As a whole, the crew isn’t bad, it’s just hard to switch from the rock-solid presentation package that the NBA has. While it’s nice that the trio is entirely separate from the NBA’s broadcast crew, it seems like this would have been a perfect spot to bring in Doris Burke (who is already in it) or someone like Pam Ward. The WNBA mode is not without its problems, however, including a noticeably worse commentary team of Blake Suniga, Tim Swartz, and Brian Banifatemi.
It could be the novelty of getting to play with a whole new set of stars, like Candace Parker or Liz Cambage, but it feels entirely fresh. The animations are almost unique to the league, helping differentiate itself from NBA play.
It ultimately leads to better off-ball movement and smoother play in general. Spacing feels particularly good, which is key in simulating the differences between the men’s and women’s game. The idea is right – adjustments need to be made on players who are hot – but it’s often far too premature and easy to break down.Ī lot of the gameplay improvements are magnified in the new WNBA mode. Perhaps worst of all is a far-too-frequent double team that happens on any player who scores a handful of points in succession. Infrequently, the CPU will also dribble out of bounds for seemingly no reason at all. The CPU rarely plays with the urgency it should, ignoring easy 2-for-1 scenarios and milking the clock even when they are losing in the final moments of a game. Still, a lot of the franchise’s legacy issues persist and a few new ones crop up. You can watch the "Momentous" trailer for 2K20 below: The pursuit of mastery is NBA 2K20’s best hook, and the ball-handling mechanics are the best example of that. Watching Giannis barrel down the court with long strides is just as majestic as you would expect. Given how much time is spent looking at players with the ball, the newly added dribbling animations help things look different, too. Even flipping the basketball from one hand to another feels satisfying, especially when you follow it up with a ankle-breaking crossover from someone like Kyrie Irving. Instead of canned animations taking over mid-dribble, every success and failure I had with the ball in my hands felt earned. The best gameplay addition to NBA 2K20, however, is the upgraded ball-handling system. NBA 2K20 goes above and beyond to make every player feel and play unique. The total badge count is about 80, and it really can’t be overstated how much they can be felt while playing. Another interesting badge is “Worm”, which is attached to players who are better at slipping through box-outs when rebounding. This allows for players like Anthony Davis to quickly regroup after a blocked shot, making it easier to block several shots in a row. Take the “Pogo Stick” badge, for instance. Learning when to pull up for a jumper and when to drive it right to the basket provides a welcomed new layer of frantic strategy.Ī lot of this is amplified by the badge system, which attaches unique abilities to players that are less tangible than something like the speed or strength attribute. Defenders are better equipped to deal with speedy players, especially in transition, where tactics like “walling up” (a defense strategy used to forced contested shots near the rim) are employed against drive-heavy players like LeBron James. Pulling off step-back jumpers with James Harden or blow-bys with Eric Bledsoe is really satisfying, and with improved defensive A.I., more important than it has been in the past. While the NBA 2K franchise has always done an excellent job making each player feel unique, having a renewed sense of mastery over the controls brings out the best in each player. NBA 2K20’s stellar A/V package is rapidly approaching what can be seen on television, and that really is a remarkable accomplishment. I also noticed some awkward pauses between David Aldridge and players during interviews, which is a stark contrast to the effortless flow of commentary from the likes of Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Chris Webber, Doris Burke and more. Both players and announcers will flash a lifeless gaze every now and again, but it wouldn’t be so noticeable if everything from the player’s shoes to the court floors weren’t so meticulously crafted. Players are expertly crafted to mirror their real-life selves and a bevvy of apparel options have been added to help match the NBA’s sense of style.
NBA 2K20 upholds the recent franchise tradition of having top-notch presentation.
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