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NBA Jam
By Jay Williams
"Boom-shaka-laka!" "Slam-a-jamma!"
and "He's on fire!" are all phrases that I'm sure you or
someone around you would have used or heard.
NBA Jam was the title that featured catchy catch
phrases and 2-on-2 basketball action. It was also one of the first
sports
games to feature NBA-licensed teams and players, and their real
digitised likenesses.
But the key to its success was the exaggerated
nature of the play - players were able to leap into the sky before
rocketing down to complete slam dunks that defied both human
capabilities and the laws of physics.
There were no fouls, free throws, or violations
except goaltending and 24 second violations. This meant the player was
able to freely shove or elbow his opponent out of the way.
Additionally, the game had an "on fire" feature,
where if one player made three baskets in a row, he would become "on
fire" and have unlimited turbo, no goaltending, and increased shooting
ability, until the other team scored (or the player had scored four
consecutive baskets while "on fire").
So, what's new for the 2010 Xbox 360 and
Playstation 3 version of the classic jam game?
The most noticable change would have to be the
High-Definition graphics, online-play and the addition of five game
modes, each putting a new slant on the classic 2-on-2 game play.
In addition to the standard campaign there are a
host of new modes to choose from.
Domination mode - players have to shoot from
different spots that are highlighted on the court to 'own' them. After
a spot has been acquired points accumulate over time until your
opponent makes the same shot from that spot in turn stealing the
'owned' spot.
Smash mode - each team has a health
meter above their backboard and the object is to jam, slam and ally-oop
your oppisitions rim until the health meter is drained resulting in the
backboard shattering.
Remix 2-vs-2 mode - is basically the same as the
standard campaign only this time around the there are power
ups that appear throughout the match. These power ups range from
improved strength to shrinking your player into a midget.
Remix Tour mode - allows you to travel around the
country and match up against every NBA team completing challenges one
section at a time.
Classic campaign - is the standard 2-on-2 action
with a twist. There is some extra challenges like secret
2-on-2 Boss Battles against NBA Legends.
Online game play allows you to take on all your
rivals in some fun-filled
2-on-2 competition, while you post your success on Friend and Global
Leaderboards.
Overall NBA Jam is a fun game that brings back a lot of nostalgic
moments, like the shattering of backboards and crazy one liners. For
fans of the franchise this is a must have, there is plenty of high
flying action and a compititve online mode to keep you entertained.
Game: NBA Jam
System: Xbox 360
Developer: EA
Canada
Distributor: EA Sports
Rating: 75%
(Ratings Key/Explanation)
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