While it lacked the insane hype 2K11 brought, and likewise the legacy that title left behind, NBA 2K12 was an improvement, and a better game for its time. It also featured some of the most innovative presentation I've ever seen. This game is, in my opinion, the most underrated NBA 2K title ever made.
Stock footage provided by Videvo, downloaded from videvo.net
Song ‘Close’ by Foewi and ‘Wonder’ by Lakey Inspired used
#retrospective #SOFTDRINKTV #game #review #sdtv
🪦 rip to bill Russell
Story mode. Red never trades 4 him. What happens...
Who?
@@jonah.donohue get out
@@jonah.donohue bill Russell
@@jonah.donohue 11 rings
Sadly this was the last 2k game my Pops had before he passed in 2013 and he absolutely loved this game. Thanks for this nostalgic video. RIP Pops ik you would agree with this video.
RIP bro
Sorry for your loss
rip
Rip 🙏
Thanx & One Love 💪🏾🙏🏽
The black and white and old broadcast look is so cool in 2K12. I love it.
It’s really fun to turn off the saturation and certain sound effects for old sports games like ken Griffey slugfest on n64 to make it sound like a radio broadcast
it really was awesome.....playing through the different eras and unlocking teams was so fun.
@@IndependentWhistleblower thats a cool idea
Truly a masterpiece
2K23 brings it back and now allows you to play Franchise mode through the different eras. Filters and all are back.
2k11 and 2k12 really taught me how to play basketball in real life, thats how good these games was
Bro you are not lying!!! These games really made you LEARN BASKETBALL AND EXECUTE A GAME PLAN! new 2k’s can’t even compare!
2k11-16 were all absolute bangers. I have more faith in them making good sports games than EA at this point despite the heavy micro transactions especially in Mycareer.
@Dennis Jeffrey Pippen he did
I thought 14 and 15 were hot trash when they were figuring out the next gen at the time
Say what you want about 2k but compared to Madden there's way more effort. They *try* to mix up franchise mode, they give MyCareer a long story (even if it sucks) and the gameplay evolves from year to year. Far from perfect, but they try. Madden is literally a roster update and menu color change going back to the mid 2010s, just so they can squeeze money out of ultimate team.
You can have heavy micro transactions when the rest of the game has depth.
Nba 2k14 current gen is great because of mods that can make the game great
A time machine that's EXACTLY why these games need to embrace their historic players in modes besides UT type modes, historic teams, presentation & atmosphere
I probably played this 2k the most besides 20 (pandemic) and this bring back a bunch of memories especially with the opening 💯
I still have have and it fun it better the 2k22
Yessir 🤟
Mine was 13 until this new one. I literally took a break from 2k after -6
20 was a complete waste of money and time for me. Spent all that time updating and tweaking rosters just for the gameplay to be completely broken
@@IndependentWhistleblower just get 2k16
2K11 was genuinely a *MASTERPIECE* 🎯🔥🏆
2k12 was better
@@thebigbogbun5451 i agree, even tho there was no real reason to improve they still did
@@thebigbogbun5451 not really dribble moves didn’t even worklike yo opponents just stood their after a crossover every time😂
Game sucks
@@thebigbogbun5451same
This just made me realize 2k missed out on a great opportunity with 22 because it was the nba 75th anniversary they could’ve did a mode where u can replay some of the nba greatest games.
They don’t care about challenges and play now they only care about my career and my team which is sad bc they could still have loot boxes and micro transactions but give the fans that don’t wanna spend hundreds of dollars for created players and fake cards something a balance could easily be set but corporations have taken over the game creation process and it’s sad
And I don’t even blame them for constantly including micro transactions bc there are people out there dumb enough to waste money on a game they already bought but then that forces players that wanna compete to buy VC and my team packs to even stand a chance against little kids and man\ women child’s gf do I miss 2k12-14 😭
Ah man, this is probably my favorite 2K game. You can even see the care in something simple like when you played as Bill Russell (RIP) and his Celtics team, there wasn't even a 3-point line at the Boston Garden, since it wasn't a part of the NBA in the '60s. Nowadays, everyone, regardless of era, has a 3-point line. It's really a little detail like that which shows the care that was put into 2K12 vs later 2K games.
This is probably my favorite NBA 2K ever. The intro alone is legendary!
the way 2K used the filters when you used 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s teams was just so awesome, i wish they went back to that. UPDATE: by god the bastards at 2K are blessing us with MyNBA Era. from what i seen the filters and even rules are accurate to the era!!
