I have to admit it.  2K Sports did the unthinkable and made 2K12 the must have sports title on the Xbox 360.  I was excited about the Legends Showcase DLC the minute it was announced and it does not disappoint.  I had my own opinions about the game before the DLC release that didn’t see much beyond what 2K11 brought to the table but now … this game kicks some hardwood ass.

The Legends Showcase features all new modes and an all new style of presentation with the best players of the past.  It allows gamers to select from more than 150 of the NBA’s all-time greatest players, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Dr. J, and compete in authentic pick-up games from 1-on-1 up to 5-on-5.  You can do teammate challenges which lets you play with your choice of duos and go against other famous duos.  Want to take Jordan and Pippen against Stockton and Malone?  Go for it!

You can do 3-on-3 Era challenges, play a game of H-O-R-S-E or even a round of 21 and more.  The new look of it and the New York crowd take this DLC up a notch.  It makes the players seem even larger than they already are in terms of popularity.  They seem like super heroes with how 2K Sports presents the entire mode.  The vibe in the Legends Showcase is just fresh and different from the main game.  That could be good or bad for some but for me it was a good thing.  It gave a much needed change of pace to 2K12.

Seeing Jordan in his cell-shaded form going against Dr. J was greatness!  If you have ten bucks to spare or 800 Microsoft Points this is as good as it gets as far as new content is concerned.

8.5
“Standout”