NBA 2K17: Latest Expert Review Scores, Metacritic Rating and Impressions

2K Sports seemed to put itself in a difficult position with NBA 2K17, having to follow up on one of sports gaming's greatest accomplishments: NBA 2K16.

With reviews beginning to trickle in, giving video game fans everywhere an idea of how this year's edition holds up, it continues to become more and more clear 2K Sports has outdone itself.

This deep into a next-generation console cycle, it is clear the team isn't issuing anything close to just a simple roster update. NBA 2K17 addresses many of the complaints and requests fans have cited for years while providing general upgrades to graphics, presentation and most game modes.

Latest Reviews and Impressions

“Every year our goal is to be the most realistic sports game on the market,” 2K Sports brand manager Andrew Blumberg said at Gamescom 2016, according to Jose Otero of IGN.

Based on the early onslaught of reviews, the team at 2K Sports has outdone itself in this pursuit, as well as the goal of besting itself after the triumph of last year's edition.

At the time of writing, the PlayStation 4 version of the game has a 91 Metascore on Metacritic. Considering last year's version slotted at 87, it speaks volumes to the reception of this year's release. The score might even improve as more reviews trickle in, but this early look at expert reviews gets the point across—the series hasn't taken something of a redshirt season.

One of the features receiving the most praise early in reviews is the revamped MyCareer mode. Gone is the somewhat odd campaign orchestrated by Spike Lee—in is the more Hollywood-esque experience with Michael B. Jordan of The Wire fame flanking the player's character.

SLAM's Max Resetar detailed some of the upgrades to the mode:

"

But the biggest change in the mode is how much freedom you have now. Each day features a bunch of options for your player to go through. Events, meetings, hanging out with teammates, individual practice, team practice, shootaround in your private hanger (the headquarters spot is too tough this year), and of course, playing for your favorite NBA team.

"

Presentation is another strong area receiving plenty of praise in early reviews. David Aldridge now roams the sidelines, the appearances passed to him by the excellent duo of Greg Anthony and Kevin Harlan. Chris Webber, Clark Kellogg, Doris Burke and others have entered the fray to keep things fresh.

On-court improvements haven't gone unnoticed either. While assigning the game a score of 9.1, Brian Mazique, writing for Forbes, praised some of the finer details necessary in a simulation such as off-ball movement:

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AI-controlled players rotate quicker on defense and offensive players who are moving without the ball aren’t allowed to simply roam free as they hunt for soft areas in the defense

Deflections and other types of ball pressure bring defense into the game as much as it has ever been.

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It's good the on-court action has an upgrade because MyCareer isn't the only mode with a face-lift and bringing the heat for those looking to take a dive off the deep end.

MyGM and MyLeague modes have notable upgrades as well. The biggest one, of course, is the revelation users can now control up to 36 teams in a league and everything is customizable.

While the review is still underway, IGN's Chase Becotte chronicled more details the in-depth users will rejoice over.

"The mode goes so much further than that as well by providing draft-pick protections, a detailed way to handle your substitution patterns and incorporating a multitude of highly specific details that are appreciated by my inner general manager," Becotte wrote.

It is this sort of depth and detail fans of the series continue to clamor for each year. With another year to chip away at making the digital replication as close to the real thing as possible, the reviews hint at a strong accomplishment here.

So seems to be the theme this year with NBA 2K17. Free of the shackles of needing to work with new kits for new consoles, the designers have had plenty of time to focus on what matters the most—the basketball.

Reviews will keep coming in all week, but it is hard to imagine NBA 2K17 falters much, if at all. 2K Sports has kept the dynasty alive and well.