Probably cheap and easy to do but they wont
wwe 2k has the filters (which are great by the way), so it should be possible.....
Same, and no 3 point line before the 80’s classic teams!
Omg I forgottttt
Yes!!!! That was my favorite part of that entire game
2k honestly needs to see this video. I remember playing 2k12 on my iPad and all those classic games. You need to be the player and finish the mission, such as playing as Kobe to get 81pts. It was actually so fun to learn and relive the history of the NBA.
Growing up, I always thought this was way better than 2K11 just because it had the Greatest Moments and a smoother MyCareer experience. This game made me fall in love with the sport as a kid as I was introduced to the NBA Legends of the past. Truly a GOATed sports game. I loved playing this with my neighbors that time, simpler times.
I would love to see a franchise mode in different eras. You want to make sure the pistons keep winning after their title run, well, just select 2004 season and keep playing until 2022. Or maybe you want to rebuild the bulls after MJ left, then just select 1998 season and make the signings you think are best. I’m sure it would take a lot of work, but they definitely have the resources and tech to pull it off.
That would be 🔥🔥🔥🥹🥹 Preston pistons fan.
There are custom rosters for that but I got your point
that’s in 2K right now bro
your dream, our dream, came true brother
@@juanbrown1823 you’re damn right, saw the announcement yesterday. I will definitely buy a next gen console now.
Nba 2k12 is why 2k is as popular as it is today. The myplayer mode was everything that year. Having MJ on the cover was legendary.
Thank you for making this video. This is such an amazing game that doesn’t get enough credit. This video makes me want to go back and do the Bill Russell challenge right now!
NBA 2K11 and NBA 2K12 are definitely the peak and the glory days of NBA basketball video games 🏀
Period
Hey SD. I just wanted to say thank you. Every one of your videos feels like a passion project. Especially when you discuss something you really enjoy. Keep up the great work. You're gonna blow up big in 2023. You deserve it. Your content is much better than that of the bigger KZheadrs.
I loved 2K11 a lot, it brought me back into basketball, but I played 2K12 even more than that game. The second you saw that intro video, you knew you were in for some good shit.
Softdrinktv needs to make a 2k document talking bout the removed features in 2k so that more people could learn bout the features removed in past games.The video potentially might get him more subscribers & viewers.
This is why I can't take those seriously who like the new 2ks because they just don't know
Been loving this recent set of videos, especially the 2k ones. Keep it up!!
Also shout out to the people who make the URB and UBR mod keeping the sprit alive in these older games and make living out my own alternative timelines from old free agency periods ago
Yep I’ve been playing ubr 2k14 for years now after 19 I was done with 2k
8:34, same i feel you, that nhl 14, live the life.
I completely agree 110% that 2K12 was underrated. I remember every time I go home after school, I'll be playing this for hours and hours with MyCareer mode. The music was so damn good as well unlike in 2K13 when Jay Z took over. Man I miss this one
the recent videos have been amazing! love the variety
It's teenagers playing 2k now that were still in daycare when this game came out. When you mention how 2k used to be better and has fallen off they just call you old lol.
Big fan of 2K12. Still have it on the hard drive of my PC, went ahead and used the Ultimate Base Roster mod to keep it updated for a long while. Playing the greatest moments mode was and still is a fantastic experience. While I purchased NBA2K18 on the Switch for mobile play, I haven’t purchased a 2K otherwise since for the exact reasons you talk about.
i wish i could get 2k12 on pc
love the constant uploads KEEP IT GOING
Love the channel man you make my day whenever you post
It makes my day when I see comments like this!
I’m still playing it on my 360. I love it .CAL mode is amazing. I created a Luka, Tatum, Kawhi, Embiid and put KD back on the Warriors. I created Klay and Desmond and had to raise Currys stats. He was so weak in 2k12. I also put prime cp3 on the heat with dwade and bosh. I moved Lebron to the Lakers with prime Westbrook and prime Howard. My player is a 99 in year one tho and I created a player with Max stats but he’s not on my team to balance the league out. He’s rated higher than my player and Lebron and we are both 99s. My league is stacked I love 2k11,12 and 2k5 the most I think. I play 10 mins HOF simulation.
Why did you have to create Klay ? You didn’t have the download still ?
I just did with young Kobe and with young mj
@@Lante216 nope I don’t play online
Man i wish i still had my 360. I'd do the same thing.
