This year's campaign, NBA 2K22 MT as The Long Shadow, is a gigantic disappointment. It's unfortunate that almost everything out of the on-court experience pales in comparison. Throughout the last several years, I've found myself awaiting the MyCareer campaigns in the NBA 2K series. They are usually glistening, well-written in spurts, and feature an enjoyable throw. The narrative follows Junior, a promising young talent playing at the shadow of the deceased dad.

In between his journey from high school play into the NBA Draft, The Long Shadow spends hardly any time developing any of its dull characters and too much exploring Junior's college love, where he chases after his girlfriend to announce his love like something out of a Hallmark movie. It's too bad, because the premise could have been really affecting, but it is much too disjointed and shallow for Your Long Shadow to become anything but an excuse to play with a few games at a school uniform. It's nice seeing some form of college sports at a video game, but that's about it. Thankfully, there's an choice to skip the story and head straight to the NBA Draft.

The rest of the MyCareer mode is really good if you can ignore the dreadful microtransactions that infest its every corner. The Neighborhood, a free-roam region where you can play pick-up online matches and produce character modifications, is currently set in Venice Beach. The change of setting is nice, particularly since you spend so much time. The colours are brilliant, the courts look excellent, and there is something soothing about the cool blue background. I had a whole lot of fun traveling the area, buying new equipment for my created player, and engaging in pick-up games. As nice as it is to research the more romantic space The Neighborhood provides, it mostly includes exactly the very same elements from the past year's match. It looks different, however there is not much new to do.

But naturally, ignoring the microtransactions is easier said than done, because NBA 2K22 will not let you look away from its monetization train wreck. Everything you do in MyCareer entails Virtual Currency (VC), from personality updates to attire purchases and haircuts. Being able to compete at a high level in The Area requires upgraded attributes, and while you can eventually earn the VC to purchase those free of charge, it would take a painfully long time. There are a couple of ways to get VC, such as Buy MT 2K22 games with your NBA team, meeting daily goals, and in-game endorsements - but it's inadequate. It is actually a shame the manner revolves round paid-for currency, because MyCareer has so much potential as a deep create-a-player manner... if just the grinding were a little less tedious.