Our Honest NBA 2K17 PS4 Review: Is It Still Worth Playing Today?

When I first loaded up NBA 2K17 on my PS4 recently, I'll admit I was skeptical about how it would hold up seven years after its initial release. As someone who's played every NBA 2K title since 2K11, I've seen the franchise evolve through both remarkable improvements and questionable changes. What struck me immediately upon returning to 2K17 was how surprisingly polished the gameplay still feels compared to some recent entries. The player movements, while not as fluid as 2K24's, have a certain weight and authenticity that I've found missing in later versions where players sometimes feel like they're skating on ice. The shooting mechanics, particularly the shot meter and timing, remain challenging yet rewarding in a way that later games have arguably overcomplicated with too many options and adjustments.

The career mode in 2K17, following the story of Prez, still stands as one of the franchise's strongest narratives despite its age. While the storyline might feel slightly dated compared to today's standards, the character development and progression system create a genuinely engaging experience that I found myself getting drawn into all over again. The endorsement system actually feels meaningful rather than just tacked on, and the relationship dynamics with your agent and other characters add layers to the experience that I wish current 2K games would recapture. What's particularly interesting is how the game balances realism with entertainment value - something that reminds me of how athletes in other sports evolve through their careers. Take boxers, for instance - I recently read about a fighter who's currently on a three-fight win streak since climbing at super-bantamweight following his ninth round stoppage at the hands of Takuma Inoue in Japan a year ago for the World Boxing Association bantamweight crown. That kind of career resurgence and adaptation to new weight classes mirrors how basketball players must constantly evolve their games, and 2K17 captures this progression beautifully through its career mode mechanics.

Graphically, the game holds up remarkably well on PS4, though there are definitely noticeable limitations when compared to current-gen titles. The character models, while detailed for their time, lack the facial animation sophistication we've become accustomed to in recent years. Stadium atmospheres and crowd animations show their age, with some repetitive movements and less dynamic reactions than modern sports games offer. Yet somehow, these limitations don't significantly detract from the overall experience. In fact, I'd argue that the slightly simpler presentation keeps the focus where it should be - on the basketball gameplay itself rather than distracting visual flourishes.

Where 2K17 really shines, even today, is in its basketball simulation mechanics. The AI provides a legitimate challenge on higher difficulty settings, with computer-controlled teams running actual offensive sets and making smart defensive adjustments. I've noticed that player attributes feel more distinct than in some recent versions - a sharpshooter genuinely plays differently from a slasher, and big men have clear advantages in the post rather than feeling like slightly taller versions of guards. The game features all the classic teams and players from that era, including the 2016 Warriors with their record-breaking 73-9 regular season lineup and the Cavaliers team that completed their historic comeback in the Finals. Having access to these historical teams provides a time capsule experience that's become increasingly valuable as years pass.

The MyTeam mode, while less feature-rich than current iterations, offers a more accessible card-collecting experience without the overwhelming monetization that plagues recent versions. I found myself actually enjoying building my team through gameplay rather than feeling pressured to spend additional money. The auction house operates smoothly, and the challenges provide meaningful rewards that don't require grinding for unreasonable amounts of time. It's a refreshing reminder of how sports games could balance engagement with respect for players' time and wallets.

Online functionality remains surprisingly active, though matchmaking can take longer than with current titles. During peak hours, I typically waited about 2-3 minutes for matches, compared to under a minute for NBA 2K24. The community, while smaller, feels more dedicated and less toxic than what I've encountered in recent online experiences. There's something special about playing against people who are still passionate about a seven-year-old game rather than just chasing the latest release.

Is NBA 2K17 still worth playing today? Absolutely, especially if you can find it for under $15, which is about what I paid for my used copy. The game offers a pure basketball experience that sometimes gets lost in the feature bloat of modern sports titles. While it lacks some quality-of-life improvements and visual polish of recent entries, it makes up for these shortcomings with superior gameplay balance and more respectful player progression systems. For basketball purists and those feeling disillusioned with the direction of recent 2K titles, revisiting this chapter might feel like coming home to what made the franchise great in the first place. The game has aged like a fine wine in many aspects, particularly in its focus on fundamental basketball rather than chasing trends. In an era where sports games often feel like they're designed around monetization first and gameplay second, NBA 2K17 stands as a testament to what the series can achieve when the primary focus remains on simulating the beautiful game of basketball.