I got my mits on 2K’s latest B-Ball spectacular, NBA 2K19. I am about 10 hours in, playing tutorials, career, and a few exhibition matches, and I must say that so far, this year’s title is brilliant.

There have been some major upgrades from NBA 2K18, especially to the facial customisation and AI systems. The physics engine for the ball and players has also been greatly enhanced, feeling far more realistic than before. MyPARK, despite not a new feature, felt better for me, with an enhanced sense of intimacy rather than just less players. There are also more courts and themes, and forces you to utilise a little more skill than before.

The score, which Travis Scott has been praised for, is excellent. I will be the first to say that trap and new age hip-hop is not regularly on my playlist, but within the game, it is natural, it fits in beautifully, and Travis has selected tracks that bolster the atmosphere and feel of basketball.



The career, so far, has been stellar. While it doesn’t re-invent the wheel when it comes to what the storyline is about (raising a character from the bottom to the NBA), it does perfect the most critical aspect of any professional athlete: the passion. I will discuss this further in my full review, but what I will say is that NBA 2K19, at least for me, is the best sports-based game career I have played.

...it does perfect the most critical aspect of any professional athlete: the passion.

While NBA 2K19 has been wonderous so far, there are some slight issues. For example, the cutscenes in the career mode are great as they display the emotion of the character, but there are far too many and they last far too long. Furthermore, I understand that you can’t code in a giant list of names for the cutscenes to use, but then don’t use any proper noun for the playable character, as you are simply dubbed “A.I.”. This little thing completely ruins the immersion for me, as every time someone speaks to me, I am repetitively called ‘A.I.’, which just sounds off.



The gameplay is interesting and enjoyable. Learning how to dribble effectively, and strategically defend against someone like LeBron James, is a challenge and it's fantastic. It enhances the idea that dribbling isn’t just some flashy way of taking the ball across the court, but rather an effective and intricate means of keeping possession. Blocking rival shoots or passes can be a little infuriating at times, but when it goes right, its an amazing feeling, and the crowd obviously loses their mind.

Learning how to dribble effectively, and strategically defend against someone like LeBron James, is a challenge and it's fantastic.

Lastly, there is the grading system of your performance during a game. Much like FIFA, your actions have positive or negative consequences on your match rating, and while I love the idea behind it, I feel that it is far too harsh in NBA 2K19. One slip and you will be docked over half a grade, but it will take you around 3 or 4 good movements to get those lost points back. It is challenging, and it does keep you on your toes, but it can be seriously irritating when you were on track for your match challenges, and then it gets lost in the last quarter.



NBA 2K19 feels more like a basketball simulator than anything else, and I love that. There is a ton of concentration and skill that needs to be used while playing, but not so much that it stops being fun. Stay tuned for my full review.