Get ready for the new Basketball season, along with NBA 2K23.
We have entered that period, and it’s a good reason for Basketball fans, as well as gamers around the world, to be very excited. No, it isn’t the return of the NBA season. Although, that will be happening soon. But it is something that will prepare us all for the new NBA season that will occur next week. Even though it will be the pre-season, it’s still something that will get us amped. But it is a long-running franchise that has dramatically impacted the gaming community.
Especially in recent years. The growth of NBA 2K games has increased over the years and is also one of the most anticipated sports franchises right now. Based on the impact the franchise has made, you can understand why. We even had renowned and very respected rapper J Cole recently announcing on social media that he is one of the four different cover stars for the game and had expressed his sincerest gratitude and happiness for this achievement. Might I add, it is an attractive cover.
This goes without saying, but NBA 2K games have improved recently in terms of gameplay and content overall. This is great to see because some fans complained that some aspects of the games seemed repetitive. Yes, that included the gameplay. I could somewhat see where they’re coming from because it’s almost as if the developer was just reskinning them and just added a few features, hoping doing these would get them by.
But now that has changed, and they had included significantly more changes, which in turn made the franchise fresher. NBA 2K22 was a very good game. Hopefully, with the latest instalment NBA 2K23, they had kept the same energy by making this one an even better game. Especially with all the hype and coverage, this game had gotten.
NBA 2K23 had done just that. They have improved many parts of the game, and the content is no different. Starting is, of course, the return of the Michael Jordan Challenge. Over a decade since we had this mode, but it’s great to see it make its way into the franchise again. Of course, with this mode, players are able to relive and recreate the GOAT’s greatest moments of his career. Plus, experiencing era replicated gameplays, visuals, and representations. Whenever you are playing this mode, you may as well call yourself Michael Jordan.
MyNBA Eras has also gotten a little change. This year, you can go back and play as far as 1983 in NBA history. You can take some of the most iconic players and put them in your chosen teams. Michael Jordan to the Celtics? Or perhaps you would like Kobe Bryant to the Suns? Or maybe even Larry Bird to the Lakers? Whatever makes you happy, go with it. Or you could enjoy playing the modern era, which is sort of like MyGM mode.
In MyPlayer mode, usually, you enter a story mode, and you will create your character and improve him, and your aim is for your player to be the best, right? Well, this season, you are rivalled with Shep Owens, and you will be competing against him. Plus, there are cameos from celebrities, such as the rapper, Bas.
However, the story’s concept isn’t much different than any other career mode in sports games I have played in recent years, and it seems somewhat cliché. The cutscenes are nice to watch though. Let’s not forget that the game has stuck with the WNBA section, which has five cool game modes that will surely keep the WNBA fans happy.
NBA 2K23’s gameplay has improved a lot. This is not an exaggeration. They had implemented a large number of improvements, and this is why I say that this is the most authentic experience you will experience in a basketball video game. If you notice, the shooting is more authentic than ever. The way players shoot, especially how certain players do it, is virtually identical to how they execute their real-life shots.
Plus, there is now an addition of shooting attributes. This means each shot, especially jump shots. Defensive immunity, released height, timing impact, and shot speed all have advanced metrics which will aid you in your offensive game. It is great to see that they have finally added this important feature, as this will particularly help gamers who aren’t too great at the game. If you think that’s nifty, then check this. They have also improved shot meters and how you receive feedback is a little different, which will lead to you somewhat being able to tell yourself how good your shot is.
There is now this adrenaline booster that helps you more than you can imagine. This little feature helps to prevent or, at the very least, reduce the occurrence of over-dribbling. This keeps the game flowing and makes the game more authentic. Not to mention the pro stick has improved, and your player’s ball handling and shooting are also better.
They have also improved on the defensive side of things. Because, just like your offense, your defensive game in NBA 2K23 needs to be sharp. And with the improvements of things such as steals, ball strips, and shot blocking, you won’t go wrong. And you can and will need to improve on these skills, especially when going up against teams with the improved A.I. system. It has gotten better in calculating your moves. Meaning you will need to play much smarter to beat them, which takes your NBA 2K experience to the next level.
NBA 2K23’s graphics are just about the same on current-gen consoles. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because the visuals were already stunning. The colours are vibrant, and some of the areas of the courts are photorealistic. Plus, the player’s models look very good. The animations, on the other hand, are noticeably better. We have the animations to thank for partly making the gameplay more realistic. There’s not much to say on NBA 2K23’s audio other than the sound effects are also the same and that the list of songs is decent.
NBA 2k23 has taken to the next level. The closest I have felt to experiencing real-life basketball games. It has all the elements which comfortably fit your play style. I am very impressed as to how they have improved almost every aspect of the game. This is the best NBA 2K game, without question. Although, a few updates would help address a few of the noticeable bugs and glitches, such as how the ball sometimes travels through players’ hands. Other than that, I strongly recommend you get this.
NBA 2K23 is available on PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5, Xbox ONE, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, macOS, iOS and Microsoft Windows. Also, follow our website for the latest video game reviews.
