Even the “perfect” video game has its critics. It would have been possible forNBA 2K22to have a stellar debut, wipe out all of the glitches, revolutionize the way all sports games are played, and give gamers an experience so immersive that they never want to leave and even then, there would still be something to improve upon or do better for next time.
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But those kinds of complaints aren’t “fixes,” they’re closer to wishlists.NBA 2K22could be a deeply imperfect game but still be fun and it wouldn’t need any fixes. Sadly, this isn’t the case, and there are some very real repairs the game needs to undergo before earning back the trust of fans of the franchise.
10Last-Gen Gamers Need A Full Game
It makes sense that there will be some upgrades on the next-gen technology that last-gen consoles just can’t handle. But parts of the game have been actively removed for gamers who play on PCs and last-gen consoles and it has nothing to do with technology.
While next-gen gamers get to discusstips about MyCareer, there is basically no MyCareer mode to discuss for last-gen gamers. No story, no meaningful choices, nothing. And making it so only next-gen players can see certain statistics is complete garbage. Either don’t make the game available for last-gen players or give them an entire game, not half of one.
9MyTeam Has To Become Affordable
To start off with a compliment, Virtual Currency is actually pretty easy to earn inNBA 2K22. To get a max-levelplayer build that makes unbelievable dunkstakes some time to earn without spending real money, but it can be done by playing consistently for a few weeks.
But MyTeam is simply too demanding on pocketbooks. To even get close to competing online, players need to be ready to cough up a down payment on a nice house. The concept is fun, the new upgrades are dynamic and fresh, but the prices are outrageous and ruin the multiplayer experience. This isMadden Ultimate Team, basketball-style.
8Upgrading And Expanding The Servers
When announcing that the single-player MyCareer mode is going to involve online quest givers and objectives, like a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, common sense should indicate that the servers will need to be ready for a rush of new traffic.
Common sense never came to fruition and the connectivity online is as suspect as it gets. Now online players can’t play full games due to disconnections and single-players can’t log in to try out theirawesome center build. Everybody loses until more bandwidth becomes available.
7Online Play Needs Participants
The screenshot here depicts the scene of every multiplayer court. Not a single one is in use. Worse than that, not a single player, aside from the MyPlayer, is on the courts. There are multiplayer objectives without multiplayer participants for huge chunks of the day.
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Maybe the answer is merging servers. Or maybe some kind of queue needs to be created for multiplayer games that aren’t open world. There are several possible solutions, but 2K needs to do something about it because the fans have outright pulled the plug.
6Stealing And Fouls Should Be Sensible
There have been some upgraded animations on swiping at a slashing ball handler this year, but stealing on the perimeter is in a state of total dysfunction. Making a reasonable stab at the ball will sometimes result in the player hurling themselves into an opponent for a comical but confusing foul.
There are a few tricks that veterans perform to avoid this, but it’s a gameplay concept based around a mechanic that doesn’t work. Fix the mechanic and suddenly stealing becomes fun again.
5Loose Ball Animations Need Another Look
Loose ball animations were something that got a second look in betweenNBA 2K21andNBA 2K22. So gamers reasonably expected that overdue advancements in this area were going to finally arrive. Changes were made, but these are hardly advancements.
After a few hours of play, the number of times the ball would magically go through a player to gain a sudden magnetic attraction for a player’s arms was well into the double-digits. It is better in some ways but worse in others.
4Players Have To Be Able To Pass By Other Players
Screens are so powerful that they’re almost the entirety of online play. One guy sets a screen, the other one moves around it, then either drives or shoots. It’s so effective that it has become boring. But that’s not the only movement that needs to change.
When moving around, it’s way too easy to get stuck against another player who isn’t moving. The controls should have a nice slide-around move, but it acts like an invisible wall that forces the player to run in place instead.
3Equipment Needs To Be Made Straightforward
The amount of equipment added to the game is great. They are optional cosmetics that make the game fun. Each piece adds a touch to online play and NBA games that really complete the player’s look. But they’re convoluted to actually equip and use.
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It makes sense that some items would be allowed on online courts that can’t be used in the NBA, as funny as would be to wear a suit and tie on the court for the Lakers. But sometimes a piece of equipment gets equipped that doesn’t appear on the right cosmetic set. The game needs to make the various sets more clear.
2Timeouts Should Not Last So Long
After calling a timeout, a camera pans over the benches, some commentary is read, and then a performance begins that can be skipped when the timer reads 55 seconds or less. When the game can skip halftime, quarters, and all of the time between MyPlayer appearances can be skipped, why is it that these timeouts take too long?
It’s annoying on any game length, but for players who haven’t extended the periods of play, timeouts can feel like half of the game. That needs to speed up.
1Allow Practice For The Dunk and Three-Point Competition
It’s not like actual players don’t practice for the dunk and three-point competition. The only way to “practice” is to participate and quit if it doesn’t go well, then start again. It would not be hard to make a mode for players to practice in.
It’s been a missing component for years, but with the MyCareer mode now emptier than ever and notable objectives all tied to MMO-style quests, these competitions are some of the only meaningful achievements for the MyPlayers.
