User Score
4.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 180 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 180
  2. Negative: 98 out of 180
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  1. Sep 17, 2017
    3
    I don't know how anyone can call this an excellent port. There are serious framerate issues in the games cutscenes, to the point where MyCareer is extremely tedious to play through (since the cutscenes cannot be skipped). You basically end up with cutscenes where the audio is about 10 seconds ahead of the video by the time they are done.

    Wait to pick up this game in a few months. Its
    I don't know how anyone can call this an excellent port. There are serious framerate issues in the games cutscenes, to the point where MyCareer is extremely tedious to play through (since the cutscenes cannot be skipped). You basically end up with cutscenes where the audio is about 10 seconds ahead of the video by the time they are done.

    Wait to pick up this game in a few months. Its clear its not ready in its current state.
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  2. Sep 15, 2017
    10
    I can't believe how this game can runs there so well in the Switch, it look AMAZING!! I bought de Switch the last week and i was excited for this game, but the truth is that i was worried about the final version of this game, but to see how Nintendo Switch runs this game so well I have been amazed.
  3. Sep 26, 2017
    4
    Pros

    At least it looks nice. TV like presentation on a handheld is unmatched. Cons Input lag even in offline mode (almost half a second!) Good luck defending and timing your shots... Cutscenes and voices don't sync in handheld mode, cutscene audio crackles like popcorn when docked. Career mode with cutscenes not available offline. Save Data corruption bug?! VC, VC,
    Pros

    At least it looks nice.

    TV like presentation on a handheld is unmatched.

    Cons
    Input lag even in offline mode (almost half a second!) Good luck defending and timing your shots...

    Cutscenes and voices don't sync in handheld mode, cutscene audio crackles like popcorn when docked.

    Career mode with cutscenes not available offline.

    Save Data corruption bug?!

    VC, VC, VC, VC, VC, VC (you need VC to even wipe your @$$).

    5GB save file as big as Mario Odyssey.

    Netcode designed by half a monkey ensures a nice delay. Pair that with the local input delay and you just might throw your system off the tallest building in your area.

    Occasionally disappearing buildings give Houdini a run for his money.

    If all the above issues don't bother you, then this game just might be for you.

    Otherwise, avoid this like the plague, or a crazy ex if you have one :)
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  4. Sep 19, 2017
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really do not liked this port, it looks like a poor limited version of the game. Playng on the go is limited to battery life, i really would like to play more Expand
  5. Sep 26, 2017
    0
    Microtransactions ruin the career mode. The predatory way they were implemented is disgusting. Look up the review on Kotaku for a fairly complete list of how they try to force you to give them more money. Do not buy this game. 2K has lost my faith completely and unless they change I will not be giving this company another cent.

    On top of that, the install size for the game is
    Microtransactions ruin the career mode. The predatory way they were implemented is disgusting. Look up the review on Kotaku for a fairly complete list of how they try to force you to give them more money. Do not buy this game. 2K has lost my faith completely and unless they change I will not be giving this company another cent.

    On top of that, the install size for the game is literally too big for anyone who hasn't bought a bigger memory stick. Even if you have, the save file is somehow over 5gb in size, and you can only save that to the primary drive.
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  6. Oct 8, 2017
    0
    - Microtransactions are outrageous and destroy the fun.
    - Your player starts out barely being able to make a layup, but somehow is able to be signed by an NBA team. But then, you also can barely afford a haircut. Makes total sense.
    - Cutscenes are unbearable. When you're just starting your career, be prepared to sit down like you're watching a movie. And then, in some of the cutscenes,
    - Microtransactions are outrageous and destroy the fun.
    - Your player starts out barely being able to make a layup, but somehow is able to be signed by an NBA team. But then, you also can barely afford a haircut. Makes total sense.
    - Cutscenes are unbearable. When you're just starting your career, be prepared to sit down like you're watching a movie. And then, in some of the cutscenes, the audio goes out of sync and you sit there in silence just staring at your characters.
    - Input lag is atrocious. I haven't played this game on any other platform to compare, so I don't know if it's true input lag or just a lack of responsiveness because of the animations, but it makes you feel entirely disconnected from the game.

