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Last
year's most impressive looking hoop game established Sony as a major player in
the sports realm, and even brought the powerhouse of EA Sports to its knees. A
year passes, and we witness superior second generation titles like NBA Live 97,
and In The Zone 2, when one day, during your favorite teams's basketball game,
you see a commercial with unbelievable graphics and animations displaying Reggie
Miller pump faking, and Hardaway crossovering (is that a word?). If you are
anything like me, your mouth watered as you brought home the very reasonable $37
hoop game with famed swing man Eddie Jones on the cover.
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Shootout
is a 3-D simulation basketball game with elements of arcade play. It aims to be
a medium between NBA Live and In The Zone. The action is fast, and the dunks
are spectacular.
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The
graphics are improved from their first try at basketball, the players don't run
around like hunch backs anymore, and it is very easy to liken the players to
their real world counterparts. The courts are replicated from the actual NBA
courts, and the camera angles are fun to play with.
You will bear
witness to the most beautiful crossover, behind the back dribbling seen to
mankind. The instant replay is still very impressive and the players move with
a Sprewellesque flair.
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Great
sound, but nothing special, there is a PA announcer who, from my experience,
doesn't get caught behind the actual play (although there shouldn't be any
reason for this since it only says basic things). The crowd noise is there, and
the animation is amazing.
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While
the one on one aspects are nice, the actual play of the game is flawed (when
isn't it?) but in this case, the flaws detract from the game IMO. After playing
for a while, you'll realize that everyone, from Gheorge Muresan, to Latrell
Sprewell play like Latrell Sprewell. I'm not one to complain, but Vinny Del
Negro should not be making posters out of anyone by dunking on them! The Create
a Player has some favorable elements, like clutch ability, but it forces you to
choose a picture for your player which isn't bad on the surface but they don't
give you many options to choose from.
Other than that, the game is
easy to play, and the icon passing is a standard setting development. As for
two on two play, you'll marvel at the one on one moves, which leads me to one
last gripe ... if you have the ability to allow me the sweetest crossover on a
videogame, why can't you give me some post up moves? Especially when all you
have to do is pick up In The Zone 2 to see what it should look like.
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ANDRE |
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GRAPHICS: |
Good |
Where
does this game rank in the greater scheme of things, I think it ranks below
Live, and ITZ2. If you are a hoops enthusiast, then you probably already have
it. |
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SOUND: |
Average |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Good |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
7.5/10 |
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JIM |
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GRAPHICS: |
Brilliant |
I
loved this game from the first time I played it. The extra moves and features
added to this sequel made the already good Basketball into a brilliant one. |
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SOUND: |
Good |
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PLAYABILITY: |
Brilliant |
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VALUE: |
Good |
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OVERALL
9/10 |
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