NBA 2K18 Legend Edition

NBA 2K18 Legend Edition is a real feast for sports simulation fans. This time you can download NBA 2K18 Legend Edition to your Nintendo Switch and get some bonuses that will ease your victories!

Graphics: 3.5

Being the first installment available for Nintendo Switch, NBA 2K18 tries to marry the smoothness require by sports simulators and Nintendo’s unique hardware and controls. The result is disappointing. The biggest flaw (compared to PS4 or Xbox version) is low framerate: Switch version only runs at 30 FPS, and that makes the game too abrupt and antsy. But you may also encounter desynced audio, especially in MyCareer interludes. Anyway, if you don’t have a PS or Xbox version to compare, you may ignore the difference: all the players’ moves, crowd waves, camera movements, and ball transitions are made that very way.

Gameplay: 5

Like in all versions of NBA 2K, the court is the primary scene. Details depend on the mode: you either play a particular customized player in MyCareer mode, or switch players within your team when playing MyTeam. Or dig into management with MyLeague and MyGM, in real or fantasy environments. The Playgrounds option of 3vs3 games in courtyards is also here. Trading card game elements are also incorporated, and Legend Edition is the traders’ option. Customization of your player is as fine as it is in another version, though more options (like haircuts or outfits) went paid.

The engine provides smooth and energetic movements, roaring crowds, comments by a constellation of famous commenters (this time it includes stars like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett). If you don’t stare intendedly, you’ll probably be quite okay with 30 FPS.

This time the cover athlete is Shaquille O’Neal, and the game includes his customized outfits for your player (plus panini cards, stickers and a poster in physical edition). It also offers 100,000 VC and 20 MyTeam packs the basic version lacks.

Controls: 5

When it comes to Nintendo, it’s always unique. NBA 2K18 Legend Edition for Nintendo Switch is controlled (logically) with two JoyCons that can be separated for local multiplayer mode. But as you do so, the game gets simplified, as a single JoyCon leaves less options. Anyway, Nintendo fans will rather take it as a feature.

Replay Value: 4

This game offers a great variety of modes, from management-oriented to courtyard games. That is, you’ll have many, many hours to explore all the chances and combinations.

Nintendo Switch isn’t the default platform for games by 2K Sports, and it showed on this debut release. So the main reason to give it up for the true NBA 2K player will be NBA 2K19, optimized and fixed. But that won’t replace physical bonuses for a real fan.

The Bottom Line

This NBA 2K18 Legend Edition review accounts the fact that the first Switch release has its inevitable flaws. But still the game has more pros than cons, and Switch owners better opt for this version, with its digital and physical bonuses.

• Graphics 3.5
• Gameplay 5
• Controls 5
• Replay Value 4

Pros

Playing the part of the game is as good as ever;
Legend Edition offers digital and physical bonuses;
All the modes of other editions are present;
Flexible character customization;
Controls optimized for Switch.

Cons

Microtransactions still rule;
The game isn’t optimized enough for Switch;
Local multiplayer gets inevitably simplified.