NBA 2k24 next-gen also directly addresses some of the issues in the current-gen version of the game. Shooting was stingy as hell on the PS4/Xbox One NBA 2K24 MT, but thankfully, sinking baskets is now much less of a pain. The finicky Pro-Stick shooting does return, but now you can use traditional timing-based shooting without any penalty. Admittedly, this version of NBA 2k24 does feel easier than most recent entries in the franchise, which some hardened vets may grumble about, but I wasn’t bothered. I don’t really play these games to grind up the perfect MyPlayer, so as long as the sport is presented accurately, which is undeniably is, I’m not going to complain that wins are coming a bit easier than they used to. At their core, sports games are supposed to be power fantasies, right?

NBA 2k24’s updated action is further bolstered by a fairly impressive visual makeover. Arenas look fantastic, featuring much livelier, more believable crowds (Remember those?) and players look incredible, with every hair, wrinkle, and bead of sweat captured in minute detail. Well, at least the big stars look incredible. As has always been the case 2K Games, the headliners like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and LeBron James look amazing, but the bench warmers? Not as much. Some look like they’ve been directly copy-and-pasted from current gen. HDR is also applied with a bit of a heavy hand, giving NBA 2k24 a slightly harsh appearance that doesn’t necessarily match the look of real basketball broadcasts. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very pretty basketball game, but perhaps temper your expectations just a touch.

As usual, NBA 2k24 is roughly split into three parts – MyCareer, MyTeam, and the MyGM/MyLeague franchise modes. MyCareer is carbon copied from the current-gen games, featuring the same cinematic prologue, albeit with much-improved presentation. You once again step into the role of “Junior,” a gifted baller who struggles to live up the mixed legacy of his father, a legendary college player who somehow never made it the NBA. We’ve seen this “bright-eyed up-and-comer makes it the NBA” story before, but this is a solid take on the formula. If you already played through the prologue on PS4 or Xbox One, it’s not really worth tackling again 2K24 MT Buy, but you can skip directly to grinding through the NBA season if you want.