NBA 2K24 Review – A Flagrant Stepback

NBA 2K24 should have been the perfect platform to celebrate Kobe Bryant’s career and his ever-lasting influence on the game of basketball. In reality, the game’s stale modes and ubiquitous microtransactions overshadow his legacy. NBA 2K24 is a dull and lopsided game, not the memorable, adrenaline inducing games that the Black Mamba was known for.

NBA 2K24, unlike its innovative predecessor, only adds a few new features, most notably ProPlay. The newly-integrated feature makes each layup and dunk more realistic, but this is not enough to make up for what’s essentially a new coat of paint on a tired and unimaginative base. It was evident that the game lacked any novel features after I played through all of its recycled modes. NBA 2K24 has some enjoyable game modes, such as Mamba Moments, which I enjoy playing.

The latest offering, like NBA 2K23’s Jordan Challenges lets you relive Kobe’s seven most famous games. Mamba Moments, however, doesn’t go back to Kobe’s early career. You play the game during Kobe’s electrifying career, in the 2001 post-season, which was five years before he had been drafted. This opening challenge was undoubtedly a landmark in Kobe’s life, but I am disappointed that some of the milestones that define his legacy were not included. Kobe’s 2006 81 point outburst against the Toronto Raptors was a near-record breaking event. This would have been an amazing occasion to recreate.

MyNBA Lite is a new supplemental offering to MyNBA eras. This allows players to relive different periods from the NBA. Although I welcomed the inclusion of this simplified Eras Mode, its inclusion was unnecessary and redundant. The different eras of Magic vs. Bird, the 1980s Magic vs. Bird Era, or the Modern Era, the 2020s Modern Era, are all enjoyable to play through. Each period has its own rules, players, and teams that make each game unique.

NBA 2K24 MyCareer was a disappointment, despite the fact that I enjoyed MyNBA Eras (and Mamba Moments) a lot. If you’re looking forward to going through a new rags-to-riches story in the latest single-player offering, then prepare to be disappointed as Visual Concepts has completely discarded any semblance of a coherent plot – a decision that confounds me since the single-player mode’s dramatic underdog narrative has always been one of the elements I enjoyed most in past entries.

If you do not have a large amount of Virtual Currency, it will be much more difficult to reach the NBA GOAT. This is the primary way to progress your player. You’ll have to buy a lot of it to get ranked up fast, as what you earn from each MyCareer match is not enough to make a significant difference.

NBA 2K24 continues to place a heavy focus on microtransactions and in-game currency. This is not limited to MyCareer. It’s even more apparent in the popular MyTeam mode. As in previous editions, it’s possible to earn rare player cards rather than buying them. But the amount of time you have to spend on these upgrades can make them not worthwhile in the end.

Visual Concepts’ latest basketball game, NBA 2K24, was expected to continue the success of the NBA 2K23 and make even more improvements. But instead of mirroring the Black Mamba’s gradual rise to permanent relevancy, NBA 2K24 sadly feels like a stop-gap – a quick hit to temporarily satisfy diehard fans. This could lead to the series becoming a dull imitation of Kobe’s famous fadeaway move.