NBA 2K14 Ratings: Complete Roundup of Reviews Around the Web

With the 2013-14 NBA season looming, 2K Sports is at it again, releasing the latest edition in its beloved basketball sim series, NBA 2K14.

The game hits shelves across the globe this week and promises to deliver NBA fans and gamers everywhere exactly what they've been waiting for. With nearly two dozen authentic kicks replicated in the game and a new Path to Greatness mode featuring the most dominant player on the planet in LeBron James, the strengths of NBA 2K14 greatly outweigh any perceived weaknesses.

Still wondering what to make of this year's version?

Let's take a look at what some experts are saying about NBA 2K14. 

After playing the game for the first time and experimenting with the new Path to Greatness mode, USAToday.com's Brett Molina was quick to point out the simplicity and authenticity of NBA 2K14, calling it a "solid hoops package":

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Miami Heat superstar LeBron James becomes the focal point of NBA 2K14 with a clever game mode charting his path to legendary status. As for NBA 2K14 as a whole, it maintains a consistent level of quality on display during previous seasons.

NBA 2K14 is a solid hoops package, although it seems adjustments this season are subtle compared to what developers introduced in earlier games. However, NBA 2Kremains one of the better sports video games around.

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Molina rated this year's game 3.5 out of four stars.

Molina has mostly positive things to say about 2K Sports' latest release, but IGN.com's Ryan McCaffrey takes it even further. McCaffrey describes NBA 2K14 as "the best hoops sim" he's ever played and raves about the improved presentation in this year's game:

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Yet again this year, presentation matches gameplay. In addition to uncanny signature animations – Kobe’s shot looks exactly like it does in real life, as one of countless examples – the little ones are what fool casual passers-by into thinking you’re watching an actual NBA game. Guys complaining about getting fouled after making shots with contact, “Beat L-A!” crowd chants when leading late against the Lakers at home, sarcastic “Air-baaaaall” serenades by the fans when a visiting player launches up a shot that doesn’t draw iron, and many more all add flavor, personality, and texture to an already-realistic hoops sim.

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According to McCaffrey, who awarded NBA 2K14 an "amazing" rating of 9.3 out of 10, this year's version features "tighter-than-ever" gameplay and "impeccable" presentation.

Check out the video below to see McCaffrey break down NBA 2K14.

At the end of the day, a sports video game is only as good as the gameplay experience. Richard Grisham of GamesRadar.com highlights the welcome improvements to gameplay in NBA 2K14, offering an imaginative description for fans:

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On the court, NBA 2K14 plays beautifully. In particular, defense is more interesting because of the ability to play the ball more effectively; well-timed reach-ins result in knock-aways more than fouls, and the fact that you can block a ball as a trailing defender is a welcome addition. There's an undercurrent of nastiness in the paint, too, as bodies loudly and violently collide, accented by screams of fouled players and "thumps" of 7-foot hulks of men slamming into the floor.

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Like others, Grisham isn't a fan of the fact that 2K switched up some of the controls this year, forcing users to "re-learn the basics," but he did rate the game four out of five stars, highlighting the upgraded defensive options, low-post moves and stellar commentary as big reasons for his rating.

While every expert gamer has his or her preferences, it appears the consensus on NBA 2K14 is that it remains one of the best and most entertaining video games on the market.

It's no secret 2K Sports has been incredibly successful at translating the NBA game to the virtual world in recent years. And that's the case yet again with NBA 2K14.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.