Xbox
Released in 2003 by Microsoft Game Studios
Grade: C+
This game’s limited basketball logic results in unrealistic, unfulfilling gameplay.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the third and last installment.
Praises and gripes
This game looks pretty nice on the surface, with smooth player models in a detailed arena. The controls are intuitive but reasonably deep. The action moves swiftly with many different animations. The default camera moves too much for my taste, but there’s a nice alternative similar to the NBA 2K camera.
Unfortunately, the downfalls reveal themselves pretty quickly. Players get stuck to each other when they come in contact. Defense can be difficult since your player doesn’t stay in a good defensive stance. It’s hard to tell when the defender is close enough to block a shot or so far that he has zero effect.
The shooting success is all over the place. Many times you can soar to the basket and defenders are magically ineffective. Other times shots seem unfairly blocked. Talented big men have no problem with hook shots, and superstar guards are money shooting off the dribble, but mid-level players miss open shots routinely.
The plays aren’t very effective, and there are only four available at a time. Even the “quick screen” command is wonky; sometimes you get a good screen and sometimes it’s way off.
There are some minor but frustrating quirks that are typical of basketball games from this era. Players step out of bounds after rebounds, fouls seem random, the free-throw system is curiously difficult, and the CPU opponent is braindead when behind late in games.
Despite all this, the game manages to be kind of fun at times. It at least moves quickly and the control is responsive. Lighting up the scoreboard with a star like Kobe Bryant can be fun.
All in all, it’s too bogged down for arcade fun, and it’s way too flawed for simulation satisfaction.