After a somewhat disappointing trip last year, NBA 2K is back with a much stronger iteration in NBA 2K22. 2K22 shines the most on the court, which is the essential part, but also suffers from unnecessarily bloated hubs in its most popular mode of MyCareer. The W also feels more like an afterthought than a full-fledged mode, but at least with the improvements to the graphics and gameplay, the mode still feels comfortable. Thankfully, there are plenty of things for fans to do in MyCareer, MyTeam, and the detailed League and GM modes that offset the drawbacks in The City on current generation consoles and The Neighborhood on last generation consoles.
At its core it is about the question of how well an entry is in the NBA 2K Franchise is how good it feels to play a basketball game. Fortunately, despite the long wait for the gameplay reveal, be it an NBA game in MyCareer, a pickup game in the Hubs, or a domination match in MyTeam, the gameplay in 2K22 feels more detailed and pleasant than its predecessor. From subtle optimizations in stamina consumption to adjustments to the shot display to new badges in MyCareer and MyTeam, everything harmonizes with the breathtaking graphics with the 2K is known for creating something unforgettable.
As with the previous entries NBA 2K22 was looking for new additions to improve the player experience, such as adding new events to MyTeam, adding a new Season Quest feature to MyCareer, and introducing new activities for players to expand their brand in The City. Not all of the new features got their destination, and even with the additions to the MyCareer hubs, they still sometimes feel too big and empty. Nevertheless, there is still enough variety to this excursion from 2K to be busy for hours.
the 2K Series has kept adding non-basketball elements, like the Gatorade training facility, riding around on skateboards, or having a cup of coffee in The City. No matter how many strange elements are added, it always comes back to the place first and foremost. NBA 2K22 brings some very impressive improvements on this front in many ways. Dribbling moves now consume stamina faster, so players who attempted to break defenders with smooth grips every time they drive across the ground will run out of breath much faster. While this may be frustrating for fans who want to run dribbling ISO every game, it makes for a much more realistic gaming experience.
There’s certainly no shortage of highlights from Curry, Kyrie, or Harden, but most of the games in a given game make quick moves, shoot with the rhythm, and play in flux with the other players and the pace of the matchup. In this sense, 2k22‘s gameplay creates a more natural feel where performing a pick and roll or motion offensive creates more open spaces and simple buckets. This goes well with the new badges in MyCareer, MyTeam, and across the league roster for more intuitive gameplay. While fans can still make their player a top notch ball handler, they still have to work in the flow of offense to outdo each other. This, along with less sticky defense movements, more accurate animations for steals, and better block and rebound mechanics, make the battle between attack and defense more enjoyable.
This is especially true when playing online. Whether head-to-head modes in MyTeam, pickup games in The City or 5-on-5 in Rec, NBA 2K22 rewards players who can work together on both sides of the ball. Correctly setting up picks and changing tasks correctly or battling through screens can mean the difference between a monster jam and a missed basket. It holds up well against AI opponents, but sometimes with these changes the AI can be virtually unprotected on the first step. It doesn’t happen often, but when the moment comes it can be annoying.
It is impossible to a. to check 2K Game with no particular focus on MyCareer as it has been by far the most popular mode in many past iterations. NBA 2K22 brings several changes with less emphasis on the characters’ backstory, new ways to interact with The City, and new ways to build a brand. Instead of going through a lengthy story of a soccer player turned basketball star, players will instead be driven straight into their college games. The story is instead transmitted to the league with drama between the brass section, the coach and the player. While it doesn’t have great depth of character, it’s a narrative anyone can relate to, and regardless of the story, players can still start within 10-12 games if they turn up the minutes and play well.
In MyCareer’s NBA storyline, players must navigate their way through the world of modern sport and decide whether to keep silent about internal team issues or spread them on social media. This comes along with new features for building a brand off the pitch, from building a rap career to hanging out with Jake from the state farm to create an oddly immersive simulation. The amount of product placement with NBA 2K has always been substantial, and 2K22 has so much that it is weird at times. Oddly enough, today’s league reflects this even more naturally. Professional sports are filled with pre-game shows sponsored by one company, halftime shows sponsored by another, and post-game shows entirely different. It feels strange to have an NBA video game with the same treatment when it would still be better without it.
Most of the improvements on the course and extrajudicial activities in NBA 2K22 make for a lot of fun and replayability, especially the new seasonal quest features which give players ample incentive to play the different modes, especially head-to-head games. The only downside is the sheer size of the two hubs. Both The City on the current generation and The Neighborhood (a giant cruise ship) on the previous generation are full of activity. However, these activities also cover a completely unnecessarily large area. Even on a bike or skateboard, players spend almost as much time navigating The City as they do on basketball, and while the two hubs have at least attractive art styles, it still feels like a waste of time.
The fun in NBA 2K22 doesn’t stop at MyCareer. There are new tweaks to MyTeam, with a badge system that can be used on cards, similar to badges in the other modes of 2K to create an even wider variety of lineups and play styles. There are also changes to the Unlimited and Limited competition modes, a new draft mode and a revamped mode, The 100. Unfortunately, these modes all feel underdeveloped and don’t bring any new fun to the competition table. Also in these modes it is mainly the microtransactions that are involved NBA 2K22 really show.
While trying to jump into pickup games without spending any money in MyCareer can be daunting, the NBA games and practice can at least give this endeavor a quick boost if done right. In MyTeam, the lack of depth of the competitive modes makes it difficult to compete against other players who have spent money on packs, and makes the single player modes much more attractive. It is almost impossible to play a mode in a newer mode NBA 2K Play without getting into microtransactions, and 2K22 is no different. However, the franchise has now done so well that it has become almost a background noise for consistent gamers, proof that 2K just trained people to expect them.
Aside from the unfortunate microtransactions and bloated hubs, the only fundamental lows are the lackluster developments for MyLeague, MyGM, and The W. Each of these modes still play well, but it’s clear that they’re not in the foreground. 2K22 doesn’t offer much more than last year’s game to players who like these modes, aside from improved gameplay in case they hit the court. Despite its shortcomings, NBA 2K22 still ends up as a success for its demonstration on the court, if nothing else. The game feels smoother, more intuitive and really shines with the haptic feedback on PS5 that makes every move engaging. Creases may still need to be ironed, but the NBA 2K Ship is going full steam ahead in the right direction with the release of NBA-2K22.
NBA 2K22 is available for PS5, Xbox Series X / S, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch. Screen Rant has been granted access to PS5 and PS4 for the purpose of this review.
