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In the modern age of game development, we’re used to waiting a long time for games to be made. Just look at GTA VI, which has been cooking for well over a decade.
One thing we can guarantee, though, is that our sports games will continue to arrive every year, mostly in early autumn. Some people love this, as the sales figures show, while others are critical of the “cut-and-paste” feel that some yearly releases can have.
But NBA 2K27 is here, and once again, we’re back on the court, taking in the wealth of features. Some are new, some have been improved, and some are a little less welcome. But it’s good to be back.
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Taking to the courts of NBA 2K27
NBA 2K27 comes to market with some new additions and extra polish in certain areas; areas that you may either like or hate. But one thing that is sure is that this is far from a major overhaul, especially when compared to previous entries in the franchise.
It all starts with a rather meta opening, with MP (your character) talking about the new NBA 2K game and what’s new about it while playing it themselves. So, let’s follow along and look at the new stuff.
Fire and Concrete Brings A Longer Career
First up is a new campaign career mode called ‘Fire and Concrete’, which sounds like a strange rock album from a one-hit-wonder band in 1989. Here, you follow your own created MP on a journey that starts in college basketball, moves through the G League, sees you get drafted, and eventually takes you into the NBA. This time around, the story puts the character through a traumatic experience at the beginning, sending them onto the courts in Brooklyn, New York, all in the hope of being spotted.
I liked the story more this time around than in some of the previous iterations. I think the reason is that the supporting cast around MP adds more dynamics and conflict as you progress. There’s Cam, voiced by rapper Vince Staples, who is very funny at times, along with cameos from real NBA stars such as Cade Cunningham. The game is roughly double the length of last year’s NBA 2K26 too, covering some 11 chapters in MP’s life and basketball journey.
I think MP themselves can sometimes be a little dull though, because the idea is clearly to allow the player to imprint their own personality onto the character rather than imposing one of its own. There are also a few scenes that use animated cutscenes rather than the in-game engine. I personally liked this approach.
Running Mate Adds Co-Op To Career
There’s a new addition to this mode that arrives about halfway through in the form of the Running Mate feature. Here, it’s all about having a duo that works together as a team. For example, if you miss a shot, your running mate will be there to clean up. This is introduced during the G League section, and you can play alongside an AI running mate, but you can also invite a friend online to join you in career mode, which is a nice addition.
The City And MyTeam Offer Plenty To Do
Another new feature is that, for the first time, you can take a female-created character into The City, where you can play games and buy items. I can’t quite believe you couldn’t do this before, but there you go. The City was never really my thing in previous games, but it’s a busy place where you can take on all sorts of daily challenges to earn coins. You can join street games with other online players and participate in tournaments.
There’s also a new area – Casual Corner – that gives you the opportunity to play with people who are beginners, or around the same skill level as you. The problem I have with The City is that it can be overwhelming, with so much choice about what to play, what to buy or who to talk to. It’s not really a mode for me, but you could easily focus on this one section alone, and it would provide enough hours of gameplay to justify the price.
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Plenty of character
MyTeam Still Has Microtransactions
The same goes for MyTeam, which is the equivalent of Ultimate Team in EA FC. Here, it’s all about collecting the perfect team and competing using cards, making the most of those dreaded packs, which encourage you to spend real money. You don’t have to, of course, but the temptation is always there with microtransactions present throughout the game.
Eras is another new mode that allows you to take a custom player and throw them into a different basketball era, such as 1984 with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird or 1991 during Michael Jordan’s time. It’s a fascinating addition that works really well, and basketball fans will have a field day seeing all the greats on screen alongside their own player.
MyNBA Legacy mode is another substantial addition, giving you a 100-year window in which you can operate a franchise as a team’s GM. You can do everything from managing contracts and rosters to looking after the finances. It’s almost like a huge RPG experience and will provide many hours of play for some players.
Gameplay Is Better On The Court
Whatever you play, gameplay-wise, defending seems much tighter in NBA 2K27, without attackers simply ghosting straight past you. It feels better to block shots and hold players back than in some of the more recent games. There’s also a dynamic layup engine that gives you different options for getting to the hoop with the player you’re controlling and your teammates. I found it interesting, and it only got better after plenty of failed attempts. The Fire and Concrete mode is also a good way of introducing you to some of the new mechanics through its training sessions.
Visually, there’s no doubt that the franchise always comes across as super impressive, and there isn’t a huge change here with NBA 2K27. The lighting and courts look amazing, with brilliant reflections giving the arenas a realistic feel. The players look about as close to their real-life counterparts as you’ll get, while thousands of player animations are available to use with your own character. They look and feel suitably realistic in action. The menus are clean and easy to navigate too.
Sound is superb, from the squeak of a trainer on the court to the immense crowd noise of a playoff final. I love the music in the NBA games, and this year is no different. My favourite element, though, is the commentary. Not being American or particularly much of an NBA fanatic, I can’t pretend to understand everything they’re talking about, but it feels authentic, engaging and entertaining throughout.
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Another year, another load of content
NBA 2K27 Is Packed With Content
NBA 2K27 is like a lot of our yearly sports franchises, as we question the need for a new game every year. Sometimes I agree with that argument, but for me, these games will last an entire year of playing, and I’ll invest hundreds of hours into each one. There’s certainly a lot of content here, from the new Fire and Concrete story campaign to the intensive Legacy mode and even simply mucking around in The City, if that’s your ball.
Whatever, NBA 2K27 is hugely enjoyable, packed with content and capable of providing a top-quality basketball experience, even with the ghost of microtransactions looming large in the background. Whether you think that’s enough to justify another yearly purchase will depend on how much time you’re willing to spend on the court.
Important Links
NBA 2K27 Tips Off Today With Early Access And Season 1 – https://www.thexboxhub.com/nba-2k27-tips-off-today-with-early-access-and-season-1/
NBA 2K27 Tips Off With Three Superstar Cover Athletes – https://www.thexboxhub.com/nba-2k27-tips-off-with-three-superstar-cover-athletes/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/nba-2k27/9mtx99pfklwd
There’s a Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/nba-2k27-deluxe-edition/9nfhvlfdsfvd
4.5OVERALL SCORE
#### SUMMARY
Pros: Lots of modes Fire and Concrete story Legacy mode Better defending Excellent visuals and sound Cons: Microtransactions Info: Massive thanks for the free copy of the game, 2K Formats - Xbox Series (Review), PS5, PC, Switch Not Available on Game Pass Day One Not Xbox Play Anywhere Enabled Release date