This is what video games used to be about. Nothing other than the joy the game itself brings.
Great retrospective Keep it flowing man 🏆
Great content man!
This is the type of content I like to see. Loved this vid and the Fight Night one
We want 2k to go back to the day when we don't need to pay additional bills for essential protector gear.
Spot on, need the classic presentations back!
Such a Great Game and a Great Vid bro 👍🏾
This video was good and I agree 2K12 was more fun to play than the more modern 2Ks, but there’s a few things missed. A LOT of the animations in 2K12 were still cheese and there were weird glitches and players could get back into plays in ways that should be impossible, like sometimes a guy with 50 Speed could close on a guy with 99 Speed like it was nothing. Also there was the fact that you couldn’t block dunks and once your opponent triggered certain animations, there was nothing you could do on defense to stop them
Love your vids bro please keep it up you paint a pic people need to see on these games
The only thing bad about 2k12 was that it came right after 2k11 but to be honest i dont even remember playing 2k11 but i fondly remembering staying up to 4 in the morning playing 2k12. It was a very good game. The expanded legends mode was so fun
Loved everything about this game except how hard it was to iso a defender in this game. Big men kept up with guards on the perimeter so well it wasn't really even a mismatch
NBA 2k12 was one of the most important 2Ks ever. Definitely up there with 2K11 as one of the most important games in the series. Also, never forget the Ultimate Base Roster mod for 2K12 and 2K14. Certainly one of the most impressive mods ever created for any game.
Great video. More legend challenges, much better gameplay, and better game overall over 2k11. They added the rookies later on with a patch update
Yeah but they took away the online modes like crew mode and online blacktop , the mycareer wasnt as fun without the draft combine and d league , 2k12 had more to do , only thing 2k12 has over 2k11 is the greatest mode , both had cheese but i preferred 2k11
Only NBA game I remember playing competitively. Friends, online, bar turneys ect. And because of that, it's the only NBA game I have memories of. This was not just best 2k game. This was the best NBA game ever made! Great vid and thanks for pulling out a bunch of old memories.
Wow! I'm so glad some one else is showing more love to this masterpiece of a game, and yes this is the only 2k where you had "Complete Control of your player". I still have this game and 2k14 for PC with the UBR mod for both, and URB for 2k14, as well as many other mods for both games. I always loved the gameplay much more better in 2k12 than 2k11. Also, I absolutely fell in love with the historic player's challenges with their different color tones for the eras played in. Seeing old-school players like Wilt Chamberlain, and Rick Barry with the underhand freethrow styles, Magic with the running baby hook, Pistol Pete with his razzle-dazzle style play and shots, and every player with their signatures and then some - especially with the Mods was great. The right shot stick was even more advanced and improved to pull off some killer/sick moves and shots. Also it was easier to adjust the sliders to get an even balanced game, with excellent defense, even on Hof mode. The only thing I wish that 2k12 had was the use of the right stick to dribble like 2k14. Other than that. This is absolutely the best 2k in the series, until.....2k23 that is. Lol! There's a lot of smack and hype I'm hearing of "That'll be the best 2k ever hands down". We'll see. Lol, but for me it's 2k12, and with mods. Love 14, and 16 as well.
12 was awesome man
Loved your commentary on our expectations and publishers' attitude towards profit. It's completely true and, at least for me, the games of today lack "soul", given by new modes, features and realism. We don't have, as you said, quality. We've seen this with FIFA, Madden, NBA 2K... almost all of them don't have no competition so they get slacked
This game and 2k13 was very good to me especially 2k13 when you actually drove to the paint to either dunk or do a layup there was actual realistic contacts to the rim I love Tony Parker in 2k13 he was just automatic near the paint floaters all day
U couldn't even block dunks in 2k13
@EversGreen-fy4vs yeah but the animations that was in-game was close to real
I loved the interview process
You been in your bag lately great videos you been uploading lately
That Intro always makes me nostalgic.. I would never skip it. I played the hell out of this game.
You hit some great points; thanks for this perspective.
One of my favorite KZhead channels.
This was my first NBA game so it has a special place in my heart
Been playing so much 2k11 my career the last month or two , this video is so refreshing
I used to play this all day. I remember I would create a player and add him to “Creating A Legend” already maxed out. Watching Chris Smoove play this gives me chills man. Oh to be young again.
