NBA 2K12: Legends Showcase

What is it?
Legends Showcase is an all new DLC mode for NBA 2K12 that focuses on some of NBA's best players from the last 40+ years. It features multiple new game modes like teammate challenges, which lets you pick a famous pair of players (Jordan and Pippen, Malone and Stockton, etc) and compete against other famous buddy duos. There's also the 3-on-3 era challenges, where three man teams from each decade compete to figure out which era is the greatest. Playground style games like H-O-R-S-E, and 21 round out the batch. The entire mode takes place in NYC's Times Square in front of a roaring crowd, with a new cel-shaded style.

Did we like it?
So the Legends Showcase plays very different from most of NBA 2K12, which can be a good or bad thing, but I had fun with it. H-O-R-S-E is a fun timing challenge, and the half-court games are more aggressive and fast paced than a full NBA game. There are a ton of awesome players in here, from Dr J, to Alonzo Mourning, to Bill Russell, to early 2000s Kobe.

I personally hate the art style. I get that it's supposed to be all fun and cool with the cel-shading, but it looks cheap and blurry, like a bad Photoshop filter. However, the addition of stylish new animations and the energetic commentary gives Legendary Showcase a cool vibe more reminiscent of streetball games.

Should you buy it?
That really depends on how much you want to play H-O-R-S-E. Legendary Showcase is a cool, lighthearted addition that puts the spotlight on players of the past, which is awesome for those of us who are into that (whether you're old, or a basketball geek, s'all good). As fun as these modes are, however, they're all superfluous and don't quite measure up to the level of the game's original modes. The biggest selling point is probably the ability to play a new online mode using Legendary teams, but that's only useful for fans of the online mode. You definitely need some friends to fully appreciate this mode, so unless you have a couple basketball loving buddies at hand, you won't get the full experience.


CLOSING COMMENTS
NBA 2K12's Legends Showcase is a fun addition to an already great basketball game. It's not as stellar as the main game's modes, but if you want a change of pace and an homage to some great players of the past, check it out.

by Jack DeVries

Posted in: Sports