NBA 2K21 Review: 4 Ups & 4 Downs

1. The More Things Change...

NBA 2K21
2K/NBA

NBA 2K takes small steps forward each year. It's no different to Madden, FIFA, or any other sports franchise in that regard, and if you're coming here for a revamped gaming experience, you're at the wrong place, pal.

But 2K21, more than any other recent edition, feels like a minor stats and cosmetics upgrade than a new game. Those who cry "glorified DLC" have rarely been so right: 2K21 offers only a smidgeon more than 2K20 did, with only incremental changes across the board.

This is particularly noticeable in MyGM and MyLEAGUE, which are close to identical compared to 2K20. You aren't going to get much out of either if you played them to death in the previous version. New commentary lines are few and far between, meaning you'll be hearing endless slews of familiar phrases from your first game. Visually, this is barely even a reskin, and the TV-style video presentations before, during, and after games are about the same as well.

We're told that things will be different in the next-gen version, which promises upgrades across the board, new features unfit for current-gen, and more, yet the distributor' refusal to even drip-feed details on these sparks cynicism. That they're more focused on PS5 and Xbox Series X is understandable, at least, and explains why this year's game feels so threadbare. This doesn't excuse 2K21's lack of progression, though. At full price, it's a hard game to recommend to anyone but the hardest of the hardcore.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.