A thunderous slam dunk or just a personal foul: How does the basketball simulation “NBA 2K25” fare after last year’s low and is there anything changing with the omnipresent microtransactions? Find out in the detailed test.
In recent years, the “NBA 2K” franchise has been the subject of some harsh criticism. Not all of the innovations worked and the microtransactions that were heavily integrated into the game spoiled the good mood of many community members with the basketball simulation. None of these problems have been resolved in “NBA 2K25”. The microtransactions in particular remain a major problem. However, developers Visual Concepts and 2K Games are improving many other areas, which is why the latest offshoot at least managed to avoid the huge shitstorm of the past when it was launched.
Slam Dunk!
Let’s be honest: What happens on the court has been the least of the problems in the “NBA 2K” series in recent years. Compared to last year, however, “NBA 2K25” has noticeably improved and sets itself apart with subtle improvements.
ProPlay, which was introduced last year, has been noticeably refined and adapted. In plain language, this means that you can see far more individual movement sequences in the game and can really identify the big stars based on their moves. The shooting mechanics have also been revised. The ideal point for a shot is now marked by an arrow running from bottom to top. Perfect timing is shown in green. How well you shoot depends largely on your position or previous passing.
After a short period of getting used to it, “NBA 2K25” is smoother and more controllable than its predecessor. The adjusted skill moves and the ability to cancel shots now also play a role here. It just feels good to create space with spins and short feints, only to then score the ball yourself. One small criticism: three-point shots in particular are a bit too powerful for our taste.
Improved defense and more setting options
Visual Concepts took an offensive approach to a problem from the previous year: defense. Recently, it was difficult to keep the opponent under control in defense. In “NBA 2K25” the so-called cut-off system ensures equal opportunities. In defense, we position our opponent on one side, but with the help of the right analog stick we can also react better to the attackers’ quick movements.
This means that the game without the ball works much better and stars like Lebron James or Jayson Tatum can be kept in check more easily. Overall, the defensive departments are more independent and agile. Compared to the previous team, weak passes are intercepted much more often.
For newcomers, “NBA 2K25” offers extended tutorials. These help you learn the most important functions and make it easier to get started. “NBA 2K25” is demanding and sometimes even frustrating. After all, nothing is more annoying than hitting the board one shot after another.
The basketball game is undoubtedly challenging, but it also rewards your own skills. It should also be mentioned here that in addition to the six difficulty levels, there are also a whole range of controls to adjust the gameplay. This way, you can set up “NBA 2K25” like your morning egg – soft as butter or rock hard.
