LOS ANGELES – As part of NBA 2K27’s Community Day and Game Reveal on Tuesday, I got to play an early version of the game in addition to seeing its unveiling live in person. Based on what I’ve already seen, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that it has a chance to be the most promising sports game of the current generation.
In a time where the common sports gamer is often discouraged by reveals, NBA 2K27 has provided a much-needed glimpse of hope into what the near future of sports gaming could look like. It’s no secret that we’ve been ushered into a dueling era of nostalgia and innovation in the industry, and 2K played both those cards quite well with the reveal and the game itself.
From the introduction of MyCareer Eras to the re-implementation of a player based MyNBA path like 2K11’s Create-A-Legend, it truly feels like 2K not only made it a point to add to the franchise but also to expand on the most beloved features that have been left out in past years. Beyond that, the MyPlayer builder is much more forgiving than it was in recent years, and the addition of true-to-life streetball environments such as the iconic Rucker Park adds to the authenticity of The City.
What I Played
This is the part I spent the most time with by far on Tuesday, although in fairness it’s in large part because I’ve always played MyNBA Eras religiously in years past. I started by creating a player with my name but not quite my likeness and gave him the Tactician pre-build that is modeled after elite playmaking and scoring threats like Cade Cunningham, James Harden and Tyrese Haliburton. Unlike last year’s pre-builds that were season-based and tailored around individual players, the pre-builds in 2K27 are back to being entirely archetype-based.
I started my MyCareer test drive in the Kobe Era at the start of the 2003-04 season, joining Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis in hopes of filling the void that Gary Payton left when he bolted for the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason. After that, I went to the MJ Era in 1991 to try and jumpstart the Sacramento Kings before taking my talents to the 1980s Phoenix Suns to try and disrupt the Magic and Bird Era.
The rosters and avatars that are used in MyCareer Eras mode appeared to be more realistic and detailed than they’ve been in MyNBA in the past, but the thing that especially caught my eye was the historical accuracy of the locker rooms and the retro arenas. When you’re playing in 1984, you’re essentially in a storage closet with wooden lockers that align with where the league was at the time. In 1991, it has a backstage dressing room feel that illustrates a growing league that still had an upward trajectory. As you move throughout time, you see the construction of the locker room evolve into its modern state.
True to Life
Before I dove into the MyCareer Eras, the first thing I wanted to do was go into PlayNow and see what was immediately noticeable in the presentation. Of course, I started by seeing just how LeBron James was going to work with the Philadelphia 76ers. Just off the rip, the pre-game sequence seemed much more cinematic and detailed and included the return of LeBron’s signature chalk toss. I’m not going to lie, LeBron is starting to play like a 41-year-old man in video game form as well, but the game’s movements in simulation game modes also just feel more moderately paced to begin with.
One thing that myself and many others have noticed was that the game’s rating system in general was also just much more conservative, with the average superstar’s rating coming in noticeably lower than it did a year ago. This was something Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren made note of, after his overall rating was revealed as an 86 after being an 88 a year ago.
“I feel like no matter what it is, you’re always trying to get (your rating) up,” Holmgren said. “But my initial reaction is that they’re definitely bringing the inflation of overalls down. Like I feel like the average overall has come down a lot this year. I don’t think it’s necessarily good or bad. I guess if it’s what the people playing the game want, then I guess it’s good.”
New Environments
The City is another part of NBA 2K27 that stands out in comparison to past versions, most notably because of the addition of classic streetball venues Rucker Park, The Hollows and Claremont Court. The iconic Rucker Park was the only one of the three featured on the version we got to play at Community Day, but the authenticity of the in-game park was truly something to behold. From the atmosphere and the sounds to the authentic court design that was created by Jaylen Brown and A$AP Ferg in 2021, it’s a legitimate recreation of the most iconic street court on the planet.
“It’s super amazing to see Rucker Park now embedded into the game in 2K,” Brown said. “Me and A$AP Ferg designed the current design that’s on Rucker Park. It came from my creative. Me and Ferg collaborated on it and brought the ancient Mesopotamian game of Ullamaliztli onto the court. Through the depiction of the ancestral game, we get to see it in live time in Harlem. It’s pretty cool to see it in the game and share that with the world.”
While sports gamers certainly have the right to be skeptical about any title in the modern era, all signs are pointing to NBA 2K27 being a return to form not just for basketball gaming but for the entire genre as a whole.
Editor’s Pick
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