The first to make the game of basketball realistic in a video game
Previous versions (NBA Live series, NBA 2k10) felt a bit more arcadish. Fast-paced, focusing more on fun than realism. Fun can be good for those casual gamers, but for a hardcore basketball fan like me, this is a good game for you.
2k12 was released last year. All I did was play the demo, but it just doesn't have the same feel as 2k11. Sure, I may be wrong by the retail version, since nowadays I cannot find the time to buy a basketball game. But if you want 2k12, get it, but for sure 2k11 will not let you down.
Graphics don't look much different from last year, but of course every year there are subtle changes each year to make the graphics from 2000 to make it what it is today. The Michael Jordan challenges have more of a chalky, older feeling to it, which is neat considering the time period.
With the emergence of Michael Jordan in 2k12, it brings forth a whole lot of new features, such as Create a Legend and the Jordan Challenges. Also, My Player has been revamped, which makes it less tedious and more detailed. However, the biggest meat of it is at the Association.
Association mode is pretty much you're being the general manager of the team. Managing rotations, all those stuff, and of course, you can actually play them in games. You can choose the original rosters in the NBA, or do the Fantasy Draft to mix it up a little bit. Either way, when you get into the game, you can immediately notice new things.
1. The pace has slowed down to somewhat more like a real basketball game.
2. More fouls called
3. Less lethality from beyond the arc and near the rim
4. More interceptions
I think these are the things that made this edition a lot more realistic from past versions. For me, more realism, more fun.
But then sometimes the AI cheeses to intercept passes, and sometimes it can be frustrating to play against them.
Anyways, the multiplayer does not exist anymore (as the servers are down and moved to 2k12), but while they lasted, they were mediocre at best. There was a good amount of lag.
Overall, 2k11 focuses more realism, which I liked a lot. I can't find a lot of faults with it, yet it can still be the most fun or the mots frustrating game you can ever play.