This year, a steal attempt has a ton more animations, ranging from a gentle swat when standing in front of the dribbler, to a full blown lunge. If you attempted a steal, most times it would almost throw you past the offensive ball handler. One of the most infuriating things about the previous game was the steal attempt. This year, the game doesn’t take control from you quite so often. Press the button at a certain time, and bang, the player enters into auto mode and runs out a pre-animated layup, or dunk. Every sports game has scripted animation for your player. Speaking of playing, this is where NBA 2K13 shines above the previous iteration. All in all though, they took all of the customization from last year’s effort and dropped in a ton more options to give you even more control on how your player grows and plays in the game. That’s right microtransactions are now in the game. I think 2K Sports knew this, as now you can purchase VC with real currency. Let me say this, it will take a long time to earn enough to do some serious improvements unless you are an absolute maestro at this game.
This year you earn VC (virtual currency) to upgrade your player. You can pick a character’s playing styles, shot types, almost anything you can think of. You can now pick core skills, several of them to unlock and equip, that round out your player. There are little tweaks everywhere for your player, and so far all for the good from what I can tell.
This adds almost a Mass Effect feel to your career, but it also serves to further engross you in your character progression. The GM’s responses to your queries are almost as funny as the way you ask them. Pissed off at the coach? Request he be fired. As you progress, more discussion topics present themselves, like the ability to demand a trade, demand more playing time, things like that. In NBA 2K13, you now can meet with the General Manager and “discuss” things with him. Overall, every mode is just more fleshed out now. He’s in it, leading a team comprised of celebrities. What game would be complete without an appearance by the Bieber? Yup. MyPlayer is back, as is the season play and such. All the usual suspects make their appearance, as you’d expect. Once you get past the initial wow factor of style, you will find that this is one of the most full featured and jam packed basketball titles around. Additionally, Jay-Z has dropped in some absolutely badass pre-game intros and videos that really hype you up. I often found myself lingering in menus just to finish a song – and let me say, that rarely happens. all sort of lend to a smooth, almost tangible sense of refinement rarely seen in games. The visual style of the main screen, the background artwork on the menus, etc. The music is complimentary of the menus, and once again chock full of big stars like Rhianna and Kanye West. When this game starts, it becomes infinitely apparent that Jay-Z had a lot to do with how you perceive NBA 2K13. Last year’s entry had a very visceral, almost street feel with the strong rap, hip-hop, and bass tracks, thus having a completely different feel to previous entries. Almost.Īfter popping in the disc, you will notice from the outset this game is polished.
The 2K sports team have scored again, doing the near impossible by improving upon last year’s title in almost every way.
There is nothing about NBA 2K13 that should drive you away. Run, don’t walk, RUN out to buy this game now.