NBA 2K has always thrived on their game modes. Association is considered one of the best franchise modes in sports games and My Player was a very quick success. This year, Association was barely touched, but My Player had a pretty big overhaul. But the problem is, that overhaul might not be enough to keep players interested in playing the mode.

My Player

The most popular mode in NBA 2K11 has made its return with plenty of improvements. Some are considered gimmicks, like the endorsements you can earn, but they are all pretty sweet. I love seeing myself on a billboard or in a commercial. Wearing my own signature shoe and shooting with my very own signature shot is awesome. But the gameplay and AI logic in the mode is what is really killing the fun.

I’m not sure if 2K tweaked the gameplay between the demo I had a month ago, or if I finally have had enough time to notice the problems. One of the biggest issues involves the consistent lag. Too often will the game slow down much like it has in past 2Ks. When you’re bringing the ball up it won’t affect you too much, but when you’re shooting from the post good luck executing that perfect release.

The scoring system is also improved, but still flawed. Unless you play a near-flawless game, you’ll be sitting in the C+ to B- range. But gone are the knocks when shooting full-court buzzer-beaters and when a teammate lets your man score.

The AI logic, which I raved about with my hands-on, feels just plain bad. It is improved from last year, so it’s a step in the right direction. But when Gortat starts bringing the ball up court and driving, there’s a huge problem. Teammates aren’t running around trying to get open, they sit in the corner waiting for the point to make something happen.

And the AI logic doesn’t stop there. The trade logic, which is bad in Association mode as well, is making me want to stop playing My Player. I’m a point who was drafted to Phoenix 13th overall, and in my first week Nash, Carter, Frye, Brooks, Gortat and Childress were all traded away. Instead we had a much better lineup, but entirely unrealistic. Chris Bosh made his debut in the desert after Miami decided Aaron Brooks and Vince Carter fit their team better. Stuckey and Gordon came over from Detroit, while Ariza and Jamal Crawford parted way with New Orleans and Atlanta, respectively. Week 1 in my second year, they traded Bosh, Gordon and Crawford at the deadline for Rashard Lewis and Trevor Booker – Phoenix was sitting in the second seed.

But outside of the problems, the mode still has plenty to offer. The mode starts off in the rookie showcase followed by pre-draft interviews. Next thing you know, you’re in the NBA (D-League is gone) as a 60-rated player. You won’t be starting anytime soon – I’m in my third year and have yet to get anything more than 15 minutes per game. 

Attributes are still expensive, but a newcomer has made its way into your purchasing. Abilities range from 9,000-15,000 points for the first upgrade. These abilities allow you to perform better moves such as crossovers, step-back jumpers and floaters.

Contracts are in the mode after everyone prayed for them. As a rookie you get no option to negotiate, but once you go into free agency let the bidding wars begin. With your salary you can spend it on more points, raise your popularity with teammates/media/fans or spend it on signature packages of your favorite NBA superstars.

The Greatest

To describe this mode in one word, I’d have to choose “wow.”

2K went all out with their legends this year. With 34 classic teams from all eras, dream match ups will become a reality.

Presentation has to be the big winner here. From the Lakers/Celtics match up from the 60s being in black and white, to the Bulls/Hornets game in Technicolor, 2K has made this mode worthwhile.

Not only do the games look fantastic, but the commentary took it to a brand new level. The trio of Kevin Harlan, Clark Kellogg and Steve Kerr bring the history out from each classic team. Instead of hearing straight up commentary about Gary Payton, you’ll hear Clark bust out knowledge of all the defensive accolades The Glove earned during his time in the NBA. The same goes for any other classic team.

In order to unlock the teams for quick play, you must beat the respective challenge. And once you have all the teams it’s great, but for some reason 2K has put a lot of restrictions on the legends. It’s a huge process to get legends in Association, and it isn’t even possible to take the teams online (even if you could, the servers have been terrible so far).

Association

I love Association. It’s my main mode of play, but this year nothing much has changed. Plus, thanks to the lockout, rookies don’t make an appearance. I didn’t think having them out of the game would hurt the fun factor of Association, but it really does take a toll. It's not 2K's fault.

One change is with the ability to lock up players mid-season. Also, once free agency hits, there will be both restricted and unrestricted free agents. It doesn’t do much to affect the overall gameplay of the mode, but it adds to the realism.

Just like I mentioned earlier, the trade logic is garbage. Duncan was traded for Nash, Ginobli was traded for Mo Williams and Westbrook was traded for Jeff Green. The only trade I saw that made perfect sense for both teams was when The Clippers and Pistons agreed on an Aminu/Prince swap.

I hate to leave this section so small, but the upgrades just didn’t make it this year.

Training Camp

There are 88 moves for you to learn from, all taught by legends such as Jordan, Bird and Olajuwon. It will take about an hour or so to go through each and every one of them, but it’s worth it for all 2Kers. Once you’re done with all 88, you will be able to go back and choose each lesson separately.

There isn’t much to say about this mode, except that it is a great addition to NBA 2K.

Final Thoughts

My Player is a disappointment, sadly. The glitches and AI logic, both on and off the court, are too much to handle. The improvements are great, but until a patch comes out it might keep me away from it for a while.

Aside from My Player having those problems and Association being nothing new, the game modes should keep you all playing for quite sometime. The Greatest mode is enough to keep me entertained, especially with the beautiful presentation – I can’t get over how great it looks.

Make sure to come back to OS tomorrow for the final review of NBA 2K12.