NBA 2K12 for the iPad review: Best sports game yet?

As long as it has been around, I’ve been a huge fan of the NBA 2K series because it was the most realistic depiction of my favorite sport and it improved dramatically year after year. In fact, the only console game I play now is the 2K series because NBA Live is dead (and was for suckers anyways) and NBA Jam is fun for five minutes but really can’t satisfy a real hoops fan. Now that NBA 2K12 is on the iPad, is it good enough to help me forget about the lockout? Read on to find out, friends.

Features & Functionality

The NBA 2K12 iPad game will be pretty familiar to players on the console, as it's the same wonderful 2K experience you're used to on the consoles but stripped down a bit. I guess that's to be expected, as the iPad is powerful but still doesn't compare to the likes of the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3. Still, the NBA 2K12 iPad app provides a nice hoops experience on your tablet but there are still some issues.

The game offers you a variety of modes and options, as you can hop into a quick game, do a full season, play the playoffs, go into practice mode, play a specific situation or play the Jordan challenges - this involves accomplishing things Jordan did in his career like scoring 69 points against the Celtics. I'm also delighted by how the graphics look, as even though it's not as good as I'm accustomed to on my PS3, the game looks like 2K games I used to play on the Sega Dreamcast with its 3D graphics.

What really excites me is the attention to detail 2K has put into the game, as there many little touches which add to the overall experience. For example, the soundtrack, running commentary and sound effects are pretty realistic. There are also a ton of animations which really help the flow of the game - your player can get caught up on the referee, players celebrate or whine after fouls, and there are a variety of post moves. The offenses and defenses have a decent amount of intelligence, so games are actually difficult without being cheap.

I've seen some other reviews pan the game for its graphics but I'm a bit forgiving on that. Sure, Lebron James doesn't really look like LeBron James but that lack of detail lets the flow of the game move quicker. There was an occasional slowdown (particularly with replays) but there was never a point where the slowdown made me miss a shot or got in the way of my core hooping experience. You can time your shots for better chances of draining threes, the post moves are pretty decent and you can even play some decent defense if you're capable.

Unfortunately, I never dug the controls, even if I eventually got used to it and was able to punish the opposition. You have the option of on-screen controls in the corners or a simplified experience where you merely tap or swipe at the point of action and the computer does the rest. I found both options to be limiting: the thumb sticks were just a bit wonky and the gesture controls were too simplified. It's going to take some time for game makers to come up with the optimal control pattern for tablet games and I think it will be a combination of the thumb sticks with gestures.

Conclusion

NBA 2K12 is the only real simulation hoops game in the App Store and it's a pretty darn good one if you can beyond the controls and occasional slowdown. Is it worth the $9.99 that it will cost you? Well, that depends on what type of player you are.

If you're looking for a quick, play-for-two-minutes and then move on experience, then this isn't the game for you. If you really want to dive into an iPad game, learn how to read defenses and maximize your offense, then I could easily see you paying $10 for this game. The lack of a true multiplayer experience does drag this down a few ratings points but this game excites me about what is possible with iPad sports games.