The reality of not having a full basketball season is slowly setting in this year. Owners and players just can’t get over their egos in an attempt to see eye-to-eye, and as a result, fans will be left turning to other means of entertainment while this gets sorted out – whenever that is. This week, video game players have two alternatives to turn to. The first, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, is ideal for arcade-style fixes, not to mention a bigger and cheaper alternative to last year’s game. But what if you want something more serious? Well, there’s only one name to turn to – NBA 2K12. 2K Sports stepped up its game last year with NBA 2K11, thanks to the inclusion of the legendary Michael Jordan and enough tweaks to scare EA Sports enough to remove its NBA Elite 11 project entirely from existence. Without any serious competition this year, the company could’ve easily ran on by with quick changes and won by default. But instead, it’s added some substantial features that make NBA 2K12 the best baller to date. If you’re not running up and down the court with this, you’re either an idiot or deeply invested in another sports game. Even so, you should give this a shot. Perhaps the biggest improvement on NBA 2K’s part is the inclusion of NBA’s Greatest, with a plethora of legends. Michael Jordan is back, but he’s brought other classic players with him, including Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen and others.
You play through their world when you select them, hunkering back to a presentation straight out of that era. If you go with Bill Russell, for instance, you’ll be taken back to the glorious black-and-white days of the 60’s. Wilt Chaimberlin? Head to the 70’s and get ready for a whole mess of afros. Visual Concepts has faithfully recreated each era that the players are in, and the commentators adjust accordingly, providing lots of feedback as if they saw the game live. What’s more, you can unlock and use players a lot more easily this time around, creating your dream team in the process. My Player, one of the big modes for the series, also makes a huge comeback. Drafting doesn’t nearly take as long this time around, as you don’t have to mess around with pick-up games and the D-league to get noticed. You merely need to get into a contest, conduct your interviews with teams, and move on to your career. Granted, you don’t always end up in the most ideal of places (really, Wizards?), but you’ll get over that once you start completing objectives and working towards a Hall of Fame career. Prosper enough and gel with your team accordingly and you’ll find a spot amongst the other elite, as a Create a Legend. Fail, and you may as well see what lucrative commercializing deals you can get. It’s a worthwhile mode for those willing to take the time to invest – and considering that time has been cut back a bit, it’s not nearly as stressful as you might think.
Association also makes a return, letting you manage your team accordingly, like a real NBA master would, and making decisions through trades, placements, and more. Sometimes the AI will be a little iffy with decisions, but overall you’ll feel like you’re in control. What’s more, you can also go online and play along with buddies in a team fashion, seeing how your franchise does. It’s a nice, in-depth mode if you can find some serious ballers to hang with you. If you can’t find them right away, try your luck with normal online contests. They’re fun. Now, for the gameplay. NBA 2K has always meant serious business on the court, between adjusting sliders, maintaining certain energy aspects and just feeling like you know the right way to lead your team to victory. That feeling returns in stride with 2K12, from the 3-point shooting to the more-than-fair free-throw shooting to the thunderous dunks you can deliver with an opening in the lane. Defense is equally important, whether you’re waiting to block someone or eyeing an opportunity to intercept a pass. Little adjustments have been made to both parts, so transition feels just a bit smoother. It’s not perfect though. On higher settings, the AI almost becomes god-like, reading your passes like they were earmarking them with lasers and making big ones happen, even if you’re at the ready. Adjust your sliders and proceed with caution. NBA 2K12 is still one smooth looking game of basketball.
Some player design weirdness exists here and there, but overall the models are lifelike, and transition up and down the court like pros, even with the minor brush-off animations after they score. The courts themselves are marvelous, with plenty of crowd ambience, cheerleaders and mascots adding to the overall appearance of the game. The replays are truly something special, even if they’re riddled with advertisements, and the pre and post-game presentation stuff packed around games are worth watching. As for commentary, it’s still the best in the business. It adjusts accordingly to older games, but if you play through newer contests, these guys never miss a beat, and even report stuff on the sidelines. The other effects and player chatter are excellent, and the crowd definitely has its moments, especially the Mavs fans, who can’t help but yell “BEAT THE HEAT” during their playoff game. The music choices are okay, but fans will probably get into them more than I did. Basketball fans may not have much choice when it comes to watching their favorite sport unfold, but it’s good to see 2K Sports has stayed on task, despite all the labor disputes. NBA 2K12 is easily the best basketball game to come from that camp to date, with its unparalleled presentation, in-depth options and smooth-as-butta gameplay. We like the online component as well, which will keep you busy for months as you try and build your dream team. Who needs real NBA pros when the virtual ones make for great fill-ins?
