NBA 2K12 Review
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in Achievements And Trophies
Many gamers, myself included, considered NBA 2K11 to be one of the greatest basketball games of our generation, and potentially one of the greatest sports games of all-time. So it seems like it’d be pretty hard to top what 2K11 brought to the table, right? Wrong. NBA 2K12 fixes a few minor issues from NBA 2K11 and improves upon everything that it did well, making it rival the quality of what some say is the greatest sports series of all-time, MLB the Show. Nearly everything has been improved upon. The CPU has better AI, franchise mode has gotten a boost, some minor graphical issues were fixed, and 2K Sports has brought back Jordan, along with some of the greatest players throughout NBA history.
Graphics
Graphically, NBA 2K11 looked great. This year 2K Sports decided to focus most of their attention on gameplay features and minor fixes. Even so, the graphics went through a few minor tweaks and improvements. Gone are most of the “alien” looking players from previous versions of the game and star players look more like themselves. That said, there are still a handful of role-players that look completely out of place and unrealistic, which can detract from the amazing graphics and presentation. But for the most part 2K has given the player models a nice improvement. As a whole, players, arenas, and the courts themselves look slightly improved over previous versions of the game.
Presentation
This is where NBA 2K12 shines. The presentation is fantastic, and arguably the best of any sports game – ever. Every single NBA arena has its own very distinct feel. Playing against the Lakers in the Staples Center is just like watching the game on TV. The lights are dimmed and the arena music and sound effects are spot-on. Regardless of your favorite team you’ll feel right at home.
The commentary has also gotten a solid boost in NBA 2K12. Steve Kerr joins the team this year as an addition to Kevin Harlan and Clark Kellogg. The three-man team helps add variety and greater interaction to the commentary. However, as with any sports game, commentary will start to get a little stale the longer you play it. But with twice the amount of vocabulary of 2K11 it’s going to take a lot longer.
Classic teams and players are back in a big way. 2K brings an amazing “NBA’s Greatest” mode to NBA 2K12. Jordan is back, and along with him are some of the greatest players in NBA history – Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen, and more. Classic games are presented just as you’d see them on TV in their era. Playing as the Celtics in the mid 1960’s? You’ll be treated to amazing presentation with the game being in black-and-white and the announcers sharing trivia about the players and it game itself. This new mode also gives you the ability to pit Michael Jordan in his prime and a classic Chicago Bulls team against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers of today. Can the Black-Mamba prove that he’s better than Jordan? Hardcore NBA geeks, like me, will have a blast playing out these scenarios in NBA 2K12.
Gameplay
The gameplay in 2K12 has been tightened-up and improved upon this year. While the CPU still gets away with the occasional cheap play, you’ll see less of it in NBA 2K12. That’s not to say, however, that the game is any easier. Make a mistake and you will definitely pay. Trying to throw a pass from the half-court line to the paint? Expect it to be intercepted and taken back from an easy dunk or layup. Brick a 3-pointer that leads to a long rebound? You better get back on defense or the CPU will run you out of the gym. The CPU will also take advantages of a mismatch whenever it can. If Steve Nash happens to get switched onto Andrew Bynum in the paint the CPU will do everything it can to exploit it.
The controls have been improved upon this year as well. Though they take some time to get used to most players will appreciate the changes. There are a number of new ISO and post moves in 2K12.
Game Modes
We’ve already touched on the amazing “NBA’s Greatest” mode. You’ll find a number of other game modes as well. Most have gotten an improvement over previous versions of the series. You can choose to play a standard exhibition game, season, multi-year association, an online association, the popular my player mode, and NBA legend mode. New to 2K12, NBA legend mode lets you take control of any player in the NBA, similar to the popular my player mode. Want to take Dwight Howard from a raw rookie to one of the dominant forces of all-time at the center position? Legend mode lets you live out this scenario.
The popular my player mode has also seen a few improvements worth mentioning. Gone are the practice and potential D-League games. This year you’re thrown directly into a single game with full-presentation and commentary. Beyond that you’ll go through interviews with three potential teams, then directly to the draft.
