2K Sports are back with their latest basketball offering, rain, hail, shine or lockout. NBA 2K12 has pulled a trump card out to help fans get over the Lockout Blues… the legends of yesteryear!
In a brilliant move, already shown to be a winner with the 2K11 focus on Michael Jordan, 2K12 will use the go-to move of most branding in the past decade or so: go retro. Everyone loves their old school players, evoking memories of the 90s, 80s and before and so, NBA 2K12 will feature this grand list of “NBA’s Greatest” legends:
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
* Larry Bird
* Wilt Chamberlain
* Julius Erving
* Patrick Ewing
* Magic Johnson
* Michael Jordan
* Karl Malone
* Hakeem Olajuwon
* Scottie Pippen
* Oscar Robertson
* Bill Russell
* John Stockton
* Isiah Thomas
* Jerry West
Whilst the challenges will revolve around the legends listed above, reliving their great performances means that we will also be treated to players from back in the day who competed alongside and against these NBA immortals.
To give you a brief taste, that means that the game will include the likes of Clyde Drexler, the late Kevin Duckworth, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Run TMC (Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin), Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, David Robinson and many, many more. Watch the video below and start to get all nostalgic:
Hey, Aussie fans, notice that our very own Luc Longley gets a run in there? Look out!
Have a read of this post by the developers and you will get a further taste for the game, as well as an exhaustive list of the classic players that will be included.
Another cool feature will be the multiple cover sleeves available on the game. We get a choice between MJ, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The designers have done a pretty good job, don’t you think?
Before you run out to make your pre-orders, you can also take a look at these teaser videos to get you even more pumped up for that retro NBA action.
It was a safe, fan-appeasing move to omit “King” LeBron James from that clip. And before you punks start asking, there will be no Charles Barkley or Reggie Miller in this game, or any similar game, where they fail to sign a royalty agreement to allow their likenesses to be included. Barkley and Miller are not members of the NBA Players Association agreement that covers use of likenesses in video games etc.
