NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition Review: Nothing but Net! (iPhone)

The time has come to put our sneakers on, and get onto the basketball court to show what we have to offer. Dribble that ball, and go for NBA glory. NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition is the version of NBA 2K23 offered on Apple Arcade. Visual Concepts and 2K Games released it at the end of last year. This game is a superb addition to the basketball video game family. Everything from the sound to the gameplay flows nicely with one another. Without further ado… I present to you in the loudest arena around…Your NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition review! 

NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

There will also be other NBA video games to choose from!

Story – Win, Win, Win!

A person will play as a solo act or as a teammate inside the world of the NBA, and try to improve their skills in the world of basketball along the way. The objective of NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition is to win games, either a singular game or an entire season. Earn these wins by scoring the most points over your opponents.  

Gameplay – Grab Those Hoops

The player begins the game with two options for how to play mechanically wise. One is for rookies that don’t know how to play NBA 2K games, and the other is for advanced players. The gameplay throughout the entire video game is solid. People can find their way through it, even if they are rookies in the world of NBA game playing. You can play in a training facility, an individual game, or an entire season. It’s up to you! 

2KU 

This is where those who want to learn the game’s ropes go. You are in an empty gym, trying to study your craft. The different things that one can learn here include stuff like shooting, dribbling, passing, defense, rebounding, freestyle, and full scrimmage. Just this part of the game alone is very entertaining. A small book icon button will be on the top left corner of the screen. This is where a person can switch between the different types of tutorials that they want to work on. On the right corner of the screen will be a step-by-step breakdown of the move sets that will be used to play NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition. 

A game being played

Controls

The control mechanics in NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition are fantastic. You know how to set your fingers on the iPhone without questioning how to do it. On the bottom left of the screen will be where you will move your character around on the basketball court. You can either go slow or fast. Next are your action buttons on the lower right side of the screen. These will control the character in the game on things like shooting and passing the ball. 

Once they try to shoot the ball into the basket, a shooting bar will be near your character. Timing is everything to pull off a perfect shot. Know when to hold down the shoot button and release it. I like this feature of the game, because I enjoy the rush you get when you try to light up the shot bar to a full green level. 

Play Now, My Career, The Greatest, & The Association Mode

NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition offers players four modes. Some are for those that want a quick in-and-out competition gameplay, and others are for the seasoned veteran. Players can choose this path for The Association mode when they play an entire season. Play Now mode is when a person wants to chill, and play a single game. This mode is also where one can go hang out in the 2KU training area. I enjoy the concept of all four of these modes. It gives the player complete range on how they want to play a round of basketball. 

You can create a player from scratch in the game

General Manager & Coaching

In The Association mode, one can find themselves becoming a general manager. Where they can make trades, offer contract extensions, pick up free agents, scout for those that have potential, and keep track of one’s finance. Also, the player can use the coaching option to create a game plan, do some team training, and seek out rewards during the game. These are really nice to have. It creates another layer of epicness in the overall delivery of NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition. Add-ons, such as these, will come in handy in the longevity of interest from the people who play the game. 

Create A Player

In My Career mode, players can make their own unique character and play in games as that individual, blazing their own trail in the process. Creating a player in NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition is pretty in-depth. A person can get really detailed in how their character will end up looking like on the court. You can put lots of features on your character’s head and face. Also, people can pick which position their character is going to play as, along with their own personal name and jersey number.

Next, a player has to select which row of physical attributes, and skill breakdowns, work best for them. This will give stats to a person’s abilities, like shooting, playmaking, and finishing. I feel like this concept of allowing a player to create their own identity within the game is perfect to have. If someone doesn’t feel like playing as an already established player in the NBA, they can start their own path to triumph. 

Settings

The gear icon button is at the top left corner of the main menu screen. This will be where the player can open up the settings window. One can manage rosters, change the game settings, customize their controller, get info on how to play the game, and save their progress. This is very important; having it on the main menu screen is excellent. 

Audio & Graphics – Slam-Dunk-Tastic

Needless to say, the audio and graphics in NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition is over-the-top great. I enjoy the way that both are presented in this game. If I had one word to describe this aspect of the game, it would be “smooth.” The soundtrack at the beginning of the game, on the main menu, instantly gets you pumped to get right into playing it. The graphics in the game is crisp, with so much realism that went into making it. I absolutely love the chatter that the players make on the court. The announcers in the broadcast booth are a hoot. 

This review was done playing NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition on an iPhone.