Pros: I only play this game for the RPG/My Player mode, so keep that in mind. The points system is better in a couple ways: 1) Upping stats...

Cons: For all the polish and improvements, there are a few things about the gameplay and AI that have gotten noticeably worse. The down side of...

Pros: I only play this game for the RPG/My Player mode, so keep that in mind.

The points system is better in a couple ways:

1) Upping stats costs more, meaning paying more attention to playing the "right" way and more satisfaction when you actually raise your overall rating.

2) Points are awarded and taken away in the flow of the game. Successful box out? Points. Take a bad shot? Lose points. It's nice to see real-time feedback of your actions.

Shooting is both better and worse. The good is that more open shots go down, and the shot stick feels a bit more responsive. See the cons for the bad.

The rebounding is much more realistic. As a sophomore point guard in 2K11, I would grab about 10 - 15 rebounds in an 8-min quarter game (earning lots of points). In 2K12, as a taller shooting guard, I struggle to pull down 5. The point reward for rebounds also seems to have (rightfully) diminished.

Passing in 2K12 is much improved, as not every single pass gets tipped away by a defender with their back turned. It's still a bit difficult in certain situations, but not nearly as frustrating as last year.

Overall, the animations, graphics, and feel are much improved. The new training system is nice, though I wish you could practice the drills outside of the My Player storyline. The presentation is much more tolerable with Steve Kerr - I think I actually waited 3 full games before turning the announcer volume off.

If you enjoyed 2K11, you should probably get 2K12.

Cons: For all the polish and improvements, there are a few things about the gameplay and AI that have gotten noticeably worse.

The down side of the shooting is that it's not just open shots that fall more often. All shots fall more often - even highly contested step back 3 pointers and turnaround double-teamed jump shots. Overall the game just seems more offense oriented, which is fun at times, but very frustrating when you repeatedly play 23 seconds of great defense just to see some ridiculous shot go down.

In the month that I've had 2K12, I've seen more CPU players get caught in animations that have taken them out of bounds or into the backcourt than I did with my entire year of 2K11.

Speaking of caught, there's also a new CPU behavior - standing still with the ball for most of the shot clock. I'm not sure if it's the play not unfolding correctly, but often times the CPU point guard will dribble up the court, stand behind the 3 point line either dribbling or just holding the ball until the shot clock is at 1 or 2, then jack up a brick. Sometimes calling for the ball repeatedly or setting a screen will get them moving, but sometimes not.

Running through the lane is too difficult. You get chucked and stuck at almost every angle (sometimes even when attempting to move away from the defender). There are times when you can't move through the lane at all. I agree it was too easy in 2K11, but 2K12 swung too far the other way.

Unfortunately, you still have to suffer through the post-game press conferences, which this year have an added intro sound effect taken straight from Law & Order. The response choices are at least more varied, if not somewhat random.