It's been 10 days since the official release of NBA 2K23. It is the latest version of Visual Concepts' long-running annual basketball series, introducing many new features and improved game mechanics, taking us on a walk down memory lane. While the 2K franchise has earned a reputation for focusing on microtransactions more than actual game innovation, this year's game mode additions and core improvements have been a hit. The result is a newer package than other titles in the recent history of the series.

2K's game mechanics made a few updates this year, the most significant of which is the redesigned shot meters and stamina bar. The new shot meter leaves no room for error, making it more challenging than previous iterations. You used to be able to shoot even if the timing wasn't perfect, but in NBA 2K23 success always required a near-perfect release.

2K23's stamina system has also been revamped and he now carries three adrenaline bars. Running and using explosive flick moves now drains your stamina and adrenaline. This is especially useful in online matches as it prevents individual players from cheating and encourages team play. While these mods are difficult to master, they make the game feel as close to the actual action as possible, which only helps the franchise in the long run.

MyNBA Eras

These improvements to core gameplay permeate NBA 2K23's wide variety of modes. This set includes all of the core pieces from the collection, along with some exciting new items like the Jordan Challenge and MyNBA Era, allowing you to relive the iconic moments of Michael Jordan's career. The former offers fun challenges like 'The Shot' and 'The Flu Game', each of which can repeat their achievements.

MyNBA Eras, on the other hand, isn't about revisiting history, but giving us the chance to rewrite it by letting us choose from four NBA terms, each with its own rules and rosters. Players like to go back to different eras, like the "7 seconds or less" teams of the 2000s, and play a season in that era. This experience is exactly the kind of innovation the series has been missing out on in recent years, and its inclusion in 2K23 will do wonders to round out its offerings.

MyCareer

If you're looking for a more traditional 2K model, MyCareer is still an essential feature in all 2K versions. This year's story left a lot to be desired, and the lack of options made me feel less like building careers for players and more like presenting a pre-set story.

However, most of the improvements to MyCareer are related to the reorganization of The City, the hub where you'll find most of the action. Here, Visual Concepts has completely taken over the role-playing game, keeping the missions and adding arenas, and MyCareer's events are now fully integrated. The addition of these two features gives players a fully immersive experience, while in-game events such as press conferences and pre-game shots make the space more of an NBA player's career.

Players can also participate in the Jordan Challenge throughout the region, not to mention the many online competitions in and around the region. The four cities are back, but this time each group community has its own beautifully designed theme. The cities in 2K23 have also shrunk, and with fast travel, getting through the subway system is easier than last year's version.

MyTeam

As usual, MyTeam features multiple single and multiplayer versions of competitive matches. Instead of being able to pick a starter outright, this year's version lets you try it out first in a 3vs3 threat match against an AI. before letting you choose. There are also themed challenges and competitions, and you can earn rewards to strengthen your team. If you like the standard 2K experience as I do, MyTeam offers plenty of offline single-player modes.

But at the end of the day, micro-events are as always in NBA 2K23. Forgoing NBA 2K23 MT points and codes is an option for those who don't want to spend more than a chip, but unless you're extremely patient, Otherwise buying cheap 2K23 MT for real money and then buying player cards is the easiest way to get a stacked lineup. This year has been difficult as there is very little currency earned from MyCareer and MyTeam matches and it takes a lot of work to get your team and players up to par with the higher-level teams.

All in all, NBA 2K23 is a fitting tribute to the historical legend and famous moments that made the sport what it is today. While the game has its fair share of issues with combo options and microtransactions throughout, it's still a solid improvement over previous games. This year's edition isn't a flashy free throw that gets perfect scores, but it's an overall worthwhile effort that deserves MJ's praise.