Play as Bird, Dr. J and Magic in NBA 2K12

[Greg Tito]

Play as Bird, Dr. J and Magic in NBA 2K12

Building on the shoulders of basketball history in last year's edition, NBA 2K12 will let you pit modern stars against Hall of Famers.

Basketball is a passion for me. If I was a little bit taller - ok, a lot bit taller - and had a better natural shot, I would have loved nothing more than to play basketball for a living. I still follow the NBA and my college team won the National Championship for the third time last year (U-C-O-N-N!), and I've read Bill Simmons' Book of Basketball over the last year or so while sitting on the porcelain throne. Given my love of the game, I was impressed last year with NBA 2K11 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/8213-Review-NBA-2K11]'s attention to basketball's historical details like mostly accurate rosters and arenas from some of Michael Jordan's greatest moments.

The only thing I lamented was that I had to suffer through those moments as Jordan instead of personal heroes like Larry Bird or Ray Allen. It seems 2K Sports read my review, or maybe they have a chip in my brain, but with 2K12 I'll be able to play as #33. I can't wait to pit him not only against the Showtime Lakers but also contemporary powerhouses like LeBron James and Kevin Garnett with the NBA Greatest mode.

"The NBA 2K franchise has become an essential part of the NBA culture, and our fans can now take control of legendary teams and athletes from the NBA's rich history," said a marketer from 2K Sports. "With 'NBA's Greatest' mode, NBA 2K12 will allow fans to prove once and for all who are the greatest basketball icons of all time."

I know that's just marketing spiel, but it actually sounds really awesome. The full list of basketball icons hasn't been disclosed but here are some of the specific names I'm already chafing to play with:

Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Julius "Dr. J" Erving

For those of you keeping track at home, that's four out of the top five of players in the history of the NBA, at least according to Simmons, with Dr. J thrown in for good measure. Now all we need is Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain in the game so I can pit them one and one and finally end that endless debate.

NBA 2K12 is slated to tip off on October 4th for the PS3, PS2, PSP, PC and Xbox 360.



Permalink

 

[The Great JT]

I refuse to play this game until they announce Wilt Chamberlain will be a playable character!

I also won't play this because I don't enjoy professional sports games.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I hope Wilt Chamberlain is in it, and we get to put the rest the rumor of if he really screwed 20K women (seriously).

more improtantly thoguh, they're still making games for the PS2?

 

[The Great JT]

I hope Wilt Chamberlain is in it, and we get to put the rest the rumor of if he really screwed 20K women (seriously).

If he's in 2K's basketball game, maybe he'll confess to only 18,000! Ha ha ha...ugggh, that was bad and I will hit myself for it later.

 

[mysecondlife]

They had me at Magic and Kareem. I'll check it out, especially since NBA lockout will most likely eat away huge portion of the season.

 

[ImprovizoR]

NBA 2k11 was the greatest sports game ever made, EVER! His Airness was finally a playable character. I was in awe! If they keep doing what they did last year I'll be all over it. It's the only team sports game I play.

 

[winter2]

I vote for Charles Barkley making an appearance.

 

[chstens]

I vote for Charles Barkley making an appearance.

Tha's turibul, turibul, turibul, turibul. That guy's a knucklehead, Kenneth, tell him he's crazy. Kim Jong Il blowin' up the worl' crazy.

 

[FoolKiller]

Yes... then I can hope that I can collect all of them to make an all-Laker greats team with Wilt, Kareem, Magic, and Kobe.

 

[TraumaHound]

Finally, I can relive the classic one-on-one rivalry of Dr J & Larry Bird with the updated graphics I've been longing for!

 

[staika]

Come on no Patrick Ewing, 2k12 I am disappointed. Oh wait I'm one of the only people who likes the knicks, no love for the knicks.

I'm still gonna play it anyway since I'm a sucker for sports games.

 

[Low Key]

So...they are doing the same they have always done then? I remember playing 2K5 and the "Superstar" team had Dr. J, Kareem, Bird, Magic, Chamberlain, etc.

On an unrelated and hilarious note, they were the only team who could beat the Timberwolves, and not by much. I couldn't believe it.

 

[MorganL4]

"Play as Bird"

Sweet! I wanna play basketball as a western goldfinch

YEAHHH!!!!

 

[Lionsfan]

Well that's cool, I'm sure quite a lot of Boston and LA fans are happy, and that's all that matters since in the current league those are the only two teams worth caring about, at least according to ESPN anyway....

 

[Zerbye]

Nice 5 to have, but remember it is still a preliminary list. I read that 2K will pick 10 more, and they are listening to reader suggestions!

Plus, if this game is going to work for these players like the Jordan Challenges did in 2K11, that means they have to include their opponents...this smacks of all sorts of awesomeness.

And one last thing: I found it a little shocking that Bill Simmons didn't pick a Celtic as #1 on his pyramid...not because I disagree, but given his background.

 

[Greg Tito]

Finally, I can relive the classic one-on-one rivalry of Dr J & Larry Bird with the updated graphics I've been longing for!

Oh man, I was so good at that game on the Commodore 64. Thanks for the nostalgic post!

Greg

 

[Tsaba]

You sold me at Larry Bird