NBA 2K22 PS5 Review – Is It Worth It? While I was pumped for NBA 2K21 on the PS4 when it was released last year, the PS5 version left me cold.  Existing content became increasingly stretched out, resulting in a reduction in the integrity of that content.  The release of NBA 2K22 piqued my interest because I hoped that my issues with the previous game would be resolved with this one.  In some ways, this latest entry advances the ball; in other ways, it is content to remain on the sidelines.  

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Sights, sounds, and tactile sensations
Extolling the virtues of NBA 2K's presentation is almost redundant at this point, because the visuals are simply stunning and lifelike.  Occasionally, during timeouts or game breaks, some player animations would appear shaky or players would phase into each other, but these issues would never manifest themselves during actual matches.

The animations are still clean and crisp, and the courtside sounds are exactly what you'd expect them to be.  When you combine the squeaking of sneakers with the satisfying swish of a basket, you'll feel right at home on the court of NBA 2K22, even if the 3D audio can't help you much from courtside.

Aside from that, the soundtrack provides a diverse selection of tracks, the majority of which are upbeat, with enough customizability to allow you to pick and choose what you want to listen to in your playlist.  The commentary leaves a lot to be desired, as they frequently say the same things over and over again, though some of the specific references they make during games add a nice touch once in a while to the overall experience.

From the previous year, there has been a natural progression in haptic feedback.  The intensity of the vibrations is controlled by your actions on the field, rather than by a violent, resistant feedback system like NBA 2K22.  The left haptic system, for example, will be activated if you place your left hand on one of the players.  You can keep an eye on the ball while also keeping track of your opponent, which is why it works so well.

Using Different Approaches to Playing
The fundamentals of the game, as well as how NBA 2K22 requires you to approach them, have been the most significant changes for me.  Last year, we were able to exercise greater flexibility and forgiveness when we made minor mistakes.  Having discipline is essential this year, and I thrive on it, even when I become enraged after making stupid mistakes.

When I first started playing NBA 2K22, I was apprehensive about shooting with the correct joystick controls.  The game, on the other hand, forces you into training sessions where you must make use of posts and fake shots, which the right joystick makes easy.  The use of slight flicks in different directions causes a fake step or shot to be issued in that direction, which can then be immediately transformed into a real shot.  I was forced to experiment with joystick controls by the game, and now I want to become proficient with them. 

The game has repeatedly smacked me in the shins for failing to grasp and execute specific gameplay mechanics, such as naturally shifting from a post into a pass or a shot.  While at the same time, this constant push serves as an inspiration for me to continue improving and developing my game.

In other sports games, I tend to become complacent after a period of repetitive gameplay, but the repetition in NBA 2K22 fuels my desire to improve and refine my game.  This is the area in which the game entry truly excels above all other sports games on the market.

The traditional Two Forward – One Backward dance is still performed today.
Making a move that puts you out of position is a death sentence in 2018.  If you are caught out of position, your opponent will make his or her shot, including three-pointers, nine times out of ten, especially at the highest level of the NBA.  This is true in both directions as well.  When you take your shot while the field is wide open, the game gives you more leeway when it comes to timing your shot.  When someone is standing in your grill, on the other hand, you must time your shot perfectly or you will miss every time.

The drawback to this is something Madden does from time to time, which I refer to as "cascading momentum," which is a form of momentum that builds on itself.  When a team executes well on both sides of the ball, that team clicks better and performs above their normal levels, leaving the opposing team cold and stumbling in their tracks.

There is a tinge of realism to this, and overcoming it feels tremendously satisfying. . While at the same time, it appears to begin to take effect the moment a team builds a two-point lead over the opposition.  I appreciate that this exists, but I believe it could use a slight tweak to allow for more organic back and forth that occurs naturally in sports, especially given how quickly games progress.

Influencer in the sport of basketball
MyCAREER has a simplified storyline that revolves around a basketball player who gained popularity through the internet by showcasing his abilities on social media and streaming websites.  MP, as he is known, quickly encounters adversity as a result of his decision to enter the NBA from a different point of view.

In the end, the dialogue comes across as more spontaneous and spontaneously, which is also more natural.  It is the people MP meets and works with who make the story interesting without the need for extensive character development to fulfill their roles in a sports story like this, even if a few of them come across as cheeky or peculiar.  Overall, while MP's story lacks the high-quality production and writing found in NBA 2K21, it has its own natural merits that make it worth your time, even if The City becomes a stumbling block.

