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Filesize: 1,137kb |
Rating: 9.2 (175 votes)
Plays: 54,616
M:99% F:1% |
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 NBA Jam Review by: j0han - 7/10 NBA Jam Sports genre, meet your soul mate: Action! Get ready to hit the courts with the classic game that revolutionized the sports genre! The developers at Midway saw a big problem with the current state on sports games in the late 80s and early 90s: they were relatively slow paced, even boring. Controls and game-play were often difficult and hard to learn. Basically, this meant that most sports titles ostracized a key demographic: teens and preteens. Success within the genre paled in comparison to platformers like Sonic and Mario. So the folks at Midway set out to create a game that not just adult males would want to play, but also their kids. They released the game initially to arcades where it outshone competitors, leading to its home console version.
The controls and game-play of NBA Jam were deliberately simplified. Rather than a full roster, the game's officially licensed NBA teams consisted of its two best known players and games were played 2-on-2. All rules (besides a shot-clock and goal-tending) were thrown out the window, turning elbowing into an art form (playing against an expert "elbow-er" inevitably led to shouts of "Hey, no fair!"). Sinking baskets really took no skill, just an in-game player with good stats. Play as Shaq or Abdul-Jabbar and the threes would drop like flies. To add some action, in-game physics (or lack there-of) allowed players to jump twice their own height, spinning and twisting mid-dunk. Three consecutive shots and the player was officially declared "On Fire!" giving him increased speed and accuracy, and setting the ball ablaze, of course. Getting into on-fire mode late in the third or fourth quarters gave the player the chance of realizing every kid's dream: shattering the backboard.
These changes set NBA Jam apart and above its fellow sports titles, redefining the genre and launching a series of sequels that continue to this day.
Graphics: 9
Would have been a 10 if a little more detail was given to the crowd. To compare graphics, NBA Jam was better than Sonic, but falls short of Jurassic Park. On a positive note, half-time reports featured a live-action (albeit very low resolution) video of Micheal Jordan dunking. A first back then.
Sound: 9
There could have been more music tracks, even for a Sega game. The lack there-of is probably due to the game being originally designed for arcade play. However, the in-game announcer's trademark phrases were heard on playground and driveway courts country-wide: "Boom-shaka-laka!" "He's on fire!!"
Addictiveness: 9
As a little kid then, I played this game over, and over, and over. And over. (and over) There was nothing like dunking my step-dad into a quibbling, emasculated pile of goo. The game was great for having friends over, which meant it was definitely very re-playable.
Depth: 2
Absolutely no depth beyond playing each game and trying to get better. No career mode, manager mode, fantasy draft or anything similar. This also was probably due to its original arcade format.
Difficulty: 2
As stated above, the game was deliberately simplified for kids in arcades.
Overall: 7
I know the average adds up to like 6.2 or something, but I boosted it to 7 because of its originality and the fact that it changed the genre so much. (You're welcome Midway.) Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 9 Depth 2 Difficulty 2
NBA Jam Description: The ULTIMATE arcade JAM comes home! YOU control the super moves, amazing blocks and awesome slam dunks of the NBA's hottest stars! Sky-walking slams - Cannonball, Tomahawk, Helicopter and more! Turbo boost for lightning-fast steals and intense rejections. 4-player adaptable for true arcade competition. AutoStat saves your records and stats as you drive to the Championship. NBA JAM puts you on the court and above-the-rim!
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NBA Jam User Submitted videos
NBA Jam User Submitted Screenshots
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| | boomer170904-28-13 12:43 AM 5/5 BREAKING THE BACKBOARD | acam07-23-12 07:05 PM 4/5 Halftime Report. | | boomer170904-20-13 05:53 PM 3/5 rediculous 26 3pointers for 82pts triple/dble | | | Elegardo07-31-12 02:41 PM 1/5 all the teams in the game |
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NBA Jam Highscores Table
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NBA Jam User Reviews
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9.2 Graphics 8 Sound 8.3 Addictive 9.5 Story 7 Depth 5 Difficulty 4
7 - NBA Jam - j0han
Sports genre, meet your soul mate: Action! Get ready to hit the courts with the classic game that revolutionized the sports genr...
Graphics 9 Sound 9 Addictive 9 Depth 2 Difficulty 2
Review Rating: 4.4/5
Submitted: 09-16-12
Updated: 09-16-12
Review Replies: 2
Reply to this Review
9 - Nice - jayron122
This game is very fun even though i suck at it. I love the dynamics of how you play i love the players you can be. A...
