So Prelude isn’t a heap of content but gives you a nice feel of what’s coming.
You can create your my player and also start earning VC points with the mynba2k17 app. I did the face scan thing using the app which then uploads to the ps4 to compile. Took me about 90 minutes to get it to work. Face scans always said they worked but then when the PS4 compiled it it said nup, not good enough. You will need lots and lots of light and probably someone to help do the scan.
Still can’t allocate stats individually but you can see the ‘caps’ each stat has now depending on what your speciality is. Height, arms width, weight options have nerfs now too which is good. Not everyone is going to be a 6’6" point guard or max center.
Your voice is the same as it was in 2k09.
As for the story you start in high school but never play a game there. You pick your college but it doesn’t make any difference who you pick. You play 4 / 5 games (depends how far you go in the finals) and the prelude ends on draft night.
I did like the intro for the first college game. The dancing looked fun. I have a feeling the game loaded quicker as well. Might not be the case once you play on NBA teams.
As for the game play itself I will say the ball feels ‘lighter’. That’s the best way I can describe it. 3 pass buttons now, normal, bounce and top.
Still some AI issues still i’m afraid. Open centre in the key decides it’s best to dish it out to the guy on the perimeter closely guarded. Fast breaks still have opposition players moving faster than anyone else. It’s a shame cause it’s been an issue for a few versions. Didn’t see any rubber banding of the ball though which was nice. I like the tussle now too when there is a loose ball.
Shooting bar is updated. It also tells you where your hot and cold spots are which is something 2k16 wanted you to study hard to figure out where your best shooting spots were. Much easier now to figure that out. Free throws also have angle now. So you can have good timing and 2 degree angle (left or right) information. Still couldn’t customise timing of shots and things like that. Probably for the full game.
There is one end game after it tells you to go out and preorder which is repeatable. I won’t spoil it cause it surprised me.
Still a great game though. Have had all versions since 2k09 so take my review with that bias in mind.
Edit: And you’re no longer called Frequency Vibrations! Still have nickname though but it’s better then Freq.