When it comes to sports, you've probably heard the phrase "defense wins championships" a few times. It also wins virtual basketball games in this year's release of NBA 2K, which was released earlier this year.
Player assistance on defense has been improved with the release of NBA 2K22, which is now available for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, and the Nintendo Switch, in addition to a number of new features across the platform's extensive selection of game modes. Having played NBA 2K22 on both the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5, I've had it installed for more than a week. The results of 2K's renewed commitment to playing defense have been inconsistent. Several new details about NBA 2K22 have been released in anticipation of the game's release.
The adjustments to defense are less concerned with the player and more concerned with your AI-controlled teammates and opponents. When they're guarding the ballhandler, they're more effective. They'll put forth more effort to get around screens and remain in close proximity to the offensive player. The computer-controlled defenders do a much better job of keeping their distance from the player who has the ball.
On defense, NBA 2K22 has made it easier to recover from mistakes. Seen a teammate sprinting toward the basket for a layup? Catching up with the rest of the group to form a large block is less difficult this year.
On offense, it means that you must employ greater skill and precision in order to defeat a defense. As an example, when running pick and rolls, you must make certain that the defender is properly screen-ed, otherwise he will zip right over the top and remain glued to you. In terms of on-court gameplay, the PS5 version is remarkably similar to last year's game; however, the PS4 release feels like a completely different game. Players move more naturally as a result of this. Glitches such as the speed boost, which provided ballhandlers with an unnatural burst of speed, appear to have been eliminated altogether.
If you play the PS4 or Xbox One versions of 2K22, you will notice that while the AI players are extremely good at defending ballhandlers, they are not always the best decision makers. They will randomly run off the player they should be defending in order to chase down the ball, leaving open shots in their path.
On the PlayStation 5, the game added a skill meter, which forces players to use more finesse when attempting a difficult dunk. The meter appears as soon as you pull down on the right stick to dunk the ball. If you get it in the green, you've completed the dunk; however, the difficulty of the dunk increases as the difficulty of the dunk increases. Similarly, alley-oops, in which you must tap a button at the appropriate time to complete, are applicable. It makes those types of plays more rewarding, but it is far too harsh on dunks when there are no defenders nearby.
The majority of 2K22's improvements over last year's game are subtle, such as the addition of public address announcers for all 30 teams, new options in modes such as MyCareer, which allows you to create and guide a basketball player through the ranks, and the card-based, fantasy-driven MyTeam.
In addition, a new shot meter has been added to 2K22 this season to assist you in achieving the perfect release on a jump shot. Players will have access to additional dribble moves that will aid them in breaking down a defense.
The big question is whether or not you should purchase 2K22. A significant portion of your enjoyment may be dependent on modes such as MyCareer or MyTeam, which develop over the course of months rather than a single week. Even if my beloved Washington Wizards start the season 3-0, I'm not going to declare them NBA champions (despite my strong desire to do so).
Fundamentally, this year's experience on the court appears to be a more positive one overall when compared to last year. The changes made to the AI defense help to improve the overall balance of the game.
