Not quite a slam dunk

The amount I know about basketball can be fit into a small gym bag. So, when the review code for NBA 2K22 came in I jumped on the opportunity to check it out. All kidding aside, I actually played a decent chunk of last year’s game and was curious as a non-basketball fan how the transition from year-to-year works for these games. I play Madden every year and am frustrated more often than not with its annual updates, so how does NBA 2K22 fare?

From a purely modes perspective, 2K22 is not that much different from last year’s game. The stable of modes still consist of MyCareer, MyLeague, MyTeam as well as quick play, blacktop, and WNBA modes. That is par for the course in sports games, it is really what is under the hood and the additions to these modes that make all the difference. I do note that the menus are still a bit cumbersome and confusing at first. For example, I should be able to hop into a quick game with a single button press, but instead I am met with a series of menus asking me what kind of quick game I want, which took some getting used to.

MSRP: $69.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

Let’s kick off with the game play portion. The shot meter has gotten a tweak and feels very different from last year. It still offers the option for timing or right stick flick, but the new variables really change it up. Shots are now based on a series of behind-the-scenes variables such as Shot IQ, fatigue, and positioning. It took me a couple games to adjust to the new features. After doing so though, it makes it feel more natural and makes more sense for anyone not accustomed to previous games. These are the types of updates I like to see in sports games.

The on-court action also feels more intuitive. Defense feels more streamlined, and offense gets easier to cycle through. For someone who doesn’t understand the mechanics and strategy of the game, I was still able to hop in and play with plenty of options to tweak difficulty on a per-type basis. So, if I struggled with defense or shooting inside the paint, I could adjust numbers down to that granular level to have a better experience. I wish it was more intuitive though with some minor descriptions of the vernacular within the game. I have no idea what a lot of this terminology even means.

Diving a little into each mode let’s start with MyCareer. This is the story mode where I got to take on the role of a social media star who makes their way into the NBA. These have been cheesy and eye-roll inducing for years and 2K22 is no different. I mean when the State Farm guy shows up you know things have gone wrong. I just do not enjoy this mode, much like I don’t enjoy the similar mode in Madden. It seems the MLB game is the only place where the rags to riches scenario feels solid.

The open world in this year’s MyCareer does have potential though. I enjoyed making my way around the city and picking up quests along the way. The number of things to unlock and equip are fun and there is definitely a solid experience brewing here. The city looks great on Series X even if the transitions are a bit clunky from time to time. I think with a year or two this could turn into something great. As it stands though it feels like a work in progress.

We can’t talk about a 2K game though without mentioning the microtransaction. The game is once again filled to the brim with ways to get players to spend money. What bothers me about these is that they are mostly quality of life purchases. For example, traversing around the city in the open world takes time, but for a handful of VC (the in-game currency) I could unlock a faster way to travel via a bike. This was real world money to make playing the game more streamlined. This is the kind of stuff that really bums me out about these games. Like XP boosters and in-game items. Sure, I can grind for them, but it takes so long that by the time I earned that much, I would no longer need the bike because I would be done with the game entirely.

Visually the game looks great. Playing on Series X last year was one of the best examples of the new consoles, and this year is no different. The player likeness is uncanny, and the courts look stellar. The presentation is still second-to-none putting Madden to shame on all fronts. The commentary is light years ahead of the competition and the cuts and slow-mo replays are simply jaw dropping at times. This is one gorgeous game.

NBA 2K22 has a few things that make this upgrade feel worthy. The new play mechanics are excellent, and it continues to excel on the presentation front. The microtransactions are still super gross and I wish some of the other modes such as Blacktop would get a proper overhaul as they are starting to feel dated. Still being the only NBA game in town it does upgrade nicely. I found myself deleting the old version to play this one, and not being a huge NBA fan that is saying something.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • New mechanics feel great
  • Open world has promise
  • Presentation remains stellar
Bad
  • Microtransactions continue to be predatory
  • Other modes need a refresh
7.5
Good
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.