PlayStation 3
Released in 2011 by EA Sports
Grade: A
This stylish recreation of the classic 2-on-2 dunkfest is finely tuned for intense gameplay and it’s full of fun goodies.
Where it falls in the series
This download-only game follows the 2010 release, NBA Jam, subtly tweaking the gameplay and adding lots of modes and past players. To see where it all started, go back to my review of NBA Jam on Sega Genesis.
Praises and gripes
It’s a more challenging brand of ball than the classic versions. There’s less open space and more tenacious defense, forcing you really work for baskets. A one-dimensional attack won’t work too well.
The action is somehow smooth and supercharged at the same time. This version has slight improvements from the 2010 game. Players start and stop a bit differently, the spin move has a more balanced effect, and rebounding is more fair.
These changes are subtle, but it’s enough to say this game has the edge over its predecessor in terms of gameplay.
In terms of features, though, it blows that game out of the water. Now you’ve got an elaborate season mode, although it’s nothing like the real NBA season and there’s no traditional playoff mode.
You can unlock a ton of former NBA stars: Magic, Bird, Dr. J, Stockton, Malone, Isaiah Thomas, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and many more. Players don’t have unique tendencies, just skill attributes, but it sure is fun to see these greats flying around the screen.
The graphics and sound are top notch, by the way, and there are some awesome new slam dunks.
There’s obvious rubber-band AI to keep games close. And against the CPU, games have drastic momentum swings, when your opponent will ease up and lock down periodically. Some people hate that, but I don’t mind.
Overall, the game provides a lot of variety for such simple action. And on the court, I’d say this is the best-playing arcade basketball game to date.