBA superstars, each position has templates based on current NBA players. For an even more tailored experience, I’d recommend the custom profiles created by professional 2K players, as they know how to allocate limited attribute points more efficiently.
Basketball League Era: Relive Legendary Moments
The Basketball League Era mode lets players experience iconic moments from NBA history. You can relive Michael Jordan’s “Fly High” era from 1991, Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” in 2002, or LeBron James’ Heat-era battles. In this mode, players take on the role of a team manager, customizing everything from the league format to the team’s details and even the owners’ expectations. What’s more, players can choose any team, even rewriting history by going against the grain. For fans of simulation gameplay, this mode offers an exciting experience.
WNBA: A Complete Women’s Basketball Experience
The WNBA mode, featuring women’s professional basketball, is a comprehensive collection of events. Players can either play Quick Games or create a career for a female player. This mode, though smaller in scope, offers a variety of legendary and rising stars in women’s basketball.
A Few Issues: Faces and Player Licenses
While NBA 2K25 is close to photorealistic in terms of graphics, not every player’s face scan has received equal attention. Some iconic players like Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant still look off compared to newer players like Victor Wembanyama, who are much more detailed. Additionally, the absence of certain legends, such as Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley, continues to be a downside for some players.
Conclusion: A Great Game with Room for Improvement
Overall, NBA 2K25 offers several key improvements, but there are still a few issues that need addressing. Despite this, it remains the best basketball video game available right now. The combination of next-gen graphics, simplified controls, and immersive movement systems ensures that NBA 2K25 is an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and veteran players alike.
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