Unless you’re LeBron James, an athlete’s rookie season is often an opportunity to show glimpses of the potential you may deliver in your career.
This is what ‘NBA 2K21’ presents in its first season on Sony’s PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X and S. There is a solid foundation highlighting what this pro basketball series can become, once it can shore up other parts of its game.
As the trailers for this next generation “NBA 2K21” have shown, individual players resemble their real-life counterparts even more closely. Images of stars including Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans phenom Zion Williamson – also the game’s cover star – look astounding.
It goes deeper. The experience inside the arena is more vibrant. It’s brighter, giving you a better view of crowds who do more than just sit in their seats. During a free throw attempt, I watched opposing crowds pick up thunder sticks – those long balloons you clap together – and smack them together to distract the shooter. There’s even a moment where you can see individual fans get up and walk up the stairs like they’re headed to the bathroom. These small details help create a more realistic atmosphere.
