Back in the early 90s, many gamers spent lots of dollars in arcades challenging their buddies to a game of basketball – basketball, with a twist called NBA Jam. Midway had designed a game that was easy to pick up, fun to play, and, yet, still competitive. Now many console ports, sequels, and fifteen years later, EA has given the NBA Jam franchise a reboot. But is this game still on fire?
Like its predecessors, NBA Jam for Wii has the same iconic gameplay features that will remind older gamers of the fun they had when they were young while introducing the newer generations to a fun and simple basketball gaming experience. Unlike most sports games that stay true to their rules, NBA Jam eliminates the complexity of basketball and lets you play 2-on-2 games without worrying about penalties except for goaltending and 24 second violations. This means you can shove your opponents, knock them down, and shoulder them out of your way as you make it to the basket.
Score three shots in a row, and your ball will be on fire, easily allowing you to score 3 pointers. The controls are simple and straightforward, and because it’s on Wii, there are three ways to play the game using the nunchuk, classic controller, or just the remote. Purists will probably stick to the Wii Remote scheme as it closely resembles those of the 16-bit consoles. But surprisingly, the motion controls with the nunchuk are fun and responsive as well. Raise your remote and flick your wrist as if you were shooting a ball and your character will do the same.
NBA Jam had its origins in the arcades and is truly meant to be multiplayer game, so you will get the most out of the game if you play it with someone else. While four players can play at a time, one of the biggest drawbacks about the game is that it does not offer wi-fi multiplayer. Despite this, the game’s AI will keep you on your toes and there are also plenty of single player modes to keep you entertained.
From the main menu, you can select the Play Now option which lets you quickly get into a game with a friend or with CPUs. Each game consists of four quarters which are 3 minutes long by default. There is also a Classic Campaign that lets you play against all 30 teams from both the Eastern and Western conferences across the United States. This mode is straightforward, and completing different divisions unlocks certain modes such as Big Head and Mini modes. Then there is Remix Tour, which as its name implies, is like the main campaign but each game is played with or won by different conditions, such as power-ups and glass breakers. There are also boss battles which put you 1-on-1 against an NBA legend. You can play these challenges separately or as part of Remix Tour.
These modes give the game a fresh new twist, but a lot of the appeal of the original NBA Jam games still remains in the game. The graphics are solid, combining 3D body models with 2D heads that are very detailed and whose expressions change depending on the situation. The courts are dynamic and team mascots, colors, and cheerleaders give each court a touch of personality. The sharp-tongued announcer from the original NBA Jam is back along with his old lines and new ones that will make you laugh. All these components stay true to NBA Jam’s roots while keeping up to date with its fans. For example, instead of unlocking and playing as Bill Clinton, you can now play as Barack Obama.
Verdict: NBA Jam is a solid game that anyone should have in their Wii library. The biggest letdown comes from its lack of online multiplayer that would have definitely doubled this game’s replay value. Sometimes the AI can be cheap and do the impossible – especially in boss battles. But overall, NBA Jam is nicely balanced and makes a great party game and a fun sports game with plenty of unlockables to keep even the most serious of gamers busy.
