NBA 2K23 Review (PS5)

very good
key review info
  • Game: NBA 2K23
  • Platform: Playstation 5
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
NBA 2K23 screenshot

NBA continues to be one of the most popular sports franchises, not only in the States but in the rest of the world as well. And needless to say, the release of NBA 2K23 was one of the most anticipated game launches of the year, especially as 2K was expected to deliver a massive overhaul of last year’s version.

I hate to drop a spoiler so fast, but in many ways, 2K certainly delivered on its promise. But this isn’t good news in all regards though, as NBA 2K23 feels like a greatly refined version of 2K22, yet it doesn’t offer the feeling of a completely new game.

In many ways, this is something that long-time NBA fans are going to love anyway. NBA 2K23 builds on the features available in the previous versions and further refines them, but as typically happens when game developers try to address feedback, not everybody is happening.

The biggest change that I absolutely love this year is how balanced the gameplay now feels. I always sucked at NBA, no matter how much I liked the game, and mastering all controls to become the best player on the court has always been a challenge.

The way stamina is handled in NBA 2K23 makes it much harder to abuse dribbles and sprints, so at the end of the day, the gap between super-experienced players who spam certainly buttons and the rookies trying to find their way around the game is now much smaller.

NBA 2K23 screenshot
NBA 2K23 screenshot
NBA 2K23 screenshot
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This doesn’t mean that beginners can now compete against experienced players because that’s not going to happen. The major difference is that you know need to press the right buttons at the right time, so overall, the gameplay feels not only more polished but also more balanced.

While I’m seeing so many people criticizing the shooting system, I actually found it very rewarding. Truth be told, you do seem to score more points thanks to the new approach, but on the other hand, this is what NBA is all about anyway. I do understand that diehard NBA fans want a real-life simulation, but 2K has probably noticed that what keeps players committed to the game is the number of points they score.

One thing that I did notice from the very beginning is that the gameplayer overall no longer feels as dynamic as before because the players (both in your team and in the opponent’s) seem to stick to their position as long as possible. This shows the AI still needs some refinements, but if you take the eyes off the ball and try to track the rest of the players and the way they adjust their positions, it’s pretty clear that most of them are rather lazy.

I’m not going to wait anymore and mention the thing that everybody was waiting for: the Jordan Challenge is making a comeback after being last offered in NBA 2K11. The work 2K has put into this feature has most likely been enormous, and you can easily tell this by simply checking out the little details, such as uniforms, signage, and the audio. Everything is top-notch, not only for the avid basketball fan but also for simple gamers who just want to score points.

NBA 2K23 screenshot
NBA 2K23 screenshot
NBA 2K23 screenshot
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There’s another major addition that you just have to check out. The addition of MyNBA ERAs allows gamers to start playing in the 1983 season and then progress to the current date (you can play in three different periods called Jordan Era, Kobe Era, and Magic vs. Bird Era, so their names are rather self-explanatory). And to make the experience feel as authentic as possible, the 1983 seasons come not only with the superstars that were available at that point, but also with the right team logos, arenas, and everything else. So it’s not all about the rosters but about the full package, so in some ways, you’re getting a completely different NBA experience.

The City continues to be a time-wasting machine, albeit it does feel a little bit more polished this year. For players who don’t just want to spend their time on the court, The City is a great way to experience the life of an NBA player in every single regard. To be honest, I still believe it’s kind of boring, but given it’s still there, it’s very clear that 2K does have a fanbase for this mode.

What I like more, on the other hand, is the MyTeam experience. The biggest change in NBA 2K23 on this front is that contracts are no more, so if you were waiting for this change, here you are. MyTeam, however, also comes with several other great upgrades, including the option to play Triple Threat against your friends. And last but not least, you can now control just one player and use it during a game.

With so many additions, there’s a lot gamers will have to discover in NBA 2K23, but once again, this new release still doesn’t feel like a completely new game. All the changes are based on the goodies 2K has offered before, most likely as the parent company didn’t want to give away a feeling that so many players find familiar.


The Good

  • More balanced gameplay
  • The Jordan Challenge is back
  • The Eras are awesome

The Bad

  • The game feels like an update to last year's release
  • The City overhaul is modest
  • AI still requires additional polishing

CONCLUSION

If you’re a casual NBA player, there’s absolutely no doubt you’ll find this year’s release a little bit overwhelming. There’s a lot that you need to discover, starting with the playing modes and ending with the gameplayer itself. NBA 2K23 comes with a huge learning curve for new players, but at the end of the day, this is only a good thing in the long term anyway.

Those who’ve been playing the recent releases will find NBA 2K23 more of an update to the previous version rather than a completely new iteration of a popular franchise. And they wouldn’t be wrong. 2K has tried to polish the best parts of the game, while also reducing the focus on the ones that don’t seem to be praised as much as others.

Eventually, NBA 2K23 is a game that will still keep you entertained for some time, though the lack of a more massive overhaul will probably upset way too many fans of the franchise. It’s an 8 out of 10 from us.

Review code provided by the publisher.

story 7
gameplay 8
concept 8
graphics 9
audio 9
multiplayer 9
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 
NEXT REVIEW: Sunday Gold

Photo Gallery (66 Images)

NBA 2K23 screenshot
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