Revue NBA 2K22
The NBA 2K franchise has seen incredible ups and downs. I guess the same can be said of all sports games, but Visual Concepts’ basketball series tends to be more scrutinized than the rest. Of course, most would say he probably earned that honor, thanks in large part to NBA 2K’s growing propensity for microtransactions. But it is also undeniable that for years the action on the ground itself has become obsolete. Or – in the worst case – the gameplay has even regressed.
Fortunately, 2022 and beyond are shaping up to be bright for NBA 2K. Visual Concepts has mostly delivered their best basketball game in years, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of this season has in store.
The focus this year on giving the player a greater level of control than ever before was immediately apparent, from my first warning. The dribbling has become a lot smoother this time around, mainly due to the speed at which the actions are performed. The bigger players authentically separate themselves from the rest of the pack in NBA 2K22, and their ability to pass defenders in the blink of an eye is portrayed in a much more accessible way.
Another giant step in the right direction is the improved shot counter. Now your shot counter gives real-time information based on how you handled the settings in a shot. If you are very guarded when shooting Denzel Valentine, your shot counter will be about as effective as a broken femur. If you’re wide open beyond the arc with Steph Curry, you’ll have seven days and six nights to perfectly time your three balls.
Everybody get up it’s time to snap now
Additionally, players are able to chain moves in ways that were not possible before. The Dekes can be combined, one after the other, to create some sensational level games that really stand out when looking at last year’s game. And since these moves are done with simple movements of the right stick, anyone willing to put in a little work will be handsomely rewarded. It’s the best that the 2K franchise has felt on the pitch in a long, long time.
Off the field, NBA 2K22 is no slouch either. There are plenty of modes to check out, with (in my opinion) the most notable of all, the new MyCareer. While taking the reins of a rising star, the new campaign puts you in critical decisions that change your career like never before. I don’t remember that there was ever a point in the history of a sports game that forced me to stop and think about the possible repercussions of my choices. But, here we are, with NBA 2K22.
However, the most exciting part of the new career has to be Visual Concept’s commitment to making the player truly feel like they’re living the life of a superstar. I won’t go into too much detail at the risk of spoiling too much, but becoming an entrepreneur and venturing into other avenues plays a big part in the history of NBA 2K22. Expect to participate in a whole host of extracurricular activities, like starting your own clothing line, once you’ve made a name for yourself.
Every year there seems to be a mountain of controversy surrounding microtransactions and their implementation – at this point – deeply rooted in the NBA 2K franchise. And given that there has been so much positive progress with 2K22, it pains me to say that things are no different this year. MyTeam, for example, dramatically improves its formula by taking the approach taken by MLB The Show to reward players for daily connections, historical challenges, specific team missions, and more. But it always comes down to who spends the most wins the most.
Keep in mind; This is the tip of the iceberg. It doesn’t look like you can take a step forward in NBA 2K22 without launching smacddab in a request for payment information. And at what point do the fans who stick with these games year after year stand up and say, “Listen, give us a game that doesn’t go out of date at the end of the year, and we’ll talk.” “
Perhaps this is wishful thinking. But the time is long past for those who devoted the most time to becoming the best, to really becoming the best. More than ever, I feel the stat differential between stars and scrubs. So, yes, the action on the pitch is better than it has been in years. Why do I have a looming, lingering, festering sense of fear for the future of the show?
Back to the future
It’s time for Visual Concepts and 2K Games to return to the drawing board with their microtransaction philosophy. At this point, it’s hard not to feel like they’re cheating on the player. Especially considering the exorbitant prices their premium versions cost. And it’s so frustrating not to love 2K22 as much as I do because behind every extra dollar that was asked of me was an excessively smooth compressed spin or jump back and forth to make me smile.
I love NBA 2K22. I wouldn’t say I like it enough to remortgage my house to play there.
*** A PS5 code has been provided by the publisher ***
