NBA 2K12 Legends Showcase Review

Feature Article

Submitted on: 12/07/2011 by Dustin Toms

For the first time in a long time, there may finally be some DLC for a sports game that is worth purchasing.

NBA 2K12’s Legends Showase brings to life New York’s Time Square with even more legends than the original retail product. The content includes new game modes and the ability to take classic teams online and into your own dynasty. I’m sure most gamers are on the fence about getting the DLC, so here is a guide that should help you make the final decision.

What’s here?

Plenty of new game modes have arrived, all of which are quite entertaining. The modes include a 3-on-3 Era Challenge, 2-on-2 ladder system, HORSE, 21 and a classic pick-up game.

The Era Challenge is the best mode available, letting you take a team from the 80s to the early 2000s, and beating the best of the best. Personally I prefer running with the Kobe-Duncan-Dirk team off the bat mainly for Kobe’s fro. The challenge will take you through the different era teams until you have beating them all, unlocking more content to use in the DLC and the main game.

The 2-on-2 challenge pits a team’s top duos against the best of the best. Being a broken-hearted Sonics fan, running with Payton and Kemp is a must. The ladder system works just like NBA Jam, which can bring you back to some classic gaming moments.

HORSE, 21 and the pick-up games are pretty much what you’ve seen in the past, except HORSE takes it to a whole new level. HORSE lets you do trick shots from kicking the ball into the hoop and lying on your back. You don’t really need much skill to perform these tricks, but you have to be able to time a precise button click to actually make the shot.

Once you beat each challenge, you will unlock the ability to take current NBA players into Times Square. You will also be able to take the original 34 classic teams into an online quick match, Be A Legend and dynasty, but the one downfall is the inability to use the new legends anywhere else.

Outside of the new game modes comes new presentation. The cel-shaded graphics are kind of cool, but in the end I find them as a distraction. You get used to them the more you play, but I prefer the normal graphics seen in the original game. However, with the new look comes new commentary.

The commentary is wonderful -- hands down the best part of the DLC. The commentary gives you a street ball feel, by calling a lot of the players by their nicknames. Jordan is often referred to as His Airness, while Payton and Kemp are simply The Glove and Reign Man, respectively. Team introductions are pretty sweet too during pregame.

Why you should buy it

Five new game modes
Plenty of new legends
New presentation
Amazing commentary
Ability to take classic teams online and in dynasty

Why you shouldn’t buy it

Cel-shaded graphics
Inability to take new legends into the main game

Bottom Line

If you love the NBA and 2K12, then I see no reason why anyone wouldn’t want to buy this content. It truly is the first time I’ve played DLC where it feels like a new game. When 2K Sports told us they spent a lot of time working on this project, they meant every word. So fork over the $10 and enjoy.

NBA 2K12 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 LingeringRegime @ 12/12/11 02:12 AM

I unlocked the current NBA players but now they are locked again. Any solution besides playing through the 3 on 3 era challenge again?

# 22 MrWilliamJAlvarez @ 12/22/11 07:29 AM

I have been contemplating on buying this. I waited a bit to see some reviews on it and its obvious that it seems to be a love/hate game. However, for $10, you can't go wrong. Definitely going to add 800 Microsoft Points to my XBox 360 and enjoy this!

# 23 Quint75 @ 12/22/11 03:18 PM

Is there any way to adjust the difficulty level, because I am finding the 2-on-2 game devilishly hard. I am having a hard time getting past the 3rd team, the Knicks. Yikes.

# 24 elgreazy1 @ 12/25/11 09:43 PM

Do you need to own 2K12 for this DLC to work? Is it a stand-alone DLC package?

# 25 Hassan Darkside @ 12/25/11 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quint75


	Is there any way to adjust the difficulty level, because I am finding the 2-on-2 game devilishly hard. I am having a hard time getting past the 3rd team, the Knicks. Yikes.

Yea, if you press "Y" before you start the mode. I don't know if you can adjust it for an already in progress challenge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgreazy1


	Do you need to own 2K12 for this DLC to work? Is it a stand-alone DLC package?

Yea, you need 2k12.

# 26 VDusen04 @ 12/25/11 10:24 PM

Also, just a little random tip, if you're tired of the 2K soundtrack playing throughout the entire DLC and would prefer your own music, I think the Street games play whatever music is listed under the "Timeout" portion of the Custom Arena Music feature. Well, it might be timeout, or it could be another portion. Either way, I edited some parts of my Arena Music last week (for all arenas) and now I'm getting my music in DLC mode. Quite a departure from the same songs we've been hearing all year.

# 27 Quint75 @ 01/01/12 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruff Ryder


	Yea, if you press "Y" before you start the mode. I don't know if you can adjust it for an already in progress challenge.

Wow, awesome news. I will try that out later. Thanks much.

# 28 bo_jax2000 @ 01/01/12 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	Also, just a little random tip, if you're tired of the 2K soundtrack playing throughout the entire DLC and would prefer your own music, I think the Street games play whatever music is listed under the "Timeout" portion of the Custom Arena Music feature. Well, it might be timeout, or it could be another portion. Either way, I edited some parts of my Arena Music last week (for all arenas) and now I'm getting my music in DLC mode. Quite a departure from the same songs we've been hearing all year.

i just recently purchased the DLC. i was expecting to hear the same 2k songs. i was surprised when i heard my own music playing the first time i turned it on.

# 29 shaquille113 @ 01/02/12 08:05 PM

Can u play a quick team matchup with this dlc Cause I only see quick match every time I go online??

# 30 shaquille113 @ 01/02/12 08:40 PM

Can u play a quick team matchup with this dlc Cause I only see a classic quick match every time I go online??

# 31 bo_jax2000 @ 02/09/12 09:17 AM

to get more value out of the Legends Showcase i would recommend learning how to hex edit on the xbox 360. there are threads in the roster section that talk about and explain how to do this.

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...ex-editor.html

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...ex-editor.html

hokupguy also has blogs in his arena that provide codes for arenas, jerseys, team IDs as well as colors used in hex.

from the DLC you're able to replace any nba team arena with Times Square Court. you can then use this court to play full games with the same presentation options of the regular game (commentary, stat overlays, etc). the cell shading is toned down greatly, but it is still there. off topic: you can also use the Rucker Park day and night (street) court, summer league court, combine arena, and practice courts as well. with the same presentation as above.

you can also hex edit in the jerseys from the DLC. using the regular hex editing tool you can replace any jersey you want. the list of DLC jerseys is provided in the link below.

http://www.operationsports.com/hokup...dlc-uni-codes/

there is also a list of the hidden jerseys in the game that you can use.

http://www.operationsports.com/hokup...uniforms-list/

hex editing can seem overwhelming at first but if you follow the tutorials it can be done by anyone. changing arenas (courts) and jersey codes may be the easiest thing to do in hex.

« Previous 12Next »

More Links