NBA 2K22 Review
Reviewing sports titles such as NBA 2K can be a bit tricky these days. For as massive as the community for this game is, people look forward to it every year for different reasons. For some, it’s all about the online component. Whether they’re grinding for badges in MyPlayer or unlocking card packs in MyTeam, thanks to the popularity of Twitch and YouTube, there’s an increasing percentage of 2K players that dive into these modes and stay there. But at the same time, there’s an old-school fanbase that prefers the offline features such as franchise and that will never touch those online modes.
Personally, the latter is the group that I fit into. And even though every year I tell myself that that’s the year that I’m finally going to sink my teeth into MyTeam and MyPlayer, it never works out. I just don’t get the appeal. So, for this review of NBA 2K22, I’m going to be focusing on the features that I come to NBA 2K for.
At this point, you already know whether NBA 2K22 is for you or not. If the microtransactions, invasive advertisements, and launch window glitches are a turnoff for you, well, 2K22 isn’t going to change your mind. (Though I do think that it’s worth noting that, server-wise, this seems to be the smoothest launch that I can recall an NBA 2K game having.)
The thing that I was most interested to see in NBA 2K22 was how the overall presentation improved. Last year, with the launch of the Xbox Series X and the Playstation 5, there weren’t many games that packed that “wow” factor quite like the next-gen version of NBA 2K21. While it didn’t look like those early trailers with Zion Williamson, it was a significant improvement over the current-gen versions. The power of the next-gen hardware brought better visuals, improved stadium atmospheres, and even a second play-by-play crew. Over the last year, I have spent more time with that next-gen version of NBA 2K21 than any other game – and it’s not even close. I was hoping that with another year of development that 2K22 would be even more impressive in those areas.
In that regard, I was disappointed.
Allie in 2K21 Allie in 2K22
For the most part, the presentation of NBA 2K22 is unchanged from its predecessor, but there are instances where it feels like a step backward. That’s a matter of personal preference, but, to me, the menus and the in-game overlays feel generic and lifeless when compared to last year’s game. There is also something about the lighting this year that feels off. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it seems brighter and, at times, does a disservice to the player models and uniforms. Speaking of which, while I can understand that 2K doesn’t have a lot of control when it comes to uniform options in the game due to NBA teams still waiting to unveil their City versions, it is frustrating to see so many players without updated scans. This is something that will likely change with a future patch, but I hate that that’s an acceptable excuse these days.
The main thing that keeps NBA 2K22 from feeling like nothing more than a roster update is the new shot meter. Every year we get a new shot meter and we all complain about it. However, this year has some of the most significant differences that we have seen in a long time. Instead of your shot meter having the same perfect release location, in 2K22, that location changes depending on skill, location, defensive coverage, and the player’s fatigue levels. It makes all the sense in the world, but it takes some getting used to. It looks like the days of me using Buddy Hield to score 50+ are over. I’d mastered Buddy’s shot meter and hot zones in previous games to become unstoppable. With this new shot meter, I play more like the actual Buddy Hield. Consistency is tough to come by and managing players’ minutes plays a role in whether you win or lose. No more shooting half-court shots with a tired-ass Trae Young. I hate it, but I also can appreciate the sense of realism that it offers.
If you’re like me and you come to NBA 2K22 for the MyNBA franchise mode, there’s no reason to run out and pick it up just yet. It’s still the best of any sports game out there, and while I do recommend picking it up at some point, there’s really no need to rush if you’re still content with 2K21. But if you’re like me and you cared enough to click on a review of NBA 2K22, we both know that’s not going to stop you. NBA 2K21 was a great game and, in time, 2K22 will be even better.
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