    Don't buy this trash.
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  7. Sep 21, 2017
    2
    Esta saga deja mucho que desear, tiene mucho nombre, pero no es nada merecido. sera porque no hay alternativa.. El modo mi carrera es pésimo, en cada partido hay una cinematica al inicio y final, y no hay posibilidad de saltarla. podria pasar si fueran buenas, pero son malas y una clara perdida de tiempo. al inicio juegas poco tiempo porque las estadísticas són muy bajas, perfectamenteEsta saga deja mucho que desear, tiene mucho nombre, pero no es nada merecido. sera porque no hay alternativa.. El modo mi carrera es pésimo, en cada partido hay una cinematica al inicio y final, y no hay posibilidad de saltarla. podria pasar si fueran buenas, pero son malas y una clara perdida de tiempo. al inicio juegas poco tiempo porque las estadísticas són muy bajas, perfectamente puedes jugar 1 minutos y tener 5 de cinematica / perdida de tiempo por partido. pesimo Expand
  8. Sep 16, 2017
    9
    Belo jogo, boa jogabilidade, o modo carreira é muito legal, faz você se sentir na pele do jogador, de como é o inicio da carreira. Destaque pra o alivio cômico transmitida pelo agente e pela colega de quarto.
  9. Sep 26, 2017
    1
    The reason this got a one is because of the portability. Shooting in this game is pure garbage. Look it up on youtube and you'll see multiple people complain on this issue. Their attempt to make this game realistic have failed tremendously. How many NBA centers can make a 3 pointer? In this game if there open its automatically going in but if you try to make a 3 pointer with steph curry heThe reason this got a one is because of the portability. Shooting in this game is pure garbage. Look it up on youtube and you'll see multiple people complain on this issue. Their attempt to make this game realistic have failed tremendously. How many NBA centers can make a 3 pointer? In this game if there open its automatically going in but if you try to make a 3 pointer with steph curry he doesn't even make 30% of his shots. Lay ups are terrible, it still incorparates the shot meter but for some dumb reason they do not display the shot meter. Since when has the NY Knicks blown out the Golden State Warriors in real life? Because in this NBA "Simulation" it is constantly happening. Congratulations to 2K games for sucking the fun out of their Basketball title. This game is Trash #SteerClear #Worst$65I'veEverSpent Expand
  10. Sep 18, 2017
    5
    After that terrible CAP creation and Prologue, I jumped right into a Play Now game and was pretty amazed by how good looking of a port this was. The game started and though the level of detail in players dropped a bit in the gp camera ( though better on broadcast low ) and the FPS was at 30, the game looked incredible. Knowing that the game was at 30fps, i got used to the responsivenessAfter that terrible CAP creation and Prologue, I jumped right into a Play Now game and was pretty amazed by how good looking of a port this was. The game started and though the level of detail in players dropped a bit in the gp camera ( though better on broadcast low ) and the FPS was at 30, the game looked incredible. Knowing that the game was at 30fps, i got used to the responsiveness and saw all the anims from the PS4 version and got even more amazed. The GP itself was fun and improved ( though really just more organic and free ) from 17, so I was ready to come on here and give this a solid 8 or 9. Seeing all the modes intact was even more jaw dropping. I then went back to My Career and the Hood was there, fully intact. Incredible......but then reality set in and just like the PS4 version that I also have, this game came loaded with gamebreaking bugs. My Career player lost 3!!!! times after hours of play, VC lost, crashes left and right ( 15 + right now ), cutscene issues in My Career ( the half speed plays, the lost of audio, the LOD on faces popping in and out, etc ) the load times, the lag in pro am, the times when a ton in the Hood is not playable ( walk over ready UI to not get any "start game" button prompt, etc ), and those are just some of the technical issues. Then the issues with the game itself also started to settle in. Really? Gonna take me 3 minutes to walk to this barbershop where i cant even preview a cut without buying it for a crazy amount of VC that I have to play 