You’d need Magic to spice up gameplay this dull.
Super Nintendo
Released in 1993 by Virgin Games
Grade: F
Super Slam Dunk may have Magic Johnson on the cover, but it lacks all his qualities, like speed, grace, and smarts. It’s a plodding game with horrible AI.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the one and only.
Gripes
It’s the quintessential primitive attempt at 16-bit basketball. Players move slow and without any momentum, turning at sharp angles. In the half-court offense, you painstakingly pass around looking for an open shot, without an effective way of driving to the hoop.
The controls are at least responsive, and most of the animations are clear. You can pass accurately and get a feel for a well-timed release on a jump shot. The vertical view is nice, but the screen clumsily flips around as you cross halfcourt, which is constantly irritating.
Defense feels futile and rebounding is frustrating without any box-out mechanic. Odd things happen, like a team inbounding the ball before the defense sets up, stolen passes out of nowhere, fouls that seem random, and free throws for on-the-floor fouls.
Skip this one.