It has again come to that time of year when another entry into the NBA 2K slam-dunks franchise on our consoles. Yes, it’s sometimes hard to generate much excitement for these annual installments, and it’s easy to dismiss them as just another update that looks and plays almost identically to the previous season’s effort. However, NBA 2K23 is worth jazzing up a bit more than usual, as it combines a great new Michael Jordan Challenge mode with, what we think, is the best on-court action we’ve seen in the series. so far, though this Switch port has had to make a few cuts here and there.
Let’s start with this new Michael Jordan Challenge mode, which looks like a fully fleshed out and reward-rich part of the game. Here you’ll take part in 15 specific challenges based on events from across GM’s entire career, each of them laid out in great detail, with game-specific stages, kits, commentary and screen filters. era which give the whole a deliciously aged appearance. see. It’s not a throwaway mode, it’s a complete bite-sized history lesson that truly brings MJ’s early career and NBA greatest moments to life.
Unfortunately on Switch – as well as PS4 and Xbox One – the all-new MyNBA Eras mode hasn’t made the jump from the flashy next-gen versions of the game, so we’re missing out on a whole lot of fun retro action from all eras. Magic, Jordan and Kobe. It’s such a shame that this main content had to be cut, but it seems like it’s just a step too far for older consoles to handle. We guess there must be a time when the next generation of hardware pulls away, and it certainly feels like that time when it comes to NBA 2K.
In more positive news, MyTeam – our go-to mode – is seeing a host of improvements in 2K23, including the removal of the game’s annoying player contract system and the introduction of the excellent Clutch Time as one of the main ways to earn those VC points and improve your team. Getting rid of Contracts was a widely requested change over the past few years, and honestly, it’s so good not to have to play through menus every game to make sure your players are ready.
The MyPlayer part of the game has also seen some big changes this year but, unfortunately, that’s another area of NBA 2K23 where the Switch loses out. Where new consoles get a vastly improved “town” to skateboard in, we have to accept a watered down GOAT Boat neighborhood instead. The story here, which sees you go up against another rookie called Shep Owens, survives the cut, but it’s yet another sign that last-gen consoles are struggling to keep up as the best parts of the MyPlayer experience of this year were thrown here .
On the court itself, NBA 2K23 has seen improvements across the board. The shot meter is easier to read – it can be tinkered with if you don’t gel 100% with its default setting – and matches have a slower pace that gives the action a more open and focused flow. You have more wiggle room, pass the ball, and have time to build while shooting at the net. There are also new dunk controls that allow for more flexibility in how you show up on close-ups, improved animations and physics, and improved AI that makes opponents look sharper in single-player modes.
A lot of work has also been done on ‘shooting ratings’, with stronger offensive players feeling significantly more capable and capable of pulling some magic on the field in tight spots, while weaker shooters will have a lot more harm. You can no longer simply rely on bringing any former player into the limelight and then scoring points, regardless of the stats; this time around, you’ll need to plan your attacks and involve the best talents on your team to get the best results.
We’ve also found that post moves are easier – or maybe we should say more intuitive – to succeed in NBA 2K23. We’ve incorporated them into our overall game now, and MyTeam Challenges do a great job of teaching you the ins and outs of some fundamentals that will help improve the way you run your business in the field. In fact, from the moment you start this one, accessibility seems like something 2K has really focused on this year. You’ll get an overview of each mode and how it works, the basics are explained in detail for beginners, and the general flow of MyPlayer and MyTeam encourages you to challenge yourself and learn the basics more than ever. If you’re willing to put in the time, NBA 2K23 has a lot to teach you about the sport it simulates.
Of course, all is not perfect in the land of b-ball and, as expected, NBA 2K23 is a game heavily weighed down by microtransactions. If you’ve been playing the franchise for a while, this won’t come as a surprise, but newcomers should be aware that, especially in the MyPlayer mode, people who spend their real money are going to have a big advantage here – especially in the first few days and weeks – before those of us who get by have a chance to catch up.
In terms of the technical performance of the Switch port, it’s always impressive to see a sports game of this size running on Nintendo’s handheld console. For the most part, you’re looking at a solid 30fps across the board when out in the field. However, loading times can be excruciating at times, especially in the Michael Jordan Challenge mode. The graphics have also, understandably, taken a pretty big hit compared to other versions of the game, and things feel a bit cumbersome, slow, and inaccurate at times in action due to the frame rate halving. Another thing to note here is that 2K has once again blocked in-game screenshots on Switch – we used a capture card to grab some for this review – and, honestly, we don’t know why it did. the fact. Yes, there was a downgrade of the visuals, but that’s not the case ce bad guys.
Ultimately, all of that technical stuff is understandable and expected at this point, of course, and what you’re getting here is still a handheld version of NBA 2K23 that works pretty well and gives you a near-full-fat experience — bar NBA Eras and the City — which you’ll find on other consoles.
Overall, it’s been another solid year for NBA 2K. This time around, the on-court action feels noticeably improved over previous outings and this new Michael Jordan Challenge mode is a great addition to the proceedings. If you’ve enjoyed this series on Switch so far and can stomach the necessary cuts to content and graphical downgrades, you’ll find another eminently playable port here, though it sure does look like it could be one. of the last. of the series that manages to expand on our favorite portable console.
