It was therefore my expectation that writing this NBA 2K22 review would be a difficult experience for me. I was not let down in the least. I wasn't the least bit disappointed with the outcome. Those who are a part of the NBA 2K community are well aware that the people who are the most critical of each installment are also the ones who return first every year, which is well known in the NBA 2K community, and that this is true for each and every installment of the franchise. As a result, they have developed an annual tradition of churning out the same half-baked gameplay year after year, with a different number at the end of it, in order to appease their most ardent supporters, which is well-known in the business world. However, while NBA 2K22 is by no means a perfect game, I am pleased to report that the game represents a significant departure from the franchise's previous formula and, more importantly, a significant step forward for the entire franchise.
The fact that NBA 2K22 is unquestionably superior to the franchise's previous few installments doesn't matter how much our memories of previous NBA 2K games color our opinions (your favorite 2K is almost certainly the one on which you first started playing with your friends). Despite the fact that NBA 2K22 does not "reinvent the wheel" in the traditional sense, it does an excellent job of ensuring that the fundamentals of the game are understood and executed in the appropriate manner. It is not without flaws, but the most recent iteration of the game from developer Visual Concepts feels like some of the routine criticisms have finally been heard, resulting in the best basketball game we have seen in years, if not decades.
There are several reasons why NBA 2K22 Battle Pass by Visual Concepts is noteworthy, the most important of which is that the game's more skill-based gameplay feels significantly more realistic than its predecessor. In particular, the possibility of losing a game due to a last-second move from one baseline to another, as well as the algorithm deciding at random that your critical uncontested 3 should not be taken into consideration, appear to have been removed from consideration.
Having the haptic feedback provided by the DualSense makes it feel significantly more substantial when you're playing on the defensive end of the court, which is a significant advantage. When you press or hold any of the buttons on the keyboard, you will receive pushback in response. In part, this is due to the fact that you are backing down your opponents while simultaneously posting your opponents. Your controller's shoulder buttons may even tighten without your input when you switch to the position of a player who is defending against a more dominant opponent if you switch to that player's position while the game is still in progress. The importance of precision and timing has risen dramatically in recent years, particularly in the case of alley-oops and ball-handling, and there is an increasing number of new signature dribble moves to experiment with.
The actions of the defensive AI reveal that it is quite ruthless throughout the course of the game, as evidenced by the outcomes of its battles. Whenever all computer-based players are enabled on the court, it becomes nearly impossible to score because they move faster and are able to read the vast majority of the players much better than any human players present. Scoring on the court is virtually impossible when this feature is activated due to the use of computer-based players being used. The developers claim that the influx of new block animations is a lot of fun to use when on defense, despite the fact that it is currently unclear how the new shot contesting system will function in practice at this time.
A significant improvement has been made in the overall quality and enjoyment of the gameplay as a result of the addition of each and every new animation. While today's stars are different versions of themselves, they are also different versions of themselves. For example, Luka Doncic moves on offense in the same manner as Luka Doncic moves in real life, rather than in the same manner as any other type of generic point guard; and LeBron James is different versions of himself. Following the implementation of these game-changing enhancements, NBA 2K22 appears to be a completely different game, one that is well-suited for ushering in the Next Generation of basketball games.
To put it mildly, the new shot meter did not impress me in the slightest. For the most part, my first impressions of the place were unfavorable. Final verdict: my initial impressions of the game, that it was extremely stupid and overly-sized, were correct when I first opened and flipped through its pages. Fortunately, my assessment proved to be completely correct. In part due to the fact that I've spent a significant amount of time playing it, as is typical of all sporting video games, I've grown accustomed to it and have come to understand and appreciate the benefits of having more shot meters on the field. First and foremost, when it comes to game mechanics, it's important to note that it shrinks as your player's fatigue level increases, which is a unique perspective on that particular aspect of basketball when viewed from that perspective.