A few things holding it back from being the best... especially online play.
NBA2K12 takes many new and great steps forward for the franchise, but also takes a step back in some areas as well, which really holds this game back from matching the masterful performance delivered in NBA2K11.
The gameplay has taken a few strides forward, but also a few strides back from NBA2K11. There are a ton of great new moves that can be used out of the Triple Threat position, which adds a great deal of realism to the game. Player animations have been vastly improved once again, which really makes it feel like you are watching a true NBA game when playing.
However, there are a few set-backs that the gameplay takes this year as well. Passing has become much more difficult, as even on the lower difficulties, a pass to the block will be taken or at least tipped probably six out of ten times. Speed is basically a non-important statistic, as it seems that Roy Hibbert can easily run down Tony Parker on a fast break.
New in 2K12 are the additions of both the "Creating a Legend" mode and the "NBA's Greatest".
Both of these modes are great additions, as you can easily take a great player and play in CAL if you don't feel like going through the grind of playing MyPlayer and raising the attributes of your player. A downside of CAL is that you can almost be too good right away though, which may take away the experience a bit for some players.
NBA's Greatest is a great new addition that allows you to play with fifteen NBA legends, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Jerry West, and more. Upon completion of a game, assuming you win, you also get to unlock tons of classic teams to use, such as the '71-'72 Lakers or the '96-'97 Bulls.
MyPlayer has undergone a few new changes, such as the removal of the Draft Combine for one long game that helps determine your draft position. Many things, like contract negotiations and trade requests remain the same from previous years.
The NBA Blacktop remains as weak as it has been in previous years, as you can only play 5v5 tournaments again this season.
My experiences with online play have not been very good however. You have to activate an online pass to be able to actually play online. It's free, but for some reason, has proven to be a major hassle for me. It took me a solid four or five days before the site would actually send me everything to be able to activate my account and allow play online.
Online play is extremely laggy, and it is hard to find games. I haven't played the online part of this game in a very long time, just because it isn't worth all of the hassle.
Another strife I have with this game is the downloadable pack for 800MSP that really only allows you to play a few new games like 1v1 and H.O.R.S.E.. That really is not worth the money in my eyes.
Overall, NBA2K12 is a solid game for the 2K series, but it highly suffers with online play. Don't be surprised if it takes you multiple days before you can get your first game online. Don't let that hold you back on the purchase however, as the single-player aspect of the game is still very fun and can entertain you for hours.