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989 Sports’ basketball debut does pretty well on PSP. The minimally titled “NBA” doesn’t attempt to do a whole lot. The game is remarkably simple, the graphics and sound are merely competent, and the modes are the typical for a basketball game. Nonetheless, the tight controls, and multiplayer implementation show promise. The basics are all here, and for a launch title, there isn’t much more you can ask.
NBA includes the expected game modes. You’ll find a season mode, a quick play mode and some minigames. In Season mode, you’re given a choice in the number of games you want the season to be (29, 58, or 82), as you attempt make it to the championships. It isn’t really complex, but you can execute trades and simulate games during the season. Quick play is an exhibition mode that allows you to well, enter a game quickly. The game also includes minigames – three to be exact: paint, three-point shootout, and skills challenge. In paint, one half of the court will be divided into numerous zones, successfully taking a shot from one of these zones will give you possession of it, and will award you the points that go with it. Three-point shootout is a simple three-point challenge. Lastly, skills challenge has your player completing a number of micro games in an obstacle court, of sorts. The minigames, particularly paint, are interesting diversions.
Aside from the single-player mode, the game includes two-player multiplayer for one-on-one gameplay. Quick play and all three minigames can be played against another player. NBA supports both local multiplayer (for connecting to another PSP directly), and online multiplayer. Sony is still patching up some of the online infrastructure, so it may take a few times to successfully connect to their server. Once connected, we found most games to be smooth, although lag was present a few times.
The actual basketball gameplay is remarkably simple. This isn’t a negative point, though, since it is ideal for portable gameplay. By and large, in offense, you’re simply running to the basket in an attempt to get a three-point or go in for a dunk. Defense is as simple, though steals and blocks are frequent. Although no turbo button is included, there is a juke button which is helpful when positioning for a shot. It is possible to map plays via the D pad, but this isn’t practical. The A.I. isn’t incredibly intelligent, and serves only as practice for a live opponent.
One of the first things you’ll notice about NBA is the shooting system. The game doesn’t use the typical hold-and-release approach, but instead uses a two-click approach. For field goals, three-pointers, and lay-ups, you’ll hit the shoot button, at which point a colored ring will appear over the ball. It’ll be red (indicates a poor shot), yellow (a decent shot), or green (a good shot). The color will change over time, and you’ll need to press it at precisely the right time for the shot to go through. This takes some getting used to, but the feat is certainly attainable. This contributes to the game’s simplicity: once you master the technique, it is easy to find a good shooter, juke around the defense, and shoot a three-point shot. Dunks are handled a bit differently. For dunks, all you need to do is run towards the basket and hit the shoot button one time, at which point a dunk animation will follow.
The game’s visuals are good. They aren’t poor, but they aren’t great. The player models are capable, although it is hard to tell when they are on the floor. Occasionally, you’ll get a zoom on the player models (when a great play is done, for example), and here you can tell that 989 Sports did model them well. The animations are lifelike. You’ll notice players move to catch a pass, and even stretch out if they need to. Some animations though, particularly the dunks and lay-ups, feel a bit recycled. The courts are proficient, though again, nothing great.
The sound portion of the game performs about the same. The sounds of basketball – the ball dribbling, the shooting, etc – are present, though they are often masked by the music. The music is generic, but not distracting. There is no play-by-play included, though the announcer will broadcast out-of-bounds and fouls. The crowd makes its presence known throughout the game, adding to the atmosphere.
NBA isn’t a complex basketball game. It doesn’t offer a myriad of gameplay options or modes. It does, however, provide competent gameplay, and a satisfactory audio-visual component. The multiplayer, though, is well implemented. There is something remarkable about being able to play against someone miles away on a portable. If you plan on using the game’s online component, NBA is a good purchase. Otherwise, wait for more capable basketball games to be released. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Apr 26, 2005
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