Aaron Jennings

In comparison to the recent installments, 2k23 is a huge step forward for the nba 2k franchise. From a pure gameplay standpoint, the game is the best it has been in years. Dribbling feels fluid and realistic, albeit a bit slow, and players are forced to find weaknesses in the defense instead of spamming glitchy moves. Finishing has received a much needed buff, making it a more viable option. Shooting has been reworked a little to allow for a greater gap between skilled and unskilled shooters. Defense does not feel like it is at as much of a disadvantage as it was in 2k22, but shot contests in the paint often feel underwhelming and steals can sometimes feel out of hand. Other issues preventing a five star rating include the crippling dependence on micro transactions for the online game modes, a significant amount of latency in online games, and a slew of progress hindering and game freezing bugs, although I do expect the bugs to be fixed in the future as the game has only been out for about a week.

This game is one of the best 2k games I’ve played in a while. That being said, the MyCareer games are some of the worst gaming experiences I’ve ever had. Your teammates are mindless dimwits that have some of the worst programming possible. You can be playing perfect defense on an opponent, and then a a teammate from the complete opposite side of the court will suddenly start sprinting towards the player you are guarding, leaving his defensive assignment open, and the arrow showing you who you are guarding will switch to his assignment, who is wide open on the other side of the court. Another infuriating instance of bad AI programming is the defensive “aDjUsTmEnTs” that opponents make during games, where if your MyPlayer scores like 9 or 10 points, the player guarding you will suddenly switch from playing 5 feet off of your player to a god-like perfect defensive being that is unable to be scored on. Other things in this game, like the Neighborhood and MyTeam, have their own flaws but are fun, but the MyCareer experience is a game mode that seems as though it was made to drain all the joy out of your gaming experience. The sad thing is that for people who don’t want to spend $50 to upgrade a single character, MyCareer games are almost necessary to improve your character.