Had no idea that the old school presentation was an option. Like ever. That’s truly amazing!!
2k12 is my favorite! Great video bro
This is arguably the best 2k of all time! I remember when the dribbling finally got improved with the right stick. Thanks man this is why i play retro sports games because of there depth and because they were fun back in the day! Hard to find a sports game with the depth and fun of any sports games after 2015 sports games... Thanks SoftDrink!
2k12 didnt have right stick dribling
@@SoSikWitIt oh snap it might have been 13 when they put that in the.
@@thecompulsivefootballer6706 ye
I disagree , what made 2k12 lackluster was because they took away crew mode , which was what Pro am is today , they took away black top mode , it wasnt a fun game if you had online friends you liked to run with
@@moneyman4740 so a crappy feature over great gameplay... Naw
I still play 2K12 to this day, and I really love it! The experience indeed is much better than the new ones. Just my opinion however, I don't know about others. All I care for is that I got to enjoy the game that I love.
This was the first 2K I fell in love with, I had played others prior such as 2K5 (which wasn't bad for 20 bucks) and a few others after that but stopped after a few years so 2K12 was my first 2K in several years and it was just amazing. The gameplay, having an online fantasy Association with my then friends at the time, banger of a soundtrack, and just so much to do in the game.
I was obsessed with NBA 2K12 as a kid so nostalgic, great memories!
2k12 was a great game 🎮 soundtrack was fire 🔥 adding more classic teams was one of the best features doing the legendary players challenge. Was phenomenal my main issue with 2k12 was the my player they added so much more you gotta have the spin gather things of that nature if they would have not done that in my eyes 2k12 would have went down as a classic having a throwback to how the games was played in the 60s and with the 70s not having a 3 point line
RIP Bill Russell
Finally 2k12 love. The game that I would play constantly after school. I love this game so muchhh but yes 2k11 is still the best, but I'll put 2k12 up there.
Had 12 first, tried 11, wasn't impressed
@@darrengordon-hill I had 11 first and it blew me away since 10 was kinda ehh. 12 is an improvement to 11 but 11 was the blueprint for 12. I respect 11 highly since without it 12 would have been mid af.
@@bryan2458 12 missing rookies - my only gripe
@@bryan2458 its crazy because i thought 2k10 was also a great game , it was the game that put them officially over live , i enjoyed 2k9-16 , 2k11 was my favorite but 2k10 was special to me too
Completely agree.. I love being in my own world playing with my favorite teams and players, not just mypark and rec games..
I still talked to my friend about NBA 2K12 its because this is the first sports game I ever played. I'm not a NBA fan before and playing 2k12 made me who I am today. I'm now to 2K22 and it feels so nice to play the franchise game for a decade.
I remember I used to spin dunk ALL GAME against cpu when they started cheating lol. I remember in a league that I was in, we had to make a rule that we can only spin dunk 2 per half. LMFAOOOOO. Great video as always.
I just bought 2k12 based on this video. Great stuff man!
Great content
RIP to the legend Bill Russell. I’ll always remember how cool it was playing with him and so many of the other legends in this game! Very underrated 2k indeed.
This was my first Xbox 360 game back at late 2011, and I spent months playing My Career, it was indeed very imersive and fun. I played My Career with the Spurs, and I'll never forget my created player making a fantastic dunk on James Harden with the announcers screaming just like real life, and later in that game Tim Duncan blocking Kevin Durant to win the WCF was unforgetable. This is the best basketball game I've ever played.
Yup 2k12 is hugely underrated. Especially with the Legends mode. So happy they bringing it back with Eras in 2k23.
Great vid
5:11, i agree, other sports games like modern day nhl, bad to worse games don't even have classic teams or classic roster at all, instead locking nhl legends paywall in hut, nhl 14 is legendary, for many reasons. nhl 2k is a legendary series for many reasons.
Great video
the all-star showcase was simply amazing and takes this title over the top......in addition to the different decade filters. picking any players/teams in the showcase (keeping their original unis) was so fun....still enjoy it to this day. this was all before the dreaded microtransactions took over. such a wonderful time to be a sports gamer. the soundtracks were so much better too, especially with the older old school tracks. it was almost like 2k knew the lockout would hinder this release and then turned it up a notch with the modes and features. 2k11-2k13 was the golden age for 2k. 2k11 (jordan), 2k12 (all-star showcase/retro filters) and 2k13 (dream team/all-star weekend).
