REVIEW : NBA 2K22 (PS5)
The visuals are so beautiful and colourful, gushing about NBA 2K’s presentation is almost unnecessary at this point. Some player animations might look unsteady, or players would phase into each other now and then during timeouts or game breaks, but these never carried over into actual matches.
The animations are still clear and crisp, and the courtside acoustics are spot on. Even if the 3D audio can’t help much from courtside, the squeaking of sneakers and that satisfying swish sound from netting a shot make you feel perfectly at home on NBA 2K22’s court.
Aside from that, the soundtrack features a wide range of music, the majority of which are upbeat, with enough customizability to let you pick and choose what you want to listen to in your playlist. The commentary leaves a lot to be desired since they frequently repeat themselves, yet some of the unique remarks they make during games provide a nice touch now and again.
From last year, haptic feedback has made a logical evolution. NBA 2K22 regulates the vibrations based on what you accomplish on the field rather than providing violent, resistant feedback. For example, when you place your left hand on a player, the left haptic system is activated. This works quite well because you can keep an eye on the ball while keeping track of your opponent.
Playing In Other Ways
For me, the most significant difference is how NBA 2K22 requires you to approach the game’s fundamentals. We had more leeway and forbearance last year when it came to making little errors. But, even when I become upset after making stupid mistakes, this year demands discipline, and I live for it.
I was hesitant to shoot with the right joystick controls in NBA 2K22. On the other hand, the game forces you into training sessions where you must use posts and fake shots, which the right joystick makes easy. Slight flicks in various directions cause a faux step or shot to appear in that direction, which can subsequently be moved into a shot. The game compelled me to experiment with joystick controls, and now I want to master them.
The Old Two Forward – One Backward Dance
This year, getting out of position is a death sentence. If you’re caught out of position, your opponent will almost always make their shot, including three-pointers, especially in the NBA. This is true in both directions. When you take a wide-open shot, the game gives you greater leeway in terms of timing. When someone is standing in your grill, on the other hand, you must time your shot exactly, or you will miss every time.
The disadvantage of this is something Madden does from time to time, which I refer to as “cascading momentum.” When a team executes well on both sides of the ball, it clicks and plays higher than usual, leaving the other team cold and faltering.
Same Old, Same Old
NBA 2K21’s MyWNBA mode is essentially the same as NBA 2K21’s. MyWNBA, like MyNBA, has a full franchise mode where you may start your club at the beginning of the season or even in the playoffs and control it throughout. At the very least, copying and pasting this game mode in both MyNBA and MyWNBA is a type of give-and-take.
Customized scenarios that players develop and post to the server for these two game types are one of the game’s standout features. Set up something insane, like coming back from a 20-point deficit, and make it public for others to try. Although the benefits are limited to simply completing the task and a few team experience points, it adds to the game’s CV.
The card game variants make the most money for annualized sports titles right now, but not every game has a user-friendly mode. For example, you can play any mode you choose in MLB The Show while still earning credits for card-based gaming. NBA 2K22 provides something similar to some extent, allowing you to earn credits that may be used to purchase card packs (as well as customization options for your custom player).
Fouled-Up Choice
Before I sign off, I’d like to talk about how 2K handles the WNBA. Although the NBA and WNBA are distinct leagues, streetball is worldwide, and The City is supposed to be about meeting up with random people on the street and shooting hoops. Unfortunately, despite the presence of female NPCs, The City only enables male players to enter.
Separate paths for these two genders might be included in the City while keeping the mode’s execution the same. This technique is made possible by the way The City’s tale unfolds. You never witness the finer points of getting drafted or some of the more specific logistics, as the show focuses on the human relationships on the ground rather than the backend minutiae.
Your character also begins out as an influencer on social media and streaming, which is a platform that almost everyone now uses to put themselves out there.
To emphasize this point, in NBA 2K22’s WNBA mode, your WNBA team competes against NBA teams. Why not bring that level of honesty to the centre stage game mode, which already includes WNBA vs. NBA players? For the time being, the tagline “Anyone, anywhere can hoop” has an asterisk next to it.