Graphics 8 Sound 8 Addictive 9 Story 7 Depth 6 Difficulty 5
Review Rating: 1/5
Submitted: 11-30-12
Review Replies: 0
Reply to this Review
8 - Shinyu
I love this game; #1: Like when you still the ball and make a dunk/make it in over and over it would like ''HE'S ON FIYA!'' #2: I get motivated even more when the announcer says ''BOOM SHAKA-LAKA!'' it makes me sound like Shak or Micheal Jordan.
Review Rating: 1.2/5
Submitted: 02-21-10
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NBA Jam Forum Threads
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Threads and posts on this game:
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NBA Jam Strategy Guides, Walkthroughs and FAQs
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Strategy Guides, Walkthroughs and FAQs on this game:
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NBA Jam User Comments
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kaweezyboy223 04-05-13 - 10:56 PM dunk in your face kemp boy kaweezyboy223 04-05-13 - 10:55 PM this game is one of my favorite retro games i ever played i played it at the warriors game the play zone and it is one of the best basketball games phillie508 02-25-13 - 03:44 PM THIS IS THE GAME OF THE OLDAYZ
acvthomas 08-21-12 - 07:05 AM this game is sweet colton grundy 06-28-12 - 07:15 PM love this game melomoe3268 06-27-12 - 06:32 PM hi slavery 06-19-12 - 09:19 AM i have seamen gushing out of me!! Juggernaut 06-09-12 - 08:43 PM hey msphxy 06-03-12 - 10:53 AM Awesome. sonicdanighog 05-27-12 - 09:29 PM 666 migssup3rpan 05-26-12 - 04:57 PM anyone know how to fullscreen brandan80 05-23-12 - 01:12 PM cant see s*** mookasaurus 05-20-12 - 04:52 AM LOL at some of the massacres Im doing with the Bulls. Pippen is just a beast! I just beat Miami 104-0 shaneb189 05-16-12 - 07:35 PM penis dirtdevil105 05-12-12 - 09:34 AM hi emcee_davine 05-06-12 - 04:40 PM lol kontraverzzy 04-19-12 - 09:49 PM wtf? Britishkid9 04-18-12 - 02:40 PM anybody else noticed how easy it is for an opponent to hit a 3/4 - full court shot when time is running out cabeben 04-15-12 - 06:44 PM como hago para seguir despues del primer partido? JWright 04-08-12 - 05:06 PM Press F2 to save, then when u come back press F4 edrendz 04-06-12 - 12:04 PM how can i connect my joystick here in the game Tru35t 03-19-12 - 01:11 PM stupd s*** dont save sam4145 03-02-12 - 07:15 PM how do I save my progess and how do I change the controls?! It says I need to be registered so done that but still cant see any way to do these things? dakota93 02-02-12 - 10:51 PM whtat turbo majeec 01-29-12 - 04:55 PM how do u play fullscreen drewserthebrews. 12-03-11 - 08:05 PM go suck one GameFreak420 09-11-11 - 04:26 PM yoooooooooo GameFreak420 09-11-11 - 04:26 PM yooo jazzmessenger 08-29-11 - 02:26 AM Press A(7) then hold B + C + Up at the "Tonight's matchup" screen until the tip off. jazzmessenger 08-29-11 - 02:26 AM S (C + Start), N (B + Start), and K (C + Start). Then, press C + Start at the tip off announcement. mrdukes87 08-10-11 - 04:35 PM andre JaBari Corum159 07-23-11 - 04:21 PM hey KH1021 07-15-11 - 05:16 PM sup YoungKidd314 07-08-11 - 08:32 PM hh baa3 07-04-11 - 03:42 PM yeah what are the controls RatedBadAss 06-28-11 - 06:31 PM who likes dick RatedBadAss 06-28-11 - 06:31 PM guys RatedBadAss 06-28-11 - 06:31 PM yo periptero20 06-14-11 - 10:52 AM any cheats guys?????? Marleymaniac1986 06-11-11 - 10:55 PM COOL guilty915 05-30-11 - 11:00 AM hey VizzedMan 05-22-11 - 02:05 PM mine works GameFreak420 04-21-11 - 05:23 PM yo chucky8191 04-20-11 - 01:34 AM i am Gothar the Terrible! cyphus 04-17-11 - 08:17 PM what are the controls? anxl7 04-15-11 - 03:30 PM some one looking for a girl sarcophillis 04-04-11 - 10:11 PM it wont work what the GOREFIST 03-31-11 - 08:36 PM hahaha woooooo mhesan69 03-30-11 - 08:23 AM hey dw24063 03-27-11 - 05:32 PM mine works hahahahaha jazzmessenger 03-26-11 - 11:14 AM Press B(7) then hold B + C + Up at the "Tonight's matchup" screen until the tip off. The fire, goal tending, and turbo power-ups will be enabled. jazzmessenger 03-26-11 - 11:12 AM Enter the following initials and pressing the indicated buttons to enter that initial: S (C + Start), N (B + Start), and K (C + Start). Then, press C + Start at the tip off announcement. stoploss 03-22-11 - 08:38 PM who couldnt love this game? its a classic and so much fun! lhsheph 03-20-11 - 11:12 PM my controls won't work Sylva2011 03-20-11 - 04:56 PM reminiscing hard Jamaalthadon 03-19-11 - 01:08 PM wat up YungMalThaKid 03-16-11 - 12:03 AM i like tournament edition better even though sega controls r ezr on keyboard bigalhat 03-05-11 - 08:07 PM is there AN ONLIE LEAGUE FOR THS ON THIS WEBSITE Gr@ndi$onkid 03-05-11 - 01:40 PM mine aint worken Gr@ndi$onkid 03-05-11 - 01:38 PM where's my game=( nubz 03-05-11 - 03:21 AM aaa nubz 03-05-11 - 03:19 AM yo peeps. bigalhat 03-04-11 - 03:37 PM yes Mike2fresh720 02-19-11 - 04:19 PM i dont know why Mike2fresh720 02-19-11 - 04:18 PM i dnt know ahy Mike2fresh720 02-19-11 - 04:18 PM mines wont owrk MOHAMMAD76 02-17-11 - 04:05 PM hey arlington21 02-17-11 - 11:41 AM yee miller9081 02-17-11 - 12:16 AM ..AGAIN miller9081 02-17-11 - 12:16 AM NEW YORK....WINS!!! emcee_davine 02-12-11 - 07:31 PM seraphim is dookie mjoseph0008 02-12-11 - 02:30 PM i can't wait for my pc controller canadianbacon13 01-30-11 - 01:29 PM from downtown!!!! 123JONESol 01-30-11 - 04:52 AM Lakers all the Byrant becksrsos 01-19-11 - 01:20 PM Knicks Win! 8killuminati8 01-17-11 - 05:32 PM i stole the ball and and put it in at the buzzer to win :D seraphim 01-02-11 - 01:17 PM emcee_davine is poo poo seraphim 01-02-11 - 01:17 PM im the greatest seraphim 01-02-11 - 01:16 PM KILL!! danthegreat 12-29-10 - 04:22 PM HALFCOURT SHOT TO WIN ColoradoNoe 12-28-10 - 08:12 PM IS IT THE SHOES !!! xfactorpac1 12-27-10 - 11:55 AM classic sill337 12-25-10 - 06:56 PM im the best trevman1987 12-23-10 - 09:07 AM i mean pippen* trevman1987 12-23-10 - 09:07 AM fourth overtime i lost 127-126, scored 96 points with pipper and 14 3's. god i love this game trevman1987 12-23-10 - 09:01 AM 4th overtime baby! Johnny316 12-22-10 - 10:24 AM OH MY HE"S ON FIRE!!! ColoradoNoe 12-20-10 - 12:25 PM either way streerts is a big step up form nba jams eyesmokepot 12-17-10 - 06:16 PM whats the best team on here?? kewbik 12-16-10 - 11:32 PM hey how can start the game, the only button that will work is enter until i get to the initials part then it stops codog12344 12-13-10 - 10:51 PM BOOM SHAKALAKA Übermensch 12-13-10 - 05:00 PM one of the best arcade games ever kylebeast12 12-12-10 - 04:30 PM charles barkley bro killing them
if micheal jordan didn't stop phoeniz charles barkley would have like 16 rings lol
now the only ring he go is one of the 50 greatest players which is in a museum
HH3HEITH 12-04-10 - 09:56 PM YP HH3HEITH 12-04-10 - 09:51 PM I BELIEVE IN GODDESS. YOUNG PRADA IS THE GOD. wooten3000 11-29-10 - 03:12 PM HE'S ON FIRE!!! Gonzo151 11-26-10 - 07:03 PM ON Fire HH3HEITH 11-23-10 - 04:54 PM DOES YOUNG PRADA THE GOD TOUCH GUNS ON EVERY VERSE? hh2heith 11-22-10 - 07:39 AM PRADA THE GOD hh2heith 11-21-10 - 05:14 PM YOUNG PRADA THE GOD
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