I LOVE what 2k12 did with the shot/dribble stick. It took some time to get used to it, but once you learned it, you could really dominate, especially with bigs that weren't just powerful (like Shaq) or stretch bigs (like Dirk). When I'd play, people I'd play against were surprised that I could/would use guys who weren't just uber athletic guards/wings or 3pt sharpshooters. I'll never forget what they did to Chris Paul's face though lol (his original face was tragic, though there was a patch that fixed it)
SoftDrinkTv doesn’t miss
I use to always let the into song play all the way through..I was a youngin in awe of the game I loved
This got me on 2k, 2k12 was crazy!! Those Jordan challenges were amazing
this was my first ever 2k i didn't get it until 2013 when i was 14 even though it came out in 2011 as that's when i started to become an nba casual fan and we didn't have money to buy the new games so i had to settle for 2k12 i had so much fun tho specifically playing career mode i remember knowing almost nothing about the nba i didn't know any of the teams besides the lakers and didn't know any players besides kobe and lebron but i remember getting drafted by the knicks and remember being a small forward even though i had no idea what any of the positions meant still i thoroughly enjoyed the game me and stoudemire were unstoppable lol ever since then i become a huge nba fan and it really all started with this game i don't even play 2k anymore as one im too busy with real life stuff nowadays but also the games just kept getting worse the last one i really played i believe was 2k19 or 20 i still watch the nba though a lot
Pssh, I didn't get it til 2018!!! Baby Curry and balling Love and sneaky good Danny Grainger and trying to trade for Paul George AND extended his contract. And the GREAT ANDREA BARGNANI!!!
Best 2k Intro of all time
best intro of all time for ANY VIDEO GAME EVER
I wish you would’ve talked about the legends showcase add on. It was great!
One of my favorite things in sports games, past and present, is when they include retro teams. I remember the first time I saw it in Madden '94 on Sega and I immediately went to play as the '85 Patriots (this was an era pre-Brady, remember). I was similarly impressed when they did it again in Madden '96 (also on Sega). I think the most recent game I remember playing that had retro teams was NHL 2K5. NBA 2K12 blew all of the previous stuff away. I was so amazed at how far they went to make that presentation work, in addition to the retro teams. I guess what I'm trying to say is, have classic teams in your sports games! But we all know why that can't happen now (player likeness issues aside).
100 percent agree! 12 was my favorite for the legends mode.
I STILL play this game in 2022 in Create a legend mode mostly & I thoroughly enjoy it. The 2K11 game was good too with the Jordan challenge but the game would freeze on me at the menu part after I bought several used versions & returned them all...
100% agree! I’ve been playing 2K12 recently and I totally love that ‘NBA’s Greatest’ mode too!
I loved this 2K!! Man this bring back memories for me lol my friends and I would jam on this for hours and the myplayer was fun too
This was the one man. Played this sooooo much with the homies
2K11 and 2K12 my favs out of the 2K's. I still play 2K12 on my PC rig with Hawk23 Ultimate Base Roster. He added every team in NBA history with real NBA players face and moves. Accurate courts and NBA on NBC scoreboards. He still updating rosters today with current teams.
Wow show me how to get this please lol
@@vintage3262 you got a PC?
@@2414kels yeah
Don’t forget 2k12 is the only 2k with DLC that Legends Showcase was crazy
Once you think about yeah man 2K12 was the most complete package. You had the NBA Greatest match ups, much less lag online (if i remember correctly), You had an actual association mode where you could actually play in G-league games (something we just recently got back). Even the my player mode back then was much more realistic and fun. No VC or stupid cosmetics just you hooping getting your skill points and unlocking brand deals.
Such a tremendous game top to bottom the soundtrack is so good so underrated songs I still listen too today
I’m a huge 2k16 fan and still play it as my go to title. 12 looks a lot more interesting to me than 11 considering I don’t care about Jordan moments or the impact on time of release
Yea I bought 2k16 and been having fun
@@cortez212 yo if you’re into my league, definitely trade the fake players with the decent euro league players and drop them into free agency. TONS of gems
Mutombo doing the finger wag on Dirk’s fadeaway as if he didn’t goaltend the shot 1:20
This was just a great year of basketball in general. Lockout games irl and then 2k12 is truly one of the best NBA2k
2K12 made my middle school days so much fun I never understood the slander it received definitely my favorite 2K above 11
Facts bro
This is the first video game I feel in love with. You did it justice