Association mode is as strong and feature-rich as ever. Want to bring the struggling Milwaukee Bucks out of their cycle of irrelevancy? Now you can. Trade AI can be a little spotty at times, but aside from the occasional head-scratcher of a trade, the mode is almost as entertaining, or as heart-breaking, depending on your favorite team, as a real NBA season. David Stern even makes an appearance in the offseason during the NBA draft.
The online NBA association mode lets you play against friends and players from across the world to see who can stake their claim as the best virtual GM.
Conclusion
After what 2K Sports was able to do with NBA 2K11, it seemed nearly impossible to improve on the series with NBA 2K12. But they pulled it off. With a handful of new game modes, minor graphical fixes, amazing presentation, and improved AI, it looks like NBA fans will be playing NBA 2K12 right up until the release of 2K13. 2K Sports has done it again and created one of the greatest sports games of our generation.
NBA 2k12: End the Debate
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in News
NBA 2k12’s cover features three of the NBA’s most hallowed stars including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson. Basketball fans, analysts, and even players are constantly arguing over who the greatest passer, scorer, or over overall player ever was. NBA 2k12 offers gamers the opportunity to essentially “end the debate” meaning that game modes allow these NBA legends to compete in their prime form. Developers at 2k sports captured the signature styles of these elite players from Bird’s fluid jump shot to Jordan dunking over the competition with his tongue hanging out.
Michael Jordan
Weather it was an inter squad practice or the last seconds of the 1995 NBA finals, Jordan could score at will. The 14-time NBA all star could shoot over or drive through any opponent. He was dominant on both defense and offense being second on the all time steals list and forth on the all time made field goals list. His technical skill paired with his physical talents allowed him to dominate every game he played in. He dominated every championship he played in winning a finals MVP for every one of his 6 championships.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson didn’t just dominate the game, he changed it as well. He was a 6 foot 9 inch point guard, making it nearly impossible for another player at his position capable of matching up with him. But more than scoring Johnson was able to make his teammates better with a pass first mentality. He leads the NBA in all time assists per game while being second on the overall assists lists. Johnson made the “pass first” style of basketball look cool to aspiring players. The 12-time all star led the “Show Time” Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships.
Larry Bird
Larry Bird may have had the greatest skill set of any NBA player. His lethal jump shot and relentless defense made him one of the most formidable competitors. The 12-time NBA All Star won three championships with the Boston Celtics and was named league MVP another three times. His clutch shooting performances are that of legend around the NBA becoming the first player to shoot 50 percent from the field and 90 percent from the foul line in consecutive seasons. His prolonged back problems finally ended his career after leading the original Olympic dream team to a gold medal in 1992.
The Debate
Part of the interest in constantly trying to rank athletes of different eras is the fact that there is no objective answer since there is no way for these players to compete at their prime physical form. There is also a lot of “what if’s” surrounding the three cover athletes that blemished their respected careers. What if Magic Johnson never contracted HIV and had to end his career early? What if Larry Bird didn’t have the nagging back injuries that dominated his career? Did Jordan leave basketball in his prime to pursue a baseball career?
So whether it be Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordon, or some other player, NBA 2k12 allows fans to end the debate.
NBA 2K12 Reveal The Greatest In The NBA
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in Previews
NBA 2K12 Reveal NBA’s Greatest – Searing Hot Info on the Hottest Basketball Video Game of the Season
Whether or not you liked the NBA 2K11 video game, has no significance on the fact that the NBA 2K12 is out to conquer the gaming world because of its better features. A player who wants to take his game to new heights ought to spend time getting to know the controls of the NBA 2K12.
Here are just some of the noticeable features that hardcore gamers can look forward to –
- A striking resemblance of the players to their human counterparts.
- You will be amazed at how the super stars of basketball will behave in the same manner on the video game. Look for those mannerisms and signature moves and you are likely to see them on the game as well.
- The addition of mascots takes the game to a new level of fun and realism.
NBA 2K12 Improvements
This new game has definitely leveled up as playing it is like watching an ongoing basketball game on live TV. There are also different camera and lighting angles on this game. Commercial breaks and ads are also added as well as revamped commentaries.
