Random Cool: You Can Be 'Like Mike' In NBA 2K11

By Sharmaine Jones

Michael Jordan is making a comeback! OK, we may have oversold with that statement but he is returning to the video game world. The Legend will grace the new cover of NBA 2K11. Yes, Michael Jackson fans — there's room for two "MJs" in the virtual world!

NBA 2K11 will be released October 5 and will be available for Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Playstation3, PSP, Wii, and PC.

Not only is Jordan on the cover, but he's actually in the game! If you're hardcore fans like we are, you've been waiting for this moment for almost a decade. The last time Jordan appeared in a video game was 2003 in EA Sports' “NBA Street Vol. 2” — which was a major suckfest.

What does Jordan think of being a part of the best-selling and highest rated video game series? Here is his statement, via Kotaku:

“Its an honor to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K11. I have no doubt that NBA 2K11 will be a big hit with gamers and basketball fans alike. I'm looking forward to getting back out on the court, virtually.”

2K Sports' vice-president Jason Argent promises that this is going to be a stunning game. “We know we have the best NBA game ever made here,” Argent told CNBC. “So we thought to ourselves how can we embody that and there was only one person on that list who we wanted to have and that was Michael Jordan.”

Smart man. Who else to keep us overwhelmed with anticipation for the next installment of the 2K franchise than the most popular athlete in the world, and the legend himself: Air Jordan.

“MJ” isn't merely in the game on a “Legends” team, 2K11 will have an added game mode called the “Jordan Challenge.” It's pretty much injecting Jordan-ness into the popular “My Player” feature — which allows you to create your own basketball player and guide him through his career (that was introduced in “NBA 2K10”).

In the “Jordan Challenge” we'll get to attempt 10 of Micheal Jordan's most popular career accomplishments. Do you remember game 2 in the first round playoffs vs. the Celtics at Boston Garden in '86? 2K11 will recreate this scenario and your goals for this challenge named “The Arrival” would be to score 63 points or more, dish out at least 6 assists, and shoot 50% or better from the field.

Or you can try the “Double Nickel” challenge — score at least 55 points, shoot 55% from the field, dish out 2 assists and win the game — reminiscent of his return not only to the league, but to Madison Square Garden where he dropped 55 points on the Knicks. Knicks fans are still recovering from that onslaught!

After completing all of the “Jordan Challenges” the “MJ: Creating a Legend” mode is unlocked enabling gamers to take control of “His Airness” as a rookie and guide him to legendary status on the NBA team of your choosing. That’s right, team him up with the “Big Three” on the Miami Heat (Lebron, Wade, and Bosh) or reunite him with the Chicago Bulls. Either way, you control his destiny.

Did we mention there are 25 pairs of Air Jordan sneakers in the game that are unlocked every few hours you play? They're killing us here!

Are you ready to take the “Jordan Challenge”? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Chicago Bulls, Jason Argent, Michael Jordan, NBA 2K11, Nintendo DS, PSP, random cool, Sony Playstation3, video games, Xbox 360