There's no question that the king of basketball video games is the NBA 2K franchise. It has become so successful that it has wiped out the competition, with gaming series like NBA Live taking years off to regroup and still not being able to match up. Recently, the latest entry arrived in NBA 2K22.
Although it is the top basketball game available, that doesn't mean it's perfect. In fact, each year there are typically at least a few things that the games could do better. That's the case again with NBA 2K22, which has a fair share of issues but still, of course, got a lot right.
Needs Improvement: Too Many Microtransactions
It's arguably the biggest problem facing the video game industry today and it's present in NBA 2K22. Microtransactions infuriate gamers to no end. It's understandable for it to be used here or there but some games take it too far and ask you to pay extra for far too many aspects.
In NBA 2K22, you basically can't do much of note in modes like MyTeam or play in The City without having to spend some extra cash. It's tough to ask players to pay extra for so many little things after already taking their $60 for the game itself.
Gets Right: Presentation Is Nailed Again
For the most part, this series gets the gameplay right and has for a long time. However, an aspect that sometimes doesn't get talked about enough is the presentation. It's easily the best in any sports gaming franchise and once again, this installment nails almost every part of it, down to the soundtrack.
The commentary continues to be incredibly smooth, which is difficult to pull off given how fast-moving basketball is. It still manages to feel more natural and like a real broadcast than in games for slower sports like baseball or football. The graphics are also impressive, as are the pre-game shows and things like that. The only question mark is in the crowd reaction, which isn't always on point.
Needs Improvement: Some Animations Are Clunky
Despite the graphics being strong, gamers have noticed that a few animations do come across as clunky. While the developers managed to somewhat fix things like some of the age-old bump steals, other things are actually worse this time around.
It might be while you're running a fast break, it might be when you're trying to pull off a slick pass, or it might be when you collide with your defender but you'll notice things don't look nearly as smooth as they should, which might keep this installment out of the conversation for the best basketball game ever.
Gets Right: Improved Defense
One place where the game did need work was on the defensive side of the ball. Offense is what people get excited for, so it makes sense that the games have prioritized that in the past. This time around, it's clear that work has been done to improve things for those who like playing defense.
The most obvious change is that shot-blocking is now a huge difference-maker. In fact, some might say it's overpowered because some big men can just stop nearly every shot. You can also contest shots better than before and don't have to worry about the speed boost issue from the previous installment.
Needs Improvement: Some Legends Are Outdated
A major aspect that separates this gaming franchise from other sports ones is the inclusion of so many legends. There are classic teams spanning several decades, all-time rosters featuring the best players in each team's history, and that's more than any other game can offer.
However, some of these legends have clearly not been updated for a while. It might seem nitpicky but a few of these iconic players haven't had their renders worked on in quite some time, looking outdated and behind some of the more famous players.
Gets Right: MyCareer Feels Alive
Every sports game these days seems to have some take on the MyCareer experience. From Be A Pro in NHL to Road to the Show in MLB The Show, they see the gamer create a player and take them from the early days of their career towards a Hall of Fame run in the league.
MyCareer has been one of the best modes but it got stale over the past few years. Things are not bogged down by so many cinematics anymore, it feels like a more realistic career, and you can also join in on things like The City, which is basically a game in itself.
Needs Improvement: Immediate Server Issues
Along with microtransactions, this is another problem that gamers have with new releases. A lot of them will arrive and have instant problems. While most of the game itself in NBA 2K22 was fine, the servers were down the night it dropped.
That meant players couldn't do a lot of things that they wanted to. Some wanted to jump right into using the servers and instead had to sit around wasting time. Twitter was filled with posts of people sharing their frustrations with this and reminding everyone that this wasn't the first year it happened.
Gets Right: MyNBA Got Some Updates
For a lot of gamers, MyNBA is a fun mode that lets you totally have free reign for an entire league. It is a great idea but since adding in the ability to relocate and rebrand teams, there hasn't been much in the way of updates for it. That changes this year.
It's not anything as groundbreaking as relocating franchises but significant upgrades have come to managing your coaches and scouts with MyStaff. They've also improved the training system, which was typically a chore in prior years. It's again nothing massive but it's a step in the right direction.
Needs Improvement: The WNBA Feels Like An Afterthought
Adding the WNBA to the NBA 2K series was a huge deal and gave the talented ladies of the women's league a place to shine. On the court, it has worked out well with most games actually feeling different from the male counterparts, with more of a focus on fundamentals.
That being said, they still feel like a small part of the game. The W is a nice idea but it doesn't seem like it has nearly as much put into it as other modes and comes across as disappointing. When it comes to NBA 2K23, the WNBA side of things needs to become a bigger focal point.
Gets Right: Gameplay Feels More Realistic
It's not just the defense that got an upgrade in terms of gameplay. The entire game feels better for a handful of reasons. For one thing, everything just moves smoother outside of the aforementioned awkward animations you get from time to time.
The AI reacts to everything in a more realistic fashion, reading things like screens or cuts to the basket even while off the ball. The dribbling is also improved so guys like Kyrie Irving feel different to control than average ball handlers. Lastly, the new shot meter actually works really well.