As far as video game series go, the NBA franchise has had an incredibly long-running history, with NBA 2k22 being the newest upcoming installment. And with the release date for NBA 2K22 quickly approaching in September, many fans wonder what sort of changes will be made to the game from the previous title.
Interestingly enough, it seems 2K is trying to take a new approach to the story mode aspect of the game. Instead of a cinematic like storytelling fans are normally accustomed to, NBA 2K22 is going to transition into an open-world game with quests and side quests.
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These are parts of the changes put into the MyCareer section ofNBA 2K22 to make it more lively for fans. In addition, gamers will now be able to interact with NPCs and buildings within The City so that it doesn't feel as empty as the last game, which was a common complaint for many people.
Among these new side quests are the option to pursue the character's interests outside of basketball and the NBA. Gamers will take on missions involving starting up the player's own fashion line and a hip-hop music career. While it has not been shown just how much effort has been put into these extra experiences, it is nice to see a fresh change of pace from the repetitive nature of these games.
Another change that has been made for NBA 2K22 is the Rookieville mode, which has been cut since fans said it involved too much grinding. This essentially lets players jump right into the action of exploring these new fleshed out environments with their friends and playing basketball. Not only that, but the game will take heavier emphasis with fatigue on players. This new fatigue system monitors the strain players go through with high-effort crossovers and other maneuvers as a response to the many injuries in this year's playoffs. Gamers will now need to consider giving their players many rest days between games if they want to avoid serious injuries.
It is great to see 2K make changes to the game in response to fan's criticisms and what is currently happening in the NBA today. Not only with gameplay, but the inclusion of a WNBA player on the cover will help pave the way for a new generation of fans for the game to get the best experience possible. Hopefully, these changes respect the foundation of the previous title while establishing new mediums for the series moving forward.
NBA 2K22 releases worldwide on September 10th for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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Source: IGN