Visual Concepts and 2K Games are back with the 24th installment of their long-running basketball simulation NBA 2K
Like its predecessors, NBA 2K23 is packed with content that offers endless hours of entertainment, but developers have included a slew of enhancements to keep everything fresh and competitive.
2K22 saw tweaks to its gameplay mechanics that rewarded smart team play and improved defensive options.
2K23 on the other hand feels like there is much more focus on the offensive side of things.
There are a heap of new inclusions such as the Upgraded Pro Stick which has streamlined shooting and ball handling by introducing new combo gestures.
Players will now be able to perform what they want with a lot more accuracy, which in turn improves the authenticity of the overall experience.
2K23 also introduces a new feature called Adrenaline Boosts, which grants the player in possession three boosts while they have the ball.
These boosts will allow players to sprint or perform a dribble combo. This new feature is fully welcomed as it stops players from using one player to dominate the court sprinting all over the place.
Introducing this function emphasises smarter team play by forcing players to utilise their teammates better than before.
This also adds to the authenticity of the game as the player's knowledge of basketball tactics will become more relevant than ever.
Shooting has also seen a massive overhaul which really captures the shooter's actual abilities, for instance, each jump shot will have a unique stat that will determine its effectiveness.
This once again prevents players from being able to score 3-pointers freely with certain basketball players.
Defensive gameplay has also seen a massive overhaul, especially the A.I. controlled basketball players, who work much harder than before.
They are a lot more effective at guarding the ball handler, getting around screens, and sticking to players with the ball.
They can sometimes be a little slow to react but generally adapt well to the game's change in flow.
All these updates plus the tweaks in 2K23’s defensive gameplay make this the most authentic game in the series.
2K23 returns with the series legacy modes such as MyCareer, The W, MyTeam, MyNBA, and The City.
But amongst these modes, this year's iteration sees the return of The Jordan Challenge which allows players to participate in different challenges based on Michael Jordan's career.
This mode is fantastic as it allows fans of the six-time NBA champion to relive his greatest moments from North Carolina to his final days at the Bulls.
2K have given this mode a similar treatment to WWE 2K22’s Rey Mysterio’s showcase. The level of authenticity is outstanding from the accurate broadcast graphics to the team's kit, it really is fantastic.
Each challenge is nicely packaged with interviews with famous faces and the challenges themselves put players in situations to recreate legendary scenarios.
But what I found even more fantastic was how the style of play changed to match the era.
Fans of the sport will really appreciate the level of dedication to not only include an entertaining new mode but one that offers an extra level of challenge.
MyCareer mode returns bigger than ever where players will take control of another rising star trying to prove themselves after the NBA draft.
Players will once again have to balance their basketball career with other aspects of life.
However, there is more emphasis on music this time around with Rap artists such as J.Cole and Bas making an appearance.
The main problem with MyCareer is the heavy emphasis on microtransactions that are forced on players to improve their character.
Players will be able to earn the virtual currency through matches and other activities but it can be a long slog.
What’s even more frustrating is that players will need to use the same virtual currency to increase their character's attributes and buy new gear.
MyCareer’s experience will be dictated by how much players are willing to spend to get that extra currency, as the game poorly rewards players who are willing to grind for it.
This automatically puts players who aren’t willing to pay at a massive disadvantage during online matches.
But NBA 2K23 does offer other modes that allow players to take advantage of the excellent gameplay without having to worry about microtransactions.
For instance, The W mode has been fleshed out with additional features to help expand the WNBA’s gaming community.
Or the new iteration of the MyNBA mode which lets players take part in ‘what if’ matches from different eras.
This mode allows players to play in some of the best eras of basketball, even being able to tweak the gameplay to match that time period.
The attention to detail here is phenomenal, offering basketball fans a unique experience.
Verdict 4 / 5
Visual Concepts and 2K’s clever enhancements to NBA 2K23 allow for the most authentic experience to date.
The attention to detail in regards to design and gameplay is an outstanding elevation to the overall experience.
The game does still suffer heavily from an expensive microtransaction problem that can make the MyCareer mode unplayable for some.
That being said, there is a wide variety of modes that will allow players of the sport to simply enjoy basketball without getting drowned in heavy grinding for superficial rewards.
NBA 2K23 is out now Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
