NBA 2K17: The Prelude

The premise for this is absolutely bizarre. We are going to release another annualised Basketball title (one I have absolutely no intention of playing by the way), so let’s have a free to play game that showcases the career mode... or pre-career mode? It makes no sense as a concept but what the hell, we’ll run with it.

So the story (yes there is a story) follows The President, a high school basketball star who makes his way through college to eventually gain a professional career. Along the way he is faced with the standard trials and tribulations of college – school work, friends, distractions, fast food and girls.

So what is there to experience in The Prelude? Well, there are a couple of basketball matches and some stats stuff... but that’s it. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that most of the time you will spend in the game is looking at the unrepresentatively long loading screens between cut-scenes and basketball games. And there are more cut-scenes than games.

If I’m being kind I would say it looks pretty. That’s all I can say though. The Prelude isn’t here to showcase the game’s sound track either. For the short time I was playing, it must have given me same stupid song five or six times. It didn’t help that I’m not a fan of popular music either.

Achievements – 1,000 Points – 10 Achievements

For completing the ‘experience’ you will get 7 of these achievements. That just leaves 3 achievements that you need to go off the not-so-beaten track to get. You need to play a tutorial game, equip a custom animation and purchase an attribute upgrade. This last one is the only troublesome one in that if you don’t get enough points to get an attribute upgrade, then you will have to use cash money to get it. I was fairly horrendous at playing the game and still had enough points to do this so it shouldn’t be too troublesome.

Downloadable Content – N/A

It’s a short review but it’s a game short of any mentionable content. It’s not even a real game. It’s a preview of a game. With achievements. A Gamerscore hunter’s dream but nothing more.