And we’re back in the paint, making money on the court! This time the players we love to watch come to life in a whacky arcade style 2K brawl. Some of these moves are on the Space Jam level!
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 may be a cartoon version of 2K, but it is pretty entertaining. Sometimes you just want to escape the regular NBA package, even if Shaq is commentating, and enjoy a surreal and satirical take on one of America’s best pastimes. Some of the commentary is pretty good, making you feel good (or bad) about your last drive, as opposed to having of a bunch of trivia about the players being thrown around in the media booth.
The first thing we do when we launch the game is open packs of cards that unlock players, currency, and swag. I do not like that there is a pay to play option, or that you can use real world money to buy these packs of cards. Gamble if you want to, but this is the same kind of marketing strategies that has been hurting the gaming industry lately.
You also don’t have access to all of your favorite teams from the get-go, because you are unlocking them through those cards. You earn in-game currency for cards just by playing matches that last hardly ten minutes. It’s a very straight-forward grind and gain.
Gameplay can be pretty fun, doing flips or launching like a rocket before dunking the ball in the net. Games mostly consist of two-vs-two matches that allow you to swap control of either player at will. There are some other quirky things like freezing the net in ice and having to take shots to break through. If you forget how to play, you can check out the tutorial and see what button combinations do what.
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 has a shooting meter like 2K, where you hold down the X button until the meter is in the green and then you release your shot. There aren’t any foul shots, and I think some of the points are scored arbitrarily. Somehow, an explosive layup counted as 4 points in my last game, which pretty much dissuaded me from making any more three pointers. I am honestly not sure how scoring works in this game. If you are expecting it to act just like basketball, then you might be confused like me in the beginning.
The art style is fitting for the that type of cartoony vibe I think the developers are fighting for. Some of the players have the same poses as on their cards, but that is not a deal breaker for me. Occasionally, you will find one of the legends that analysts love to showcase on ESPN, like James Harden, Lebron James, or Tim Curry. I like how they look! I even like the different playgrounds and the NPC’s in the background.
Overall, I think NBA 2K Playground 2 can be a more enjoyable and casual experience for players who follow the NBA. It can be goofy, and sometimes just incredible. As for replayability, you can only play the same game so many times before it gets old. I think a fair rating for this title should be an 8.5 out of 10.
Check Out the NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 Trailer:
For the latest updates from NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, visit nba.2k.com/playgrounds, and follow the series on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Xbox One Review
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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