As in the real world, there are two "types" of basketball - one classic, serious, indoor and the other somewhat freer, perhaps a bit harder streetball - there are two types of basketball in the world as well. The first is the NBA Live and NBA 2KXX series. The other started the guys from Accolade with their NBA Jam title. The idea of a fun arcade and a bit of (or very) unrealistic basketball fans has so much to do with the sequel of some NBA Jam, NBA Street Homecourt or NBA 2K Playgrounds. And just continuing the last title we look at the teeth.
The course set in the NBA 2K Playgrounds 1 is firmly set and the original focus did not move the two by a millimeter. We have an arcade version of basketball, with real NBA players, but still denying the rules of this sport and even worse (or even better) laws of physics. Auty? Forget. Fouls? Ha-ha. Steps? Crotch? Through the pole? Technical Basket? No, no, no, and not again.
Two two-member teams will run on the board or asphalt ground, with the intention of pushing the ball into the opponent's basket, but the ways to achieve it are very different from what we are used to. Jumping, turning, bouncing off the board, dabbing in the teeth with an inconvenient oppressive opponent, punching and smashing all shapes, colors and flavors, double allyeupas and other delicacies are the true essence of what's going on on the screens. With the control and especially the correct timing of the shooting and the closure close up, you will be helped by a sophisticated shoot meter, while it is still true that with an absolutely perfect end you get one extra point per basket. Fortunately, AI does not abuse it as much as in the first part of the series and the games do not go wrong and do not fall into cheating on the computer.
An awesome cherry on the "madness" of the game is the powerup you get for trying and successfully carrying out activities on the board. We have had a faster sprint, increased power or higher score for the baskets in the previous version. If the memory does not deceive us, for example, crossing the opponent or freezing the basket is new.
We've already said how this basket is played, but we have not yet said who plays it. The title is licensed by the NBA, so you can enjoy all or almost all of the historical and contemporary stars of the overseas league, including LeBron, Curry, Durant or Harden. You can even get to the players who missed Playgrounds 1, such as Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. And here comes the first problem. You get players through the card system, and you certainly know where this unlocking system is going. To microtransactions. The new card packs will either grind for tens or hundreds of matches, or prepare additional clues in addition to the initial 30 euros and invest them in expanding your collection.
Players differ in their parameters, Shaquille O'Neal is unbeatable with the smidly close, but do not expect troika from him. In addition, players are improving based on how often you put them into play and how much you are doing with them. Raising levels does not directly improve attributes, rather you're working on new animations, crossover or smear.
The NBA 2K Playgrounds is definitely not intended for a basketball player's solo. In the basic game menu, you can find only Sézon singleslayer modes and three-way competition. The season is simply a chain of consecutive league games where you are working with your team to work on the front of the table. You can test online matches in collaboration with AI or find a live teammate and have a new Championship mode designed for multiplayer-oriented athletes. Still, this is not the title where you want to play a few matches every night in the room. His entertainment is hidden elsewhere. Ideal for combining 4 lively teammates to rip your sandal virtually, but ideally and physically to a party.
If you own the first part of the series, there are several reasons to buy the sequel. The most striking features include completely new and beautifully redesigned playgrounds. Whether it's a harbor, an airliner, a night Tokyo or the top of a skyscraper - all are truly gorgeous, with lots of little fun details and accompanying animations. We very much appreciate the incorporation of the shootometer and the visual aids at the rebounds, when it is easier to estimate where the ball will hit the basket after reflection. NBA stars are graphically processed as we are accustomed to, with big heads in a cartoon style. What has not changed is the absolute absence of adjustments to match match parameters - time, rules, powerboats, anything you can not change or otherwise play the game.
For potential gamblers who want to enter the PC platform, we still have one important note. Keyboard playing is a hardship, you need to control the direction keys and almost all buttons on the number. Gamepad is a necessity in this case, otherwise you will only find a frustrating fingering instead of a fun basketball.
The sequel to streetball arcade basketball went somewhat better than his older sibling. There are several changes to playability, but they are oriented in the right direction, the wonderful playgrounds will delight the eye, while the microtransactions will certainly not take away the wallet. However, if you're shopping, keep in mind that you're more confident in multiplayer than in gaming fashion solo, and it's totally ideal to deploy NBA Playgrounds 2 as one of the highlights of a nerd LAN party.