Going back on commentaries, Steve Kerr is added as a cast as he completes the trio together with Clark Kellogg and Kevin Harlan. These three bring about the most interesting and realistic sports commentaries. Their conversations, surprisingly, cover a wide spectrum of topics. And just like live TV, they are also bound to interrupt each other during a magnificent game play on the basketball court. And guess what? They will continue with the topic right where they left off!
The NBA 2K12 Gameplay
There aren’t any alterations with regard to the gameplay. Only the controls have improved as the shooting controls now gives the player the ability to make various unique shots.
Defense remains tight since you’ll feel the opposing team roughing you up each time that you try to go at the ball. AI is a lot more competitive and will force the gamer to work (or rather play) harder.
NBA’s Greatest Player Mode
Five legendary NBA players have been confirmed to take the center stage on this latest installment of NBA video games and they are – Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Irving, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In addition to these players, this mode will also offer the gamer a shot at playing any of the 15 greatest NBA teams in the history of mankind.
You also have the power to recreate the most unforgettable matches and to make two basketball stars fight off. Each match is recreated as authentically as possible. With each commentary made according to the movements that are being displayed on the court. Take a look at the time frame as well as the references and you can truly say that even NBA historians will marvel at this new video game.
If you enjoyed playing the previous installment of NBA video games, then you would surely appreciate NBA’s Greatest. The virtual world is yet to witness the actual teams that will be featured so be up on your toes for updates regarding this game.
NBA 2K12 Hands-On Experience
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in Reviews
2K Sports has delivered a fantastic virtual basketball game yet again. With the help of NBA 2K12 hands-on previews, players, and critics alike get to decide that this latest release has raised the bar high once more for sports video games. NBA 2K12 dropped in stores on October of 2011 and since then basketball fans and gamers have been raving about this impressive b-ball game.
Going Retro
NBA 2K enthusiasts know that Michael Jordan was the face of 2K11. For 2K12, MJ, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson will all have their moments. Last year, it was almost about Jordan. There is even the “Jordan Challenge” where users get to re-establish the best games in MJ’s career.
In 2K12, it is not just about “His Airness” but also the other athletes on the basketball court. The “NBA’s Greatest” gamers are given the opportunity to play as a part of one of the 15 model NBA teams, taking on a rival lineup coming from the same era. Each of these squads are led by a legendary superstar.
The Gameplay Encounter
Every year, the freshest version of this spectacular game series aims to perk up on the fundamental visual graphics of last year’s edition. NBA 2K12 does just that and unsurprisingly it succeeds in its efforts. Out of all the releases, this is considered the smoothest game yet specifically when players slide along around the floor in an effortless manner. While the visuals are undeniably heightened, the realistic physics of the ball are maintained.
Beyond the usual graphical improvement, the game’s developers have given special focus on a few gameplay aspects. One of which is with all the tilts throughout the gameplay where it starts with a forceful intro and ends with details that are solid and almost too authentic. Another is the in-game commentary which is more remarkable than ever. Commentators including Clark Kellogg, Steve Kerr, and Kevin Harlan may be chatting about the back-story of a player when suddenly they will cut into the wild action of the game then return right back to what they have been talking about. The crazy part is everything is quite relevant with references to the last NBA Finals.
The Greatest Mode
In every trailer of the game, it has been highlighted that gamers get to play with 15 notable basketball players on 15 incredible teams. If you have paid attention to these NBA 2K12 previews, you will find that there are other faces beyond the legends. This is because technically you also have access to not only the superstars. For each of these 15 players in the Greatest Mode, you can play this team against one of their primary competitors. For instance, if you play using the 1965 Celtics where Bill Russell was the superstar, you may come face to face with the 1965 Lakers.
If you win the game, the team you represent as well as the team you beat can be accessed in Quick Play mode. However, you are no longer allowed to play as the legends. To do this, you need to go back to NBA’s Greatest Mode. The actual gameplay in this mode is also worth-mentioning. As an example, if you choose Wilt Chamberlain’s Lakers which was in 1971, you will get the feel that you are watching the game exactly as it is in the mentioned year. This means everything is black and white and there are absolutely no corporate ads on the basketball court.
NBA 2K12 is not purely a legends showcase but a very smart upgrade from the last version. Undoubtedly, this will soon be heralded as one of the greatest sports games ever made and not just another basketball simulation game.
