NBA 2K18 player ratings continue to trickle out from the game’s official Twitter account and cover star Kyrie Irving is the latest name to drop. The controversial Cavaliers point guard has been honored with a 90 overall rating.
In terms of player models, he honestly doesn’t look too different from last year with regard to basic detail. Where improvements really shine through, however, is in nuanced lighting and more accurate skin tone coloring. Everything simply looks slightly more realistic in NBA 2K18, and Irving’s model is a perfect showcase of that. Irving joins Gordon Hayward, John Wall, Paul George, DeMar DeRozan and Isiah Thomas in the select group of players privy to a first look from 2K.
Speaking of first look, Game Informer got an exclusive hands-on with the game and pointed out some of its biggest changes in gameplay. As described above, deeper colors and increased player likeness was just one facet of the analysis.
A new physics-based animation system allows player movement to be more tailored to individual skill levels. Each athlete has separate size, speed and acceleration stats that are taken into account while animations are compiled on the fly. This change not only offers greater freedom in terms of the moves available at any given time, but it also opens the door for a more realistic talent scale. For example, in NBA 2K18, it’s easier to blow past average defenders with Russell Westbrook, but a strong defender can stop him.
On the deeper mechanical end, there are new shooting and passing systems in place as well. The controversial skill-based shooting concept is still present in 2K18, but a new bar appears with more context for each shot. By reading it, players can see how accurate their timing was and how much the attempt was contested. For passing, the length of time the button is held determines if the ball will go to the closest or furthest player. Even on defense, defensive communication allows the AI to shout out its patterns. When you know what the rest of your team is doing, you can act accordingly.
While fairly general, these gameplay teases suggest 2K and Visual Concepts have been taking lots of feedback from the series’ most passionate fans to ensure NBA 2K18 is the best hoop game it can possibly be. We still haven’t seen much gameplay footage in an official capacity, but, in the absence of a trailer, these concrete text descriptions are extremely helpful.
As 2K18’s September release date inches closer, we’re slowly starting to get a clearer picture of what the final experience will be. Aside from player models and gameplay enhancements, a revamped MyGM suite essentially acts as the game’s story mode. We’ve also enjoyed listening to the full soundtrack too.
The reveals won’t stop there either. Operation Sports owner Steve Noah has teased that a dev diary will premiere in a few hours alongside a special announcement. We’ll keep you posted as those details become known.
NBA 2K18 releases Sept. 19 for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 Nintendo Switch and PC.
What are your thoughts on Kyrie Irving’s rating and these gameplay adjustments? Tell us in the comments section!
- Great basketball mechanics
- Easy for new players to learn
- MyGM's story content is a great starting point for the future.
- The Neighborhood social hub feels empty and pointless
- Microtransactions ruin what would otherwise be a fun experience
- MyCareer story is a bit dull
