NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[Giammajo]

I downloaded this bad-boy in the AM, but didn't get a chance to play it until after work. After nearly 3 hours I've finally put down the controller... but only to write this post. I'm getting my Dirk on again as soon as I'm done.

It took several games for the new changes really shine as they are mainly "under the hood". Once they did, it became glaringly obvious how drastically they have improved the gameplay. My impressions:

GREAT :

Post Play Offense: The Y button must be the happiest button in town right now. Away with Hopstep/Gather I say! Being able to initiate a backdown at will is glorious. The plethora of fakes, space creators, drives, spins and shots make playing down low a strategic war, and a good one.

AI: On offense, teammates cut to the basket on the break in appropriate situations. Once we get our hands on play calling I'm willing to bet my big toe it gets a whole lot better. On defense, help comes much quicker, which makes the interior D feel more realistic. The computer opponent uses Heat & Wade to their strengths, and employs a number of different fakes and good passes to drive or find the open man. Very nice to see Lebron and Wade initiate the offense on roughly 60% of the plays. It feels like I'm playing a live human opponent.

Defense: 2 standouts here. The aggressive shuffle (LT+RT) and the ability to put your hands up while on the move. This provides a good defensive counter to the quick slashers who WILL get to the paint more frequently than in 2k11.

Pick & Roll: The pick and rolls feel much more organic. Hedge defense and fight over screen tendencies are apparent and implemented well.

Ball Physics: It's great to see big men track to ball finally, and not the hands of the shooter. Abusing the fast break dribble will lead to turnovers if in traffic, and loose balls are a much bigger wildcard this year. Rebounds look fantastic.

Presentation: Intro is a nice step up from last year, and character models look slightly better. The broadcast camera looks great, offering a nice view of floor spacing. Graphic overlays show relevant stats like lead changes. Overall presentation is more polished.

Questions:

- How will the tendencies and AI of other players / teams compare? I'm hoping all the superstars make themselves felt the way Wade and Lebron do. I want to be aggressively backed down by Dwight Howard, have my ankles broken by Drose, and need to stick to Durant like glue.

- How is the new Post defense? Miami has only posted me up 2 or 3 times, and I haven't had a chance to play with the new controls. If the counter moves like pulling the chair are balanced with the brilliant post offense, it will be a true chess match. I want predictability to be punished.

- What affect will play calling have on the AI of your offensive teammates? I hope the strategic play calls (set off ball screens, leak out, space floor etc) help your comp. teammates move with greater purpose. They are better than last year, but with some user input it could be a true masterpiece of simulation sports.

*****

This demo is short, bare bones, and extremely limited. I wish I had more, but precisely because I DON'T is why I can't stop playing. Excellent move by 2k to peak anticipation by their fans. If the demo is even a fraction of what we can expect from the retail game, then 2k12 will be an undisputed game of the year contender.

I do think however, that this demo is catered towards the hardcore 2k fans. Causal fans and NBA LIVE players will have a tough time appreciating all this demo has to offer without access to all the advanced moves via a practice mode. Obviously 2k knows what they are doing, but personally i believe adding a freestyle practice mode would get many more people interested in the game.

[ALBERTPULHOZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlackRome

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but for those who wished for the tightness the 2k series was known for before last year floaty animations you will still be disappointed. It's better than last year but not by much. Knowing 2k server issues it's going to be worst online and you probably won't notice much difference form last year. If the movement feels the way it feels offline in the demo when you take it online. If they fix the servers. . It would be an improvement. But like I said. Barely. Right now this demo can not compare at all to the tightness of 2k7, 2k8. 2k9 or 2k10. Just take a step with your defensive man forward. You stopped moving the stick but he's still moving forward. It's no where near in real time. Why am I watching his two feet plant so slowly. Which means there is no way you can feel like your on the court. It's just not real. The animations still need to be tightened up. Hopefully they have tightened it up a little before they release. It's better than last year but not by much. Looks like the fanboys are wetting their pants again when it's nowhere near necessary. Yet every time I read a hands on preview they talk about how great the game feels compared to last year. Even though these same reviewers never made a peep about how bad the animations were last year. Neither did the fanboys. It was funny reading how last year was the greatest even though the animations were the worst the series has seen on the next gen. I have both systems. I only played it on the 360.

AMEN !
I thought iwas the only one .

[Da_Czar]

Quote: Originally Posted by blues rocker

CPU AI is so life-like and intelligent...i love how the CPU now shows RESTRAINT. it doesn't just pull up for bad jumpers because it wants to shoot...now it will hang back and keep probing for an opening. scoring in the paint is not easy...dunks are much more rare now...if there are defenders in the paint, you're probably going to get a contact layup, not an exaggerated dunk on animation.

And this is pro casual.

[Eman5805]

First playthrough and I'm wowed. The feel is totally different.

But then, I haven't touched 2K11 in over 5 months. Very, very rusty.

I'm trying to make Rudy foul out to get Jason Terry in but I keep making him lunge all weird, grab at thin air, and take him all out the play. I want to foul, not give D-Wade a wide open lane to the basket.

And in the open court, I'm not even contesting, cuz I wanna see LeBron and Wade show their speed and explosiveness. Wade did his euro step and into a dunk. Looked a bit quicker than it was last year.

[Starwipe]

Still not available for PS3 in Australia. Or is it just me?

[blues rocker]

lead passing will not be a factor this year...mostly due to the improved off-ball defense of CPU AI players...AI defenders stay in position to stop offball cutters from running to the hoop.

[trinh]

Man but I also had a shootout, the defense played well but this one game it was back to back three's by both teams as if they knew they had to match it. I was playing tight D but they set screens. There were also fast breaks I saw that I loved, they ran theirs I ran mine, I alley opped, Lebron hit D-Wade for the flashy dunk.

[Mos1ted]

Quote: Originally Posted by Da_Czar

And this is pro casual.

That's good to hear. I knew it was on pro, but certain parts of the game looked cheeser friendly if pushed.