Let's start with the basic gameplay. Unlike most NBA games, you don't have a team to back you up, the player you create before story mode is the one you're stuck with for the rest of the game so make sure you assign skill points wisely. The controls for this game are very clunky and often frustrating, mostly because the same buttons perform multiple functions. A prime example is stealingLet's start with the basic gameplay. Unlike most NBA games, you don't have a team to back you up, the player you create before story mode is the one you're stuck with for the rest of the game so make sure you assign skill points wisely. The controls for this game are very clunky and often frustrating, mostly because the same buttons perform multiple functions. A prime example is stealing and fouling, in order to perform a "Super Steal" move you must press LT+RT+X, but the combo to foul an opponent is LT or RT+X, so you're going to be doing a lot of fouling when you want to be stealing. Other than that the controls are very basic, with A to pass, B to shoot, and Y to block with other combos to do "super moves".
Speaking of the super moves, let's get into that. In order to perform a super dunk, shot, juke, or steal you must fill up your super meter, which is done by successfully completing Act-A-Fool combos. To perform those combos you must press LB+X near your opponent, then press the buttons as they come up on the screen. Easy, right? Well, it would be if the game was consistent with timing. You can press a button as soon as it comes up and have it not register, causing you to fail the combo and lose the ball. On top of that, your combo can be countered by your opponent. This seems like a function that fits well into multiplayer gameplay, seeing as your HUMAN opponent will have to battle you for button mashing but in the story mode with competing AI, it makes no sense. This digital opponent will be able to counter you at a moments notice, which can be incredibly frustrating when you're one successful move away from a full super meter and your opponent decides to counter, steal, score, and bring your super meter back down to nothing.
Now, all of these flaws and clunks aren't a horribly big deal, plenty of games have their issues, particularly sports games. What REALLY makes this game a steaming pile of donkey feces is the "story mode". Air quotes included, because any story there is seems like the fantasy of every 9th grader who just made the cut for his high school JV ball team. You start as a guy on the street courts, playing up until the big leagues. Simple, right? Well, it would be if you were actually playing basketball. The first few episodes of the game do play like half-court basketball, where you simply have to score more times than your opponent. However, as the episodes progress, you are given side challenges that must be completed before the game ends in order for you to actually win. At first, they're simple things like completing an Act-A-Fool combo or scoring a dunk, but as the game progresses the challenges get pretty ridiculous. Some of the later episodes require you to beat 5 games using only 3 continues, and in each match you're given challenges along the lines of "Win without being blocked", "Win without letting your opponent score", and "Win with a Level 3 Super Dunk" (the longest and most difficult super meter move in the game). Apart from the challenges, the game also likes to change the rules during certain games, including no ball checking. That basically means that when your opponent scores, the fast and smart AI will be able to just stand under the basket and put up shot after shot before you can even grab the ball. Some levels are extremely frustrating, due to the skewed rules and almost infallible AI.
2/10… Expand
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