NBA Bounce + GOAT DLC: (PS5) Review
If you’re looking for a young kiddo‑friendly hoops title, you might consider NBA Bounce a fun run for friends around 5–6 years old. Simplistic controls, easy‑to‑navigate menus, and an accessible character‑customization option power the title. Related, every mode except practice makes it easy for local friends to join in. Hence, NBA 2K this is not.
Playing this on a PS5, NBA Bounce resembles more of a mobile title… except with arguably overpriced DLC. The one reviewed featured the GOAT and Retro Party Pack add‑ons, respectively, which bring the complete package to around $40 USD. Thankfully, the core title was significantly reduced (from an astonishing $50 USD to $20 USD), making it a lot more palatable. Still, and at this price point, it’s a tad confounding how NBA Bounce doesn’t possess an NBA Players Association license, leaving you with only customizable kiddos and mascots (behind grindy unlock walls) to play. Courts are all sadly generic, even in the Retro pack (featuring old‑school, defunct teams and logos). In tandem, each character literally plays exactly the same, including the DLC. Nope, no leveling up anywhere.
While I do appreciate the inclusion of GOAT’s star athletes, they’re on the wrong teams by default, the size of players is off, and—again—there’s no individualism. All the players possess literally the same skill sets. Player expressions in both the base game and GOAT are static. Goats, peacocks, rhinos, and giraffes should not be the same size.
In action—and paraphrasing my 8‑year‑old son—NBA Bounce is “too easy.” Ramping up difficulty simply inserts more cheap steals and impossible shots made from the hinterlands. Gameplay mechanics offer literally zero strategic options.
Physics are very off. Rebounds are near impossible to track down, block shots feel funky, and 3‑pointers are semi‑automatic except on the highest difficulty levels. A really dumb Ian Eagle on play‑by‑play is a broken record, regularly declaring non‑“air balls” as such far too often and incorrectly.
None of NBA Bounce’s modes are truly interesting. Tournament is fighting against a rubber band to nowhere. I do appreciate the GOAT DLC featuring court types inspired by the titular movie, but it all feels over‑nerfed in a race to turbo‑spam back and forth.
Now, I fully recognize 2K impossible for our younger friends to pick up, but this is not the best path ahead. Even GOAT fanatics are apt to do a one and done, as did my son.
Final Thoughts
While NBA Bounce is certainly kid‑friendly, poor physics, subpar modes, lack of player diversity, and the absence of a proper license bring it down. The GOAT DLC does offer some laughs, but it’s a skin at most with some movie‑inspired courts. You’re better served with NBA Playgrounds on lower difficulty settings.
About the Author
Paul Stuart A gamer for over 30 years with 400+ reviews across four sites literally spanning the globe, Paul Stuart has an unhealthy obsession with Assassins Creed, God of War, and all things Lord of the Rings.
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