Can the Patch Redeem 2K12?

Redemption - a spiritual enlightenment causing a person to lead a new life. The act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing. Payment of a debt or obligation.

Well here we are, NBA 2K12 Take Number Two. Its not often that we get to see a mulligan in the arena of sports gaming but when the NBA rookies, various gameplay issues and the sorry state of online are modified via patch later this month, the game has a chance to be reborn in the eyes of many.



Lockouts are funny things and there's no question the NBA's work stoppage stole much of 2K12's momentum. Predictably, critics piled on calling it an incomplete game with no updated content, fans decried the lack of a rookie class and then the connection issues with online play came to everyone's attention--and fair or not, there was also an overall negative attitude to anything NBA due to the labor issue. Its certainly been a trying first couple of months for 2K12 when you consider the freight train that was 2K11. Here's the thing, much like NBA fans when games actually start, all will be forgiven if 2K manages to salvage the majority of the gameplay issues that have cropped up, give us full rosters, address the NBA-Jamish quality of online play and provide the quality updates and new content that sports fans have simply become used to.

We've written several articles regarding the passing mechanic, rebounding, CPU recovery speed, almost "psychic" steals and other cheats, lack of fouls, charges and defense overall. We're hopeful that the developers can make these issues of the past so that gamers aren't concerned with them in 2012. Regarding online play we only have one mantra: MAKE IT SEAMLESS. For three years players have gotten used to great offline play and then ventured into an online arena where very few of the things that make the game wonderful still exist. Lag is the variable that 2K can't be responsible for, but passing, pump fakes, lack of fouls, charges and defense overall, 3pt %, and possibly worst of all, steals are represented horribly. Its baffling to get used to FT Shooting offline and be met with a completely different system online. Fans of the 2K series are enamored with the true-to-life version of basketball it represents, the state of online play is quite simply an insult to this.

We sincerely hope that the wonderful minds over at 2K see this opportunity to regain momentum for their product and take full advantage, consumer confidence has been damaged a bit due to some of this year's issues. Make no mistake, EA re-enters the Hoops Arena next year, and the battle for sales in 2012 starts right now. This is the same company that's challenging Call Of Duty for FPS Supremacy. They aren't to be taken lightly.