The rest of the NBA 2K22 MT mode is really good if you can ignore the dreadful microtransactions that infest its every corner. The Neighborhood, a free-roam region where you are able to play pick-up online games and produce character modifications, is currently set in Venice Beach. The change of setting is nice, especially since you spend so much time there. The colors are brilliant, the courts appear excellent, and there's something soothing about the cool blue backdrop. I had a lot of fun touring the area, purchasing new gear for my established player, and participating in pick-up games. As nice as it is to research the more romantic space The Neighborhood supplies, it mostly contains exactly the very same elements from the past year's game. It seems different, but there isn't much new to do.
But of course, ignoring the microtransactions is simpler said than done, since NBA 2K22 won't allow you to look away from its monetization train wreck. Everything that you do in MyCareer involves Virtual Currency (VC), from personality upgrades to attire buys and haircuts. Being in a position to compete at a high level in The Neighborhood requires updated attributes, and as you can eventually earn the VC to purchase those for free, it would take a painfully long moment. At least there are a handful of ways to acquire VC, such as playing games with your NBA team, meeting daily objectives, and in-game endorsements - but it is inadequate. It is actually a shame the mode revolves round paid-for currency, since MyCareer has much potential as a deep create-a-player mode... if just the grinding were a little less tedious.
MyTeam still compels you in picking between grinding out mundane tasks or depositing out real cash for VC. Thankfully, MyTeam has at least ditched its dreadful casino aesthetic from last year, but it still forces you into making a decision between grinding out boring tasks or shelling out real cash for the VC, which can be used to progress players or purchase packs to unlock additional. There does seem to be an emphasis on customization for MyTeam this year: you can now choose different ability paths for your development cards, such as focusing on athleticism or playmaking, which should help direct players to better match under my personal playing style. MyTeam has also added a"seasonal" component that will allegedly add new ways as they unfold. As it stands at start, however, MyTeam desperately requires a few more enjoyable ways to grind out team cards and improvements.
It doesn't look to be a coincidence that the manners left untouched by microtransactions, like MyLeague, have seen no meaningful updates. Even though MyLeague has enough features to serve as an outstanding simulation, it lacks the life of what makes the NBA so enjoyable to follow. Built into every NBA season are the stories which include it, while it's LeBron's passing from Cleveland in 2010 or even Kawhi Leonard's storybook year since a Toronto Raptor in 2019. MyLeague should feel dynamic and alive. Rather, even for a large fan of this manner for years, it is starting to feel like I have been doing exactly the same thing for many years with no expectation of moving ahead.
For example, MyLeague still does not feature an option to utilize the WNBA for some reason. Considering that you can play a full season with any of those 12 WNBA teams, why can not we continue with a franchise following the first season is finished? As a bandwagon fan of the Seattle Storm, I remain really impressed by what NBA 2K has performed with its WNBA gameplay: The spacing is excellent and gamers like Sue Bird and Natasha Howard play and look like their counterparts that are real-life. The 2K22 MT Buy even features its own set of announcers, which is good for an additional change of pace. Not being able to play with these groups in an online capacity or at MyLeague dampens the excitement within the WNBA's inclusion.