NBA 2K12 "NBA's Greatest"

The NBA 2K series has prided itself on nailing the nuances of basketball like arguably no other video game. So when I was given hands-on time with NBA 2K12, all of the subtle gameplay refinements created a level of immersion few sports titles have attained.

My hands-on session began by taking a trip down memory lane in NBA 2K12's Legends Mode. 2K once again nailed the presentation, opting for a black-and-white, grainy broadcast instead of color for the games that were played in that era. The announcers also had an old-school radio broadcast sound for the games that took place in the 50s and 60s.

The in-game overlays even provided more than just the legends' stats -- in one instance letting the viewers know that Bill Russell received the President's Award during his illustrious career. Presentation aside, the aspect that really stood out was the improved AI.

In past years, AI controlled players weren't too committed to moving without the ball unless you called a specific play. In 2K12, players are intent on getting to the spots where they can succeed. Hakeem Olajuwon would work to get position in the post to pull off his patent Dream Shake. The '85 76ers set a screen under the basket for Moses Malone to get him deep, low-post position.

When I pitted the current Warriors against the Showtime Lakers, James Worthy and Magic Johnson continued to try to post up Golden State's smaller backcourt of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. These instances turned each possession into a chess match.

Check back for more updates as the game prepares for its Oct. 4 release for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

The NBA 2K series has prided itself on nailing the nuances of basketball like arguably no other video game. So when I was given hands-on time with NBA 2K12, all of the subtle gameplay refinements created a level of immersion few sports titles have attained.

My hands-on session began by taking a trip down memory lane in NBA 2K12's Legends Mode. 2K once again nailed the presentation, opting for a black-and-white, grainy broadcast instead of color for the games that were played in that era. The announcers also had an old-school radio broadcast sound for the games that took place in the 50s and 60s.

The in-game overlays even provided more than just the legends' stats -- in one instance letting the viewers know that Bill Russell received the President's Award during his illustrious career. Presentation aside, the aspect that really stood out was the improved AI.

In past years, AI controlled players weren't too committed to moving without the ball unless you called a specific play. In 2K12, players are intent on getting to the spots where they can succeed. Hakeem Olajuwon would work to get position in the post to pull off his patent Dream Shake. The '85 76ers set a screen under the basket for Moses Malone to get him deep, low-post position.