In NBA 2K232K Sports brings Jordan Challenge mode from NBA 2K11 back with some serious upgrades. The publisher has revealed more details about the game mode, featuring 15 key moments from Michael Jordan’s career. It includes the 1982 NCAA National Championship, the “Flu Game” and (spoiler) Jordan’s game-winning shot at the 1998 NBA Finals.
Developer Visual Concepts seems to have gone to great lengths to make the mode (which built it from scratch) as authentic as possible. “Our team has taken everything into consideration when building this game mode; the arenas, players, uniforms, broadcast and playstyle of the era have been accounted for in an effort to provide fans with a truly authentic and unique playable Jordan experience,” Visual Concepts VP of NBA Development Erick Boenisch said in a statement. .
That means we need to make sure that the graphics on the screen were accurate for the era and include filters that try to replicate what it was like to watch these moments (many of which were featured in The last dance) on TV in the 80s and 90s. Each of the challenges has a pre-game interview with someone who was a part of that moment, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson. Additionally, 2K enlisted analyst Mike Fratello to join the commentary team and former Chicago Bulls announcer Ray Clay to make the introductions. Of course, 2K had to make sure that “Sirius” from The Alan Parsons Project was also part of the soundtrack.
Perhaps more importantly, Visual Concepts tried to tailor the gameplay to how things were in the NBA when Jordan was in its splendor. 2K says the mode puts more emphasis on the post- and mid-range game, bringing transitions in line with how they were commonly used in the ’80s. Certain players, such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, have distinctive playing styles and moves (including Johnson’s no-look passes). The action should have an extra layer of physicality, with the Detroit Pistons defense in particular trying to convince Jordan to take shots.
Jordan Challenge mode will be available on all many versions of NBA 2K23. PC and current-gen console players will probably get the best experience, if the mode’s impressive trailer is anything to judge by.
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