40 games for to get a haircut because they skimp on the VC. VC is as bad, if not worst, then it was back on 14.....but really ? lol Just to get a haircut if I have enough VC, will take bout 7 minutes.....ONE haircut!!! lol. This takes seconds in other games, but its "cool" cause I walked there? GTA / 2K concept is intriguing and one that almost EVERYONE started wondering about when GTA first went 3D, but this was NOT the way to execute it. It takes all remedial tasks from previous games and makes them 100000 times more remedial. How long until you want to shoot someone because you have to walk to footlocker to preview 10 shoes ( complete with try on shoe animations for 1 minute ) for near an hour?? Why not just focus on the basketball 2K!? The GP is better then 17, but not by much, and there are other areas directly related to BASKETBALL that you guys completely ignored to try and be "first" with this concept. Then, you release a game that appears to be about a month early.....Unbelievable man, but I am sticking with Switch 2K ( going NBA Live on PS4 ) since it is a robust and amazing port......or it will be, once its patched to a ship able state...If this happens again though, adios basketball on my Switch, until Live comes back to Nintendo Expand
  11. Sep 19, 2017
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This port is so glitch, few online player and have worse visual compared to other plataforms. Playing during travel could be nice, but the battery life avoids me playing more. Very upset Expand
  12. Sep 26, 2017
    7
    Los de Take-two han logrado hacer un port en condiciones del NBA 2k18, sinceramente para ser un juego de baloncesto que puede llevarse portátil no se nota una gran diferencia con las versiones de consolas de sobremesa.
    Si se trabaja en la consola híbrida se pueden lograr grandes cosas, ojalá Electronic Arts aprendiera algo de como hacer buenos ports.
    Sin embargo hay algo que se carga los
    Los de Take-two han logrado hacer un port en condiciones del NBA 2k18, sinceramente para ser un juego de baloncesto que puede llevarse portátil no se nota una gran diferencia con las versiones de consolas de sobremesa.
    Si se trabaja en la consola híbrida se pueden lograr grandes cosas, ojalá Electronic Arts aprendiera algo de como hacer buenos ports.
    Sin embargo hay algo que se carga los buenos juegos y ese algo son las políticas abusivas y en ese aspecto NBA 2k18 peca de agregar micropagos necesarios para tener una experiencia jugablemente digna.
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  13. Sep 15, 2017
    10
    Excellent port that has the only caveat of being locked at 30fps other than that and the 720p portable resolution it is an amazing, feature complete 2k title, a great addition to the current roster of games on the switch which is quickly becoming the real pleasant surprise of 2017
  14. Sep 16, 2017
    9
    Other than the fps I think this is a great port of this series. I primarily bought this game on my Switch rather than my Xbox One because of the portability playing with my friends at the park or lunchroom at the school with 2 separate joycon controllers is going to be awesome.
  15. Sep 20, 2017
    1
    One of the worst ports I've ever played. It seems like they didn't make any adjustments to make it work for the switch platform.
    The game suffers from amazingly long loading times. Horrible frame rate, especially in the cutscenes during myCareer mode which you can not skip (it is so bad, that the audio loses sync from the video after 5 seconds and then you have to watch 10 minutes of
    One of the worst ports I've ever played. It seems like they didn't make any adjustments to make it work for the switch platform.
    The game suffers from amazingly long loading times. Horrible frame rate, especially in the cutscenes during myCareer mode which you can not skip (it is so bad, that the audio loses sync from the video after 5 seconds and then you have to watch 10 minutes of slow-motion cutscene without sound). If you decide to put the switch into sleep mode when in-game when you log back in, the game kicks you out from the mode you were in, because it can't connect back to the server (and in many times you have to watch the last cutscene you watched all over again). Tons of connection problems when you try to play against another player.

