Every year, 2K is releasing a new installment of NBA 2K franchise, and every year, Basketball fans and gamers are excited with this new NBA 2K titles even if there will be a ver minor changes compared to its predecessor, but heck, it’s NBA 2K, right?
As for me, I am excited with the new MyCareer this year. Last year’s MyCareer has been a disappointment thanks to Spike Lee. This year, 2K announced that they are going to release NBA 2K17: The Prelude, days before the original release date of NBA 2K17.
2K described NBA 2K17 as a head start to the MyCareer of NBA 2K17 and this will give you a preview of the popular MyCareer Mode.
NBA 2K17 The Prelude was released worldwide on September 9, 2016, and I can say that downloading it is a real pain. First, you have to download its 4+ GB file, and if you have a slow to a medium internet connection, this will take you a while. The waiting won’t stop there, once you finished downloading and installing NBA 2K17 The Prelude, you have to wait for the “copying game” download update, and when I say wait, I mean wait for too long. For me, it took more than 2 hours to wait for that download to finish, and it is not because of my internet connection because I asked several people who have a decent internet connection and it also took them to finish around that time. I don’t know if it’s about the 2K server or there are many people downloading it from around the world at the same time, the point it, it’s too long.
The struggle doesn’t stop there, while you’re waiting for the download to finish, you can only access 2KU, and I assume that this stands for 2K University, and to keep the description short, it is just a tutorial game. If you’re a seasoned NBA 2K player or at least already know how NBA 2K16 works, you don’t need this 2KU mode because basically, the buttons, controls and other functions of NBA 2K17 are exactly like NBA 2K16.
Now let’s go to the NBA 2K17 MyCareer Mode proper. Just like the previous NBA 2K titles, you’ll start with naming your player, assigning jersey numbers, updating its looks, choosing which position are you comfortable playing with, and your stats.
And here comes the story. You’ll start with a video of Kobe Bryant and actor Michael B. Jordan, welcoming you to NBA 2K17 MyCareer and showing the career of Kobe Bryant, both low and high notes of his career. To my pleasure, there’s no more long story in this year’s NBA 2K My Career. No African-American cliche type of movies, no more dramas, and no more worthless storyline.
You’ll start as a high school superstar from Lower Valley with a nickname of “Pres”, short for “The President.” He is a High School Basketball All-American and you’ll jump into selecting your college you’re going to play with. Yes, no more playing that high school game where the player has a built of an NBA superstar going against small and thin high school players.
You can choose from these college teams – Kansas Jayhawks, Georgetown Hoyas, Arizona Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, Connecticut Huskies, Illinois Fighting Illini, Oklahoma Sooners, Georgie Tech Yellow Jackets, Michigan State Spartans, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
For this game, I chose to play for Georgetown Hoyas because of…ehem… The Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.
You’ll play at least 4 games during your college career, and if you’re good enough, you’ll play 5 college ball games and the last one being the NCAA Finals.
It’s a typical college game with 2 quarters and 6 minutes per quarter.
Along your short college career, you’ll have a familiar storyline wherein you’ll struggle in some part of the game, you’ll get analyze by Basketball Analyst and you’ll see your draft projection. You’ll also befriend with your teammate, a Senior player named Alabaster, a better version of Vic Van Lier aka F.O.F. or Friend of Freq.
Once you finished your short college career and decided to get drafted in the NBA, this is where NBA 2K17: The Prelude ends, and the story will continue in the main game of NBA 2K17. Don’t worry, your progress will be carried over to the NBA 2K17 once it is released.
As a bonus, you’ll get a chance to play as a part of Team USA by choosing the Bonus Game: …In A Big Pond.
Team USA Coach Mike Krzyzewski will call you to ask you to play for his team against Australia National Basketball Team, Australian Boomers.
2K made a quite something different this year by introducing NBA 2K17: The Prelude so fans can get a chance to see the MyCareer before the release date, but isn’t worth it?
My answer will be NO.
First, as mentioned above, the download and waiting. If you’re used to downloading and waiting for digital games to be fully playable, which I doubt it, then go for it. Secondly, NBA 2K17: The Prelude is short. Well, it is nice surprising because it is a sort of a demo or intro to the main game, and lastly, the are no changes in terms of controls, movement, and graphics compared to last year so I suggest that if you can wait for the full NBA 2K17 release, then go wait for it. This NBA 2K17: The Prelude is a small part of NBA 2K17 MyCareer and will be included in NBA 2K17 so why bother? Just buy the NBA 2K17 Early Tip-Off Edition on September 16 and enjoy the full game.
NBA 2K17 will be available for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, and you can still buy the NBA 2K17 Legends Edition Gold for $99.99.