Looking back in hindsight at all the stuff that’s happened over the past month and a half, perhaps it was a blessing that NBA Elite 11 was cancelled. The demo wasn’t that well received, the infamous “Jesus” glitch on a digital Andrew Bynum was hard to ignore, and NBA 2K11 coasted to record sales. Granted, some development team members lost their jobs in the process and NBA Jam players were left without their own version of the game to play, as it was to be included as a free digital download. Well, while we can’t solve the unemployment situation for the former EA Sports staff, we can put NBA Jam fans’ minds at ease, as they can finally fulfill their fix of 30-foot dunks and scorching hoops with a full retail edition for Xbox 360. Sure, it’s $50 instead of the promised free price, but look at what all you’re getting. All of the features that were included in last month’s Wii game are present and accounted for, including a new Remix Tour with an array of power-ups, various party modes including a Smash the Backboard Challenge and the ability to go head-to-head against some of the all-time NBA greats (including Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson, with specialized courts to match).
In addition, you can now take these modes online, challenging others without having to invite people over to your inner sanctum, which is probably due for a vacuuming anyway. Online play really does make a difference to a game such as NBA Jam, because it really feels like a party game at heart. Four players can take the court at once, just like the original 1993 Midway arcade game, swatting away incoming shots while running for the hoop and going for a quick score, or shooting from the outside for the decisive three. Multiplayer is really where it’s at too, since the game’s AI is so aggressive, you’ll wonder just where they got their speed from. Seriously, when can someone like the Clippers stand up to the Lakers? Like never – in real life, anyway. So, yeah, this is an ideal party game, and the mix of classic play and new modes really do make a difference, easily justifying the $50 price tag. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about grasping an awkward motion control scheme. NBA Jam plays exactly like it should with the Xbox 360 controller, in a retro style that never gets old. You can opt for right analog stick support if you’re up for it, but, as for us, we prefer the old-school method. Nothing beats scoring that perfect block with a perfectly timed button press. We’re glad to hear Tim Kitzrow back in the announce booth, as he was for the original Jam. He’s got plenty of humorous comments throughout each match, from the classic “Boomshakalaka!” to a hilarious quacking noise when you go up for a ball and cause a goal tending foul.
The music is pretty repetitive, but jazzy enough to stick with the NBA Jam ambience. We like the sound effects too, especially when you come rattling down on the rim after a thunderous dunk. As for the graphics, what can we say? It has a resemblance similar to the original Jam, but has some higher-end touches, including neon-lit courts, enthusiastic crowds and crazy-looking players. EA Canada did a wonderful job with the player engine here, and the big head mode really shows how much work went into each individual’s expressions, as you see just how wild-eyed these players get when they dunk with authority. That’s just part of the show, too. Wait until you see all the cool secret characters and mascots you can unlock. We’ve seen a few reviews for NBA Jam hit the net already, and many folks admit to having fun with the game, but feel it’s too “old” for its own good – a less-than-distinct value for $50. Um, correct us if we’re wrong, but age shouldn’t really have anything to do with it. It should be more about the fun you have. And despite some AI issues and the occasional online hiccup, NBA Jam is more fun than we remember it being. Invest in this EA Sports basketball game today and enjoy a few boomshakalakas for yourself.