    The only good thing is when you finally manage to enter a game (after a lot of frustrations and rage quits during the loading times and cutscenes), it plays pretty well (other than the lock for 30 fps which is pretty big in a sports game).

    Overall, if you have a ps4 or an Xbox, don't buy the switch version or at least wait a couple of months that they'll hopefully update the game.
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  16. Oct 13, 2017
    0
    Es un abuso de las empresas poner micropagos para todo. Se fijan en los usuarios que no se informan por x motivos que aun son miles. El próximo juego vendrá con otra aberración más.

    In English:
    It is an abuse of companies to put micropayments for everything. They focus on users who are not informed by x reasons that are still thousands. The next game will come with another aberration.
  17. Sep 17, 2017
    5
    Was really excited to play 2k on the road, but while the games are fun and look good, there's a lot of bugs and the fact that you can't put it in sleep mode and come back is a crime
  18. Sep 22, 2017
    0
    When I payed for a full priced triple A game, I did not expect to be hit with the fact the game has more micro transactions than my mobile games, to add insult to injury, 2K is removing tons of fair reviews of the game to try and boost up their metacritic review. Its really a shame as the gameplay was fun and I would have loved a portable sports game. Buying this game at the current stateWhen I payed for a full priced triple A game, I did not expect to be hit with the fact the game has more micro transactions than my mobile games, to add insult to injury, 2K is removing tons of fair reviews of the game to try and boost up their metacritic review. Its really a shame as the gameplay was fun and I would have loved a portable sports game. Buying this game at the current state is agreeing to the shadiest business practice in a long time, if you are truly a fan of NBA2K and games in general, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME or this will be what NBA2K looks like many years down the road. Expand
  19. Sep 19, 2017
    1
    This is the absolute worst game I have ever played. The graphics look like NBA 2k10. The game plays like NBA Live 2001. The game modes are too confusing and it feels like a maze trying to navigate through it. I hate everything about this game. I wish I had my $60 back so I could get it for PS4 and at least enjoy it a little more.
  20. Sep 19, 2017
    0
    Definitely, the size is the main issue about this game. Switch will suffer during all its life cycle because of storage. The looks ok (not better than xone S or PS4 pro version).
  21. Sep 19, 2017
    0
    the day has come. NBA 2K plays great on switch, but size matters... SD cards is now becoming an issue. Others plataforms have hard drive. And Playstation 4 pro version look way better
  22. Sep 17, 2017
    4
    When I first fired this game up I was blown away by the graphics. Super crisp, not fuzzy at all. I fired up the My Career mode first and had a blast....until...THE FPS DIPS, hence my low score. My Career is unplayable unless you like being extremely frustrated. The FPS during cut scenes takes a nose dive and all you're left with is a volumless (oh yeah, the volume disappears too) jankyWhen I first fired this game up I was blown away by the graphics. Super crisp, not fuzzy at all. I fired up the My Career mode first and had a blast....until...THE FPS DIPS, hence my low score. My Career is unplayable unless you like being extremely frustrated. The FPS during cut scenes takes a nose dive and all you're left with is a volumless (oh yeah, the volume disappears too) janky mess. The server failures are also extremely annoying. It seems like they still have tons of bugs to work out on the switch version. I would hold off on buying for now unless you have no intention on playing My Career. As far as i can tell, the rest of the modes are unaffected. Expand
  23. Sep 16, 2017
    9
