NBA 2K23 developer Visual Concepts has a basketball simulation slam dunk for newbies and die-hard NBA fans alike, though some of the game’s key features remain hidden behind a massive paywall.
Being a fan of sports games is often more frustrating than fun. Every year, just before every game is released, fans around the world, including myself, have to do a Jedi mind trick to themselves to believe that this is the year Madden, or the NHL, or FIFA will turn things around and it will take so long. Provide a really high quality entry.
In the realm of sports games that don’t justify their existence beyond a $70 roster update, NBA 2K is the only series out there, and the only one that isn’t used to expanding its player base like Groundhog Day series is disappointing.
In NBA 2K23, the developers at Visuals Concepts have gone above and beyond to create a truly great game that has something for everyone, new and old.
Important details about NBA 2K23
Developer: Visual Concepts Price: $59.99/$69.99 Release Date: September 9, 2022 Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Steam
No matter how much Visual Concepts tinkers and updates NBA 2K’s various game modes, gameplay will always be king. In NBA 2K23, the developers have done an excellent job of balancing fun and a realistic basketball experience, although there is still some tinkering to be done.
The biggest change in this year’s version is that every player now has a new adrenaline boost as well as their stamina bar. Each player has three adrenaline rushes that promote action on the field, such as: B. Attempting a steal, passing a defender, or jumping off a ricochet. The addition is to limit a player’s ability to endlessly dribble and swipe the ball dozens of times to keep the rim clean.
While this change is certainly a welcome addition, it’s hard to see why the developers gave each player three full-on adrenaline rushes, as it overbalanced the playing field. Why would LeBron James get as much improvement as the Kings bench? It’s hard to understand why every player in the game has the same amount of adrenaline.
Best of all, instant gaming feels much smoother than it has in years past. NBA 2K23 features some new touch layup and shot animations that make rushing to the rim more exciting even for less experienced players. Dynamic players now have additional left stick shooting animations to inspire creativity in basketball more than ever.
Jumpshots has been completely redesigned and the generic animations of the past are gone. Jumpers now have their own ratings for trigger height, trigger speed, defensive immunity and timing impact, adding real value to more popular jumpers like Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving. For MyPlayer, every jump shot is limited to size and rating requirements, meaning no random 7-footer can pull a curry sweater out of his pocket.
Improvements to the AI mean the computer will now double your best players more frequently and make more mid-game adjustments based on score. Playing offline most of the time in this review feels like subtle changes in the way the AI plays are making offline gaming more fun than it has been in years past.
MyNBA era shines
Every NBA 2K player has a mode they spend countless hours immersed in, and for me, one of those modes is MyNBA. As a complete sports geek and statistics nerd, I’ve always been obsessed with taking over any team, making all the decisions for the team, and playing games for them. As a Knicks fan, it was liberating to hand over the sneakers to owner James Dolan.
On this year’s show, Visual Concepts wrote a love letter to longtime NBA fans with the new MyNBA Eras. The mode introduces four different starting points from the past, where players can choose from Magic vs Bird era, Jordan era, Kobe era and Modern era. Each era begins at a pivotal moment in basketball history and places players at that precise moment to exert their will.
Epochs offers fully realistic vintage NBA seats and commentary, as well as vintage logos and uniforms. There’s even a filter that blurs the gameplay slightly to resemble the old broadcast, which can be toggled on and off. Player rosters and player salaries have been accurately reconstructed. The gameplay also turns back the clock, as basketball in the ’80s was dominated by big men with their backs to the rim, and 3-pointers were rare. The pace of the game has slowed down, which is a welcome change from modern games that play at lightning speed in transitions.
Each Eras run began to show a significant change in that position over the period. During the Magic-Bird era, the San Diego Clippers moved to Los Angeles and the Kansas City Kings moved to Sacramento. Over time, players can veto these types of changes to see what the league will look like, and playing NBA gods has proven to be incredibly addicting.
I took over the now-defunct Seattle SuperSonics during Magic vs. Bird and had a mediocre 1983 season. I played with Michael Jordan, Akeem Olajuwon (no “H”), Charles Barkley and John Stockton all the way to the 1984 NBA draft, which was probably the most tainted one in history. Then I took all my draft picks and grabbed Jordan first, then traded All-Star big man Jake Sikma and more for Olajuwon with the second pick.
Eras has been implemented in MyNBA to answer basketball’s biggest what-if stories, and it provides every count. I haven’t stopped playing Eras since the game was released, and I certainly won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Jordan Challenge returns
To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of this century, NBA 2K23 celebrates Michael Jordan’s colorful career and brings back the much-loved Jordan Challenge mode that debuted in NBA 2K11. Playing 15 big moments from Jordan’s career is both engrossing and entertaining, albeit roughly the same as the original version.
For new basketball fans, here’s a great history lesson on MJ’s greatest accomplishments, from winning the NCAA title game for North Carolina in 1982 to the decisive shot in the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. Step back in time, replay every moment and appreciate the attention to detail.
The challenges posed by each mode are also not a piece of cake, as Jordan is harder than it looks, as he turns, grabs a lot of rebounds and scores a lot, proving just how incredible his real skills are.
The money robbery continues
For many, the main purpose of playing NBA 2K is to discover the best MyPlayer builds and put them online and participate in ProAM, collect games, and more. While the experience is back, it will continue to be paid for. MyPlayer’s progress in collecting VC through the game is snail’s worth, completely beaten by simply buying VC and promoting your players to higher ratings.
It would take an absolutely ridiculous amount of time to get all the VCs a player needs to reach the top rating. Paying the full retail price of a game should not disqualify you from any modes that the game offers.
The same applies to the MyTeam mode, which returns in the same form as last year. MyTeam is the 2K version of Ultimate Team, and it plays the same way: make your way into a mediocre team, only to find yourself nearly crushed under the weight of other players throwing away their credit cards.
My professional feat. J Cole
MyCareer is back, completely revamped this year, with a story mode centered on a friendship with star rapper J. Cole. The accompanying story mode is a lot easier than a sports game’s equivalent, as the writing and voice acting actually gave me an insight into my players’ backstories and relationships.
Considering that I skip cutscenes instantly in all other sports games, and I choose not to do so in NBA 2K23, I’d say it’s a huge achievement, even if it’s not necessarily the highlight of the entire game for me.
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