Kobe Bean Bryant’s historically unique and outstanding accolades speak for themselves: five championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, and 18 All-Star Game nods, just to name a few. Now, thanks to NBA 2K24, fans have the privilege of stepping into his shoes, recreating moments that defined an era of basketball.
The spirit of competition is all about honoring the greats, both past and present. This principle becomes evident in NBA 2K24’s ode to one of basketball’s most iconic players, Kobe Bryant. Drawing inspiration from the previous series entry, NBA 2K23, which revered Michael Jordan via the “Jordan Challenge,” 2K24 turns its focus to another legend: the Black Mamba.
Kobe Bryant, a man synonymous with dedication, skill, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, etched the numbers “8” and “24” into the annals of basketball. It’s fitting, therefore, that in the 24th series entry, Bryant is not only the cover athlete but is also the soul of the game’s newest mode – the Mamba Moments.
Mirroring Bryant’s obvious parallels with his idol, Jordan, Mamba Moments takes players on a passionate journey, re-enacting some of Bryant’s most unforgettable career highlights.
First off, fans are given the opportunity to relive the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals, Game 4, when a 22-year-old Bryant dazzled with a performance of 48 points, sending the Sacramento Kings into early summer. Another remarkable feat includes the time he set the NBA three-point record, hitting 12 beyond the arc against the Seattle Supersonics, a record later surpassed by Klay Thompson in 2018. From clashing against his mentor, Michael Jordan, to dropping 62 points in just three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks, Mamba Moments ensures fans experience every adrenaline-pumping second.
It certainly seems like the developers designed Mamba Moments to encapsulate the highest moments of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career, which shone even brighter under the blinding lights of Hollywood. Each of the seven games included in the mode promotes varying playstyles, echoing the dynamism and versatility of Bryant’s own gameplay.
Surprisingly enough, Bryant’s 81-point game, which still stands as the most points ever recorded by any player in the three-point era, aren’t highlighted.
In addition to the central challenges, the narrative woven around the games is exquisite. The commentary is rich, not just highlighting the match’s technicalities but also diving into the human stories behind them – tales of his teammates, insights into Bryant’s state of mind, and the broader context of the NBA’s evolution throughout the years.
Visual Concepts, the developer, committed a commendable amount of work in recreating each moment’s ambiance. You could almost feel Bryant’s energy when, after a scoring spree, he would “cool off” his fingers, a moment captured in its raw realism.
While the 2K23 Jordan Challenge had players square off against a young Bryant in the 1997 Bulls vs Lakers matchup, Mamba Moments switches gears. It hones in on Kobe’s resounding victory against his muse, Jordan, in the 2003 Lakers vs Wizards game. Though certain monumental achievements, like Bryant’s now-iconic 60-point farewell game, aren’t highlighted, the 2K team prioritizes “incredible performances that don’t always get the spotlight.” This choice brings forth some of Bryant’s lesser-glorified, yet equally significant moments, ensuring fans get a holistic experience of his illustrious career.
And as gamers await the game’s release on September 8, across various platforms, they can find solace in one fact: the new Mamba Moments isn’t just a game mode; it’s a heartfelt tribute, a digital chronicle capturing the essence of a legend who changed the game forever.
Kobe Bryant is likely going to be the last athlete to receive such a mode dedicated to himself – one could argue that the next time we’ll see these modes happen back-to-back is next decade with Magic Johnson (32), Larry Bird (33), and Shaquille O’Neal (34) – so we’re expecting fans to flock to the store shelves in droves, microtransactions be damned.
NBA 2K24 is part of an unusually heavy slate of games that are coming out in the same month that includes Starfield (September 6), Baldur’s Gate 3 (September 6), Mortal Kombat 1 (September 14), Payday 3 (September 21), EA Sports FC (September 29).