    Been playing NBA2K since dreamcast days and this game is a joy to play. I have not played a 2K game since 2K13 and it wasn't as good as my NBA 2K6-9 experiences on the ps3 but was better than 2k10 which was the second to last 2K game I played before this. That set things feel good but I would like doing crossovers and drives to the basket easier and shooting should be easier. It feelsBeen playing NBA2K since dreamcast days and this game is a joy to play. I have not played a 2K game since 2K13 and it wasn't as good as my NBA 2K6-9 experiences on the ps3 but was better than 2k10 which was the second to last 2K game I played before this. That set things feel good but I would like doing crossovers and drives to the basket easier and shooting should be easier. It feels purposely difficult for like pro esport potential which I am not into. 2K TV is not playing properly either and it took 20 hours to download are the main issues keeping this from being a 10. Also, I got the Gold edition, I want a gold themed thumbnail for the switch home screen and a gold themed main page when the game starts, with like Shaq.(and a code to get a Rodman themed main page to troll Shaq) but this game is sick, looking forward to having to travel and having this on call for when I get bored on a plane or in an airport. Expand
  24. Sep 26, 2017
    8
    Totally recommended as sports game for the Switch. Great gameplay and technical section. 30 fps are mostly solid and the sense of realism is well achieved during matches. All of other versions content, except the compatibility with the companion mobile app. Only a few bugs in the unskippable My career cinematics that turn this mode into a headache and the excessive reliance on online inTotally recommended as sports game for the Switch. Great gameplay and technical section. 30 fps are mostly solid and the sense of realism is well achieved during matches. All of other versions content, except the compatibility with the companion mobile app. Only a few bugs in the unskippable My career cinematics that turn this mode into a headache and the excessive reliance on online in several of the modes, take away this game from the best score. Expand
  25. Oct 7, 2017
    3
    Everything is wrong with this trash ass game. It's boring asf and not fun to play and everything is so **** expensive. Dribbling is stiff, shooting is ass, missing open layups, game freezes, lagouts. Server's are the **** worst. Most money hungry **** game and worst than nba2k17.
  26. Sep 17, 2017
    2
    Was super excited to play 2k on the switch wherever i wanted to, but the port is rushed and buggy. The first problem with 2k is its size, the download is 22.5 GB! For perspective zelda is less than 8, mario vs rabbids is 1.8, and mario odyssey is only 5.5 GBs. And since nintendo moved up the release date random as hell, good luck finding a physical copy yet. Now the start of the game wasWas super excited to play 2k on the switch wherever i wanted to, but the port is rushed and buggy. The first problem with 2k is its size, the download is 22.5 GB! For perspective zelda is less than 8, mario vs rabbids is 1.8, and mario odyssey is only 5.5 GBs. And since nintendo moved up the release date random as hell, good luck finding a physical copy yet. Now the start of the game was fine, I started myplayer, made my dude, and played through the intro just fine. But about 30 minutes in the cut scenes become unbearable. The animation runs at half speed, while the audio runs regularly, so you're left watching 30 seconds of slow motion silence every cut scene. These are unskippable cut scenes btw. So i went to MyGM, which was pretty fun for the ten or so hours i played it, until i hit a game breaking bug. When the owners son told me about the team moving to Seattle , I chose to lash out, and then got a loading screen of death. Every time i start the save now, i get a loading screen that never ends. I have more criticism of the actual game, which i still enjoy playing, but all the bugs and unplayable single player modes take precedent. Expand
  27. Oct 6, 2017
    10
    Absolutely amazing port. Why I purchased this game for PS4 Pro, Xbox One, and the Switch, is a long story which I won't go into now. Though the important piece of information is, that after trying them all. The Switch version is the version in which I will be spending all of my time. No the graphics aren't quite up to par with the other systems, but it's portability, and similar breadth ofAbsolutely amazing port. Why I purchased this game for PS4 Pro, Xbox One, and the Switch, is a long story which I won't go into now. Though the important piece of information is, that after trying them all. The Switch version is the version in which I will be spending all of my time. No the graphics aren't quite up to par with the other systems, but it's portability, and similar breadth of scope as the other consoles makes it the winner for me.

