NBA 2K19 might play brilliantly, but its off-the-court problems get in the way of its own success. The game provides a huge simulation of the game, with dazzling demonstration to match and a renewed focus on the inner-city origins that Buy 2K19 MT lots of NBA athletes discuss. Subsequently developer Visual Concepts requires this otherwise stellar game onto a detour toward microtransactions.

The NBA 2K series was on this route for decades, but its emphasis on microtransactions reaches a new peak in NBA 2K19. It often feels like the better pieces of this game -- of which there are lots -- get lost in its obsession with squeezing more money from its own players.

The growth of microtransactions in the NBA 2K series parallels the rising tumult of the real-life NBA offseason. This year, 2K Sports needed to change NBA 2K19's cover following having a blockbuster trade place its cover athlete at another uniform. To better catch that expanding disarray from the league's offices, NBA 2K19 introduces a narrative to its franchise mode, MyGM. A participant -- your established MyPlayer, specifically -- suffers a career-ending knee injury and later takes up the reins as overall manager. Trade Kyrie Irving away or place him in another place; that's the crux of a group GM gig, with a hint of occasional inner team play involved. It's a stretch to call it a story mode since the menu does, but small expansions into MyGM contain dialogue exchanges and participant interactions fresh to NBA 2K19.

Not only is there a story in MyGM, there is still a bevy of MyPlayer options. As opposed to invite Spike Lee to guide MyCareer (because he did back in NBA 2K16), NBA 2K19's approach settles down, focusing on the turbulent rookie year of former road baller DJ. It's mostly satirical toward locker room civilization, a reprieve in the thick drama of Madden NFL 18's Longshot as well as past years old NBA 2K. For example, DJ's agent is not much of one, but he does possess a catchphrase: "Eat what you kill" The characters do not seem to comprehend what that means (and they say), but NBA 2K19 runs with it to the comedy.

When playing DJ, you'll encounter NBA 2K19's "The Neighborhood." Think about it a hub of activity for DJ's livelihood. In a MMO-lite twist, it is possible to walk around with numerous (hundreds, possibly, if servers fill up) of additional player-controlled DJs, playing pickup games, trading scores at minigames or socializing. The existence of different players is generally pointless outside of light rivalry, however; I ended up just ignoring the crowd.

I shortly realized The Neighborhood simply replaces NBA 2K Coins's core menu. In that way, it is merely a clumsy method to navigate. Want a haircut? Walk the block into the barbershop. Wish to change clothes? Go home first. Need new shoes? Jog down to Foot Locker. Looking to grab a fast pickup game? The courtroom is down the road on the left.