NBA 2K12 takes a commanding lead in the series up 2 games to none.

NBA 2K12

Developer: 2K Sports

Console: PS3

Other Platforms: Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP

Release Date: October 4th, 2011

The number 1 rated and selling basketball game NBA 2K12 is back. This time its bigger, better, and more authentic than ever. If you’ve never played a NBA 2K game before, 2K12 is more than enough reason to start. Read my review to find out why being great for so many years ensures perfection.

Single Player:

NBA 2K12 features several different modes such as the association, where you can basically take a team through a season with the goal of becoming the NBA champions. You have the options to do drills and train them so that their stats can become better than they previously were before you took control of the team. The other mode you can take part in is the NBA Greatest Mode. In this mode you can play key games throughout the historical basketball timeline such as Bill Russel and the Celtics Vs Jerry West and the LA Lakers. What is absolutely stupednous about this game is that 2K has actually represented the time period perfectly through the presentation in the game.

The game is played through black and white to keep true to the lack of color TV’s at the time. As you play and advance through the historical timeline, the presentation will also advance. This makes everything feel as classic and realistic as it did when we were young.

2K’s my player mode is back and better than ever. This mode allows you to create your own player and start your own career through the NBA. When you answer the media’s questions and perform well during games, your stats will improve and your minutes will increase. I started the game out creating a point guard, as I like to be the facilitator on offense. When you have the ball in my hands you can ensure that we will win the game. As always during every game you will have 3 objectives that you need to complete in order to earn extra skill points that you can use improve your skills. You must be careful though, if your character plays horrible in a game you run the risk of losing points that could be used for improvements.

The game also features a quick play mode for you and a friend to have a quick match to play. You can pick several teams and using the greats such as Michael Jordon and Scottie Pippen is awesome. There is also an online mode that allows you to play with players across the world as you would assume. The game is truly the most authentic basketball simulator a hardcore fan could want.

Gameplay:

The gameplay in this year’s iteration has greatly changed from previous years. The gameplay is faster than previous games and it feels on pace with its real life counterpart. I usually play 2K games on the hardest difficulty and this game is no different. You can set double teams, full court press teams, and also use the quick coaching button to set up your defense to press shooters on the perimeter and put your team in a zone defense.

The game puts an emphasis on using the right analog stick for shooting which is the best way to play the game. Defense in the game is very easy control and it requires you to play the passing lanes and learn AI tendencies so you can become a basketball stealing machine. The game will take some getting used to as there is always a learning curve in any game.

The game doesn’t feature any cheap AI by means. You don’t have to worry about getting missed buckets and the AI getting easy open shots and points at will. The game feels real when you play against stars players and you will shocked and in awe at the feeling you get from playing.

Presentation:

NBA 2K is known for its authentic presentation of basketball. The only difference this year is that it has gotten even better. The attention to detail in all of the player models is simple jaw dropping. Fans look gorgeous and the players look incredible. As I mentioned above, in the NBA’s greatest mode you can really see how far they have taken the presentation. It feels like you have traveled back in time and are actually watching this old school game play out in real life.

The black and white is absolutely great and it baffles my imagination at how well they constructed the look of the past in the present day. Everything is on par with how basketball was played in those times. You can shoot the basketball behind the arc but, there is no arc. I thought that was really amazing in keeping up with the authentication of the era.

The uniforms also show the transformation of the presentation in the game as you can see how the fashion statement has changed throughout the game and in the timeline.

Controls:

NBA 2K12 features really easy and user friendly controls. It runs really smooth and its really easy to play defense in the game. You can lock onto a defender by holding down the L2 button or you can call double teams by pressing one of the shoulder buttons. Offense is a blast to play, as you use the L2 button to do juke moves and crossovers to get by defenders, breaking ankles and dunking on people has never looked so great.

The PlayStation move controls works great as well when you’re playing the game. It’s really easy to control your player and pick and point where you want them to go. Its makes for a very simple and enjoyable experience.

Online:

The online mode is great in NBA 2K12. Playing with your friends has never been so fun before and now you can finally settle all the trash talking that has been taking place all season long. At the main screen you will see how many players are online at a time, which can vary depending on the time of day. You may see a few thousand or even up to 20 thousands of players online.

The game runs smoothly when you play online and their are no complaints that I can give at the moment, except that certain individuals need to stop quitting when I’m winning. Where’s the fun in that! In all seriousness though, the online plays rather smoothly and I was not subjected to any things that would hinder the experience while in multiplayer. It plays fast, fun, smooth and there is a ton of competition for you to encounter.

You pick a favorite team and also create a player to take with you online as you raise your rank from rookie all the way to becoming a potential superstar.

Sound:

Basketball is a sport that relies heavily on music in the stadium to maintain its atmosphere while the players are playing a game. This also holds true in NBA 2K12. The game features some of the best artists in the music business and it maintains the mood of a hardcore basketball game. The game featuers songs that only the most hardcore basketball players will know and may even sing along to. The roar of the crowd is immaculate and it builds the intense environment that one would expect in a game of this calibur.

The sounds of shoes squeaking and rims clanging make this game a premier simulator for everyone to play. I haven’t experienced anything quite like this game before. Music in any sport always sets the mood and this game is no different. Once you start up the game and hear the lyrics “We’re playing basketballllll” you already know that this will be a true to heart, pure blood, basketball fanatic game.

Cons:

As much as I tried to find fault in this game, I could find nothing wrong to complain other than the occasional glitch or miscue when playing, its nothing that would cause a massive hindrance to overall experience of the game.

Pros:

The presentation in the greatest mode is immaculate as you can play old school games in black and white.

The realism in the animation and tendencies the defenders will do make this seem like a real life game you are watching on TV.

The greatest mode brings difficulty and trash talk all in one. Now you can end debates about the greatest player or players ever to play the game.

There are a ton of teams to unlock and also the my player mode has been improved to make the game really fleshed out.

Online is a fun, competitive, robust experience.

Final Thoughts:

NBA 2K12 is a world champion sports game with world champion talent in the game. NBA’s greatest mode allows you to travel back into time and play the game with some of the greatest to ever do it. The presentation in the game is the best I have ever seen in any sports game. The authentic nature shows NBA legends like no one has seen before and it is absolutely great in every aspect. If you haven’t played a basketball game, now is the time to start. If you’re a fan of the series or basketball fan in general than this is definitely a must buy.

Final Score: I give NBA 2K12 a 10 out of 10

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