    Update: This was already my favorite version, minus the horrible delay during the locker room cut scene. But with patch 3 , not only did they fix the cut-scene lag, the rest of the game runs buttery smooth. My park plays 100% better even. I seriously hope people update their reviews, because as things stand, this will probably be the best and only mobile nba2k we see on a handheld in a loooooong time. The fact that this is nearly feature complete compared to the other consoles and it runs as well as it does, I'm REALLY hoping to see more next year. Thank you Take Two! This is an amazing game, and bringing it to this platform takes it to a whole new level.

    As for those experiencing problems with cut-scenes, please be sure you power off your Switch all the way (not sleep mode) then turn it back on before playing following the download of the game. This will clear up 80% of performance issues.

    P.S. Please any of you who are rating the game based on performance, PLEASE consider updating your review. It's clear that Take Two put a lot of love into making this THE GAME to have for Switch owners.. Let's help ensure they do it again.
    Best port, way to go 2k sports!
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  28. Sep 21, 2017
    2
    2/10 score b/c the game has a good soundtrack, other than that there is nothing that I like about this game. First let me start out by saying all in all it is between 28-29 GB of total necessary storage space for this game. A Nintendo Switch only has 32 GB of internal storage, so b/c of this you are required to have an SD card to play this game. My second gripe is that this game locks at2/10 score b/c the game has a good soundtrack, other than that there is nothing that I like about this game. First let me start out by saying all in all it is between 28-29 GB of total necessary storage space for this game. A Nintendo Switch only has 32 GB of internal storage, so b/c of this you are required to have an SD card to play this game. My second gripe is that this game locks at 30 FPS on the Nintendo Switch. This is UNACCEPTABLE for a game released in the year 2017. The low FPS is clearly reflected in the fluidity of game play. This alone makes me never want to play this game again. Hitting the shot meter on time is so difficult at half of a normal framerate. Passing feels slightly delayed and defense is no longer fun to play. Lastly, the greed of 2K studios is pitiful...Microtransactions EVERYWHERE!! Don't even bother playing myCareer if you're not going to spend an extra $100 on their Virtual Currency, as it won't be worth the grind. To merely get your player to an 80 overall rating will take you hundreds and hundreds of hours of grinding, and if you decide to spend your VC on customization, it'll take even longer. Don't bother buying this game, spend your $60 on FIFA as it'll be the first major sports release for Switch that will actually run at 60 FPS. Expand
  29. Sep 25, 2017
    8
    Great game. Gameplay is fun and varied and there's a ton of replay value here. The grind for virtual currency is hard and annoying, but feels rewarding when your player starts improving. It takes awhile for that to happen that that is an issue because the game is pretty much pushing you to purchase VC. It isn't like other games with currency (Hearthstone) where you don't feel the needGreat game. Gameplay is fun and varied and there's a ton of replay value here. The grind for virtual currency is hard and annoying, but feels rewarding when your player starts improving. It takes awhile for that to happen that that is an issue because the game is pretty much pushing you to purchase VC. It isn't like other games with currency (Hearthstone) where you don't feel the need to purchase to progress. Presentation is probably my favorite thing about the game. Announcers are so talkative. It feels real. You really feel like you're watching a live telecast of a basketball game.

    Music is good. I'm a old Bulls fan and I love that they have the Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project song in the game. Graphics are missing cloth physics and sweat effects from the other home consoles, but everything else is in. Feature wise it has all of the features from the console versions included. I'm so use to portable games getting getting diluted in some way. For the switch version, I do not notice the 30 frames per second.

    There are some very apparent things 2k Games needs to address: There are currently some audio popping glitches (switch) which thankfully do not happen during gameplay, sleep mode disconnections (switch), and myplayer file corruption (effecting the console versions as well). Once these issues are patched up this will be a better game for me. Having this game in portable form is great and being able to play with someone on the go at all times is the cherry on top.

    This is the best portable basketball game to date. Highly recommended.
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  30. Sep 29, 2017
    8
    Great game but fps where are you??

    Pros:

    Excelent graphics similar ps4/xb1
    Players movements equaly ps4/xb1
    Great playlist after nba 2k13
    Have all modes of play

    Cons:

    Poor frame rate
    No quick play online with friend (they do in the park)
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Nov 2, 2017
    80
    As part of a wave of sports sims to be hitting the Switch right now, it's once again a great time to be a sports fan who just plays Nintendo systems, like me. Just like FIFA, WWE and the like, NBA's absence has been sorely felt by Nintendo fans, so you ought to go out and add this stellar entry to your shelves.
  2. Oct 12, 2017
    70
    Teased as a prime title for the demographic aimed at in the Nintendo Switch reveal trailer, NBA 2K18 achieves that goal of serviceable console play in the portable space, but with notable compromises. Questionable micro-transaction placement and downloadable requirements aside, NBA 2K18 is the truly authentic basketball experience, and a strong sign of things to come.
  3. Oct 12, 2017
    78
    Unlike with FIFA 18 you’ll get an almost complete package with NBA 2K18. Visually of course scaled down and with the “Neighborhood” as well as the story career confined to an online environment, Visual Concepts did their best to port the best basketball game on Nintendo’s hybrid system.