2K has long been the premier basketball title for fans worldwide, and while the series was highly praised in the 2010s, the franchise took a step back in recent years.
Questionable changes to fundamental modes such as MyCareer and The Park hindered the game’s growth, and reluctance to add improvements to fan favorites like MyTeam and Franchise left fans sitting on the bench.
Now, NBA 2K23 has arrived, and 2K Games appears to be making strides to listen to its community and relay these concerns into the new title. While 2K23 isn’t perfect, there’s been some prominent changes that have elevated the series once again.
Buttery smooth gameplay combines with a stellar presentation
NBA 2K23 is a vast step in the right direction for the franchise, and a lot of this stems from the core gameplay and presentation changes made this year.
Starting with the former, handling the ball and executing dribble moves has been improved once again, and it doesn’t feel as clunky as it has in recent years. Players can dribble the ball in traffic without bouncing off invisible boundaries. Just like real life.
One smart change is the new shot meter, which steers away from the model 2K tried to implement last year. This iteration, however, sticks to the classic formula of making a shot, and it’s notably easier to execute mid-range and three-point shots thanks to the consistent feedback.
Furthermore, the gameplay and AI feel much more fluid than in years past — they react accordingly to certain plays and no longer just freeze when trying to run a pick and roll.
On the defensive ball, there have been some slight upgrades in terms of them recognizing set plays by the offense. But there are still the same issues of the AI freezing from time to time and leaving players wide open for easy shots. While this is obviously annoying, especially in tight scenarios late into games, it’s been improved compared to years past.
The overall presentation of NBA 2K23 is movie-esque, and you’ll notice this right away when you load it into MyCareer or other modes such as MyTeam. Walking out of the tunnel into a packed arena to participate in shoot-around feels thrilling and authentic, and the cutscenes with the Inside The NBA panel — and the newest one featuring Kendrick Perkins and J.J Reddick — are exceptional, adding another level of interaction between you and the game.
All in all, it feels as 2K is taking the necessary steps to propel NBA 2K back into the premier sporting titles where it once was.
MyCareer feels too much like an RPG
At first glance, this year’s MyPlayer storyline is one of the best we’ve encountered. The developer has toned down the melodrama and overdone narratives present in previous games, thankfully.
However, this is still where 2K is trying to do too much. In MyPlayer, you take on the life of a rising star and have to battle for fame against adversity, while jostling for glory against a rival called Shep Owens. The issue is, it’s hard to care. We’re here to play basketball, not listen to conversations about it. It’s way too talkative for its own good.
Visual Concepts is trying to make 2K an RPG, and this is evident within the in-game menus, as there are numerous quests you have to complete for your agent and publicist. They’re literally fetch quests too. Run from one side of the town to the other, talk to a person, then run back to the quest giver. I beg you, let me shoot some damn hoops.
You can’t even play a regular season game if you have outstanding quests to complete. Sorry, coach, count me out, I have to run across town and listen to an NPC reel off some dialogue.
MyNBA is better than ever
The game mode that has undoubtedly received the largest changes is MyNBA, the simulation game mode where you take control of a roster and craft it into a dynasty. For years, the game mode received little to no updates, and fans were disappointed with 2Ks attention being spent on other areas in the game.
Now, MyNBA has received plenty of updates in the last two iterations of NBA 2K, and this year’s update is the best we’ve seen in nearly a decade. Within NBA 2K23, when you’re beginning your franchise, you’ll have the option to select a starting era for your team.
With choices of ‘The Magic vs Bird Era,’ ‘The Jordan Era,’ ‘The Kobe Era,’ and ‘The Modern Era,’ you’ll be fully able to control any team at this point in history and reshape the course of the NBA within your game.
This is a unique experience, unlike anything we’ve seen in other sporting titles such as MLB The Show and Madden, and it adds levels to the immersion you’ll feel when managing your favorite team, no matter the era.
After years of frustration, it finally feels like the game mode is in a good place. A slam dunk.
MyTeam remains solid
The game mode that receives the most playtime during each 2K cycle is MyTeam, the ultimate team mode similar to MLB The Show’s Diamond Dynasty and FIFA Ultimate Team.
There isn’t much to offer compared to last year, but there have been some neat changes to how players unlock cards, and the seasonal content has never been better.
It’s always tricky to review this game mode on the game’s premier, as throughout the game’s cycle, it’ll receive an abundance of new cards and challenges for players to complete.
However, 2K has created a solid foundation once again, and we’re excited to see how it progresses throughout the year.
Verdict
NBA 2K23 aims to reinvigorate the series with strong improvements to the gameplay and presentation overall, and it succeeds in certain aspects.
There’s never been a smoother NBA 2K, and it truly feels like the perfect video game version of the beloved sport.
Improvements to MyNBA, The Park, and the new Jordan Challenges are among some of the best aspects of 2K23, and they’re all a joy to play.
However, trying to blend too many RPG aspects with MyCareer slightly holds it back as a package.
2K is taking the steps in the right direction with the series, and we’re eager to discover where this year’s content path takes players in the coming months.
Written by Nick Farrell on behalf of GLHF.