The City was the team that had me the most concerned heading into this year's game.  An open-world-like setting for a basketball game's social hub, which includes a complete quest log with objectives to complete, has the potential to be successful if the fundamentals of the game are executed correctly.  Unfortunately, the fundamentals of open-world gameplay are overlooked in favor of flash and showmanship.

Neighborhood that stretches across the entire city
Unlike successful open world games, which inundate the world with things to do and see, The City does not do any of these things.  Pick-up basketball games are scattered throughout the large map, and you can compete against other online players in these games.  All of the other points of interest are separated by long distances, with storefronts for customization and sponsorship representatives for building your brand among them.

Filling in the blanks with sponsored inclusions such as Jake from State Farm or plugs for sportswear does nothing to close the hole in the middle.  In fact, getting around requires the use of the old-fashioned method: walking.  Other modes of transportation become available much later in the game (though you do receive a skateboard right away that is as fast as you run), and you must put in a significant amount of effort to even be able to purchase them.

Server stability is still a work in progress, but this is still early in the game's development cycle, and these teething issues should (hopefully) be ironed out as the game matures.  Additionally, it makes sense to have a reduction in graphical fidelity when moving into an open-world setting as opposed to a courtside setting, but it stands out significantly.

The performance drops to around 30 frames per second in this mode, which is in stark contrast to the courtside aesthetics.  In the game's defense, there are a large number of NPCs and players roaming the space at any given time, resulting in high hardware demand.  At the same time, the Neighborhood in the PS4 version of NBA 2K21 provided a complete experience similar to that of The City, but in a more condensed space.  All of the considerations listed here would be more justified in a space similar to last year's effort as well.

It's the same old, same old.
The MyWNBA mode is nearly identical to the one found in NBA 2K21.  A full franchise mode, similar to that found in MyNBA, allows you to start your team at the start of a season or even in the playoffs and control your franchise throughout the season.  Transferring this game mode from one MyNBA account to another is, at the very least, a form of give-and-take arrangement.

Customized scenarios, which players can create and publish to the server for these two game modes, are one of the game's distinguishing features.  Create a crazy scenario, such as coming back from a 20-point deficit, and make it public for others to try.  Although the rewards are limited to simply completing the challenge and earning a few team experience points, it is still beneficial to the game's overall reputation.  The card game modes are the most profitable for annualized sports titles right now, but not every game has a user-friendly mode to choose from.  When playing MLB The Show, you can choose any mode you want to play while still earning credits for the game's card-based game mode.  NBA 2K22 does the same thing to a certain extent, allowing you to earn credits that can be used to purchase card packs (as well as customization options for your customized player).

Choice with a Lot of Firepower
Before I conclude, I'd like to point out how 2K Sports handles the Women's National Basketball Association.  Streetball is universal, and The City is supposed to be about meeting up with random players on the street and shooting hoops.  While the NBA and WNBA are unquestionably two separate leagues, streetball is universal as well.  Despite the fact that female NPCs frequent the area, only male players are permitted to enter.

The City could easily include separate paths for each of these genders while maintaining the mode's execution as is currently the case.  The manner in which the story unfolds in The City makes this approach possible.  Rather than focusing on the backend specifics of getting drafted or other more specific logistics, the show focuses on the ground level human interactions rather than the backend specifics.  Your character also begins his or her career as an influencer on social media and live streaming, which is a medium that almost everyone now uses to promote themselves.

To illustrate this point further, the WNBA mode in 2K22 MT PS5 allows you to watch your WNBA team scrimmage against other NBA teams.  If WNBA and NBA players are already in the game, why not bring that same level of integrity to the center stage game mode as well.  For the time being, the slogan "Anyone, anywhere can hoop" is accompanied by an invisible asterisk.

Some significant improvements, but far too much of the same
While The City appears to be a fantastic idea on paper, its execution falls short of the kind of success that The Neighborhood achieved in previous games.  This is the most egregious foul committed by NBA 2K22, and it is one of a handful of others.  The game's gameplay and visuals remain stunning, and the added challenge provided by the more sophisticated AI contributes to the game's overall integrity by maintaining its integrity.

Overall, NBA 2K22 continues to be a strong offering, but no matter how good the gameplay remains, it is only intended for diehard basketball fans who can't get enough of the grind that occurs every year in the NBA.