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My
first encounter with basketball was many years ago and even now it reminds me of
the festive period during my childhood that leaves me with three specific
recollections. There was Santa Claus, who used to ensure my good behavior for
many weeks up to his arrival, there was White Christmas, ever present on both
radio and TV, and finally there was the Harlem Globetrotters who portrayed
basketball as a slapstick, non-stop barrel of fun.
I suppose it left me
slightly disenchanted when I realised that true NBA stars did not hide the ball
up their shirts, nor did they perform outrageous stunts that basically
embarrassed the opposition or even slam a custard pie in their opponents face.
I think this was more painful than discovering that Santa was a figment and the
snow in White Christmas was fake.
Many years on and I find that the
slapstick and fun of the Globetrotters has returned to basketball in the form of
NBA Jam Extreme, jam packed with spectacular extreme moves, sarcastic
commentary, characters with character and a game that truly flips the rule book
on to it's head where cheaters will always prosper.
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Last
year there was a wide selection of basketball games produced for the PSX, with
the obvious similarity being the sponsorship of the NBA. The very first title
to hit the 32- bit format was Acclaims NBA Jam Tournament Edition, closely
followed by Total NBA, NBA In The Zone and NBA Live '96. The new year has
brought us a follow up to each of these titles, each sporting improved looks,
additional gameplay and upgraded teams.
NBA Jam Extreme is no
exception, essentially a straight port of the 2 vs 2 coin op, only this time the
game uses three dimensions with polygons aplenty. The old hidden favorites, the
Big Heads are now freely available to play alongside a multitude of NBA stars
and some amusing special players.
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The
main difference between NBA Jam Extreme and its predecessor is a full graphical
revamp. Gone is the flat 2D look, to be replaced by some of the finest polygons
seen on the Playstation, each covered in a delicate layer of texture mapping
that gives the players a truly realistic appearance. The amazing result is that
players now move with smoothness and speed, and I have yet to witness any
slowdown within the game. Their faces have been digitised from actual NBA stars
then grafted onto the players head, which is most noticeable when the camera
zooms in for a replay or when you select your team to perform in the Big Head
mode.
All of the NBA teams play at their home stadium with the court
surface marked with their name or logo, while the packed crowd each have a
detailed attire, so when the action breaks you feel like checking them out to
see if you recognize anyone at the game. During the action, Extreme moves will
provide a spectacle of effects such as a hail of sparks flying from your
sneakers, or the ball turning into a brick when a poor shot is taken.
A
further improvement is the introduction of sensible camera positions which move
the playing angle only slightly during play. Don't worry, you still see a close
up during dunks then the camera will pull away back to a friendly angle when the
action moves across court.
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The
constant running commentary informs you of the players in possession, shot
takers and scorers and the commentator can become quite enthusiastic during the
game, especially if your player ignites after scoring three baskets in a row to
the accompanying screams of 'I smell smoke'. Play by play is performed by TV
broadcast superstar Marv Albert.
All the crowd noises are present along
with the squeaky sounds of sneakers as the players pace up and down the court,
while the music, as in all sports games is immaterial.
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The
options are plentiful, allowing you to adjust the difficulty, speed of the clock
and a choice of catch-up. You may also select the position you wish to play in
a multiple game of up to four players.
Before the game is started you
may desire to record your progress by entering your initials and the date, which
incidentally is where the hidden characters are accessed. After selecting from
174 different NBA stars, spread over 29 official NBA teams or one of the 60+
hidden characters (see cheats), its time to get down to the real slam-dunk
excitement as the players take to the court.
The controls are extremely
simple to pick up, with a jump/block button, a pass/steal button and two special
buttons for Turbo and Extreme. Each time you press the turbo button your
players speed and ability will increase allowing you to shove opponents off the
ball, race up court at lightening speed and perform improved shooting and
passing motions. The Extreme button is essentially the same as the Turbo but
with a further increase in power, turning your player into an unbeatable force
that will usually end with a 30 ft leap into the air, a couple of somersaults
before slamming the ball into the hoop. If you manage to score three baskets in
a row and block three shots in succession, your player will become almost
unstoppable for a short period of time.
After each quarter you may
switch players according to tactics. A stats screen will display all the facts
and figures on your team with the players attributes based on real NBA
statistics. Before commencing the next quarter, you are provided with a top tip
on how to play better, shoot more accurate and pass with ease, which I found
extremely helpful.
The investment of a multitap has never been proved a
more valuable asset than when NBA Jam Extreme allows you to give the computer
the elbow and partake in a four player game. This is what enjoyment is all
about as you shove your opponent off the ball, turbo up court and perform an
extreme outrageous dunk, to the cries of 'hey, that's not fair' from an irate
mate.
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If
you take your sport seriously then spend your cash on a visit to a real life
game of basketball, but if you cherish the memory of the Harlem Globetrotters
and prefer to partake in a fun filled, action packed basketball game, then NBA
Jam Extreme is a worthwhile purchase and to be honest, is that not what video
games should be all about.
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MARTIN |
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GRAPHICS: |
Good |
Acclaim
have captured the feel of an arcade basketball game perfectly with NBA Jam
Extreme. If you already own a copy of NBA Live or In the Zone then you must
find room in your collection for this insane rendition of your favorite sport.
If you already own a copy of NBA Jam T.E, then trade it in against the sequel
and you won't be disappointed. |
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SOUND: |
Good |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Average |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
7/10 |
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JIM |
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GRAPHICS: |
Good |
I
prefer my basketball more in the style of NBA Shootout rather than this arcade
effort. Don't get me wrong its great if you like this sort of thing - its just
that I don't! |
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SOUND: |
Good |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Average |
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VALUE: |
Average |
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OVERALL
7/10 |
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