NBA Ballers: Phenom
Xbox- Publisher: Midway
- Release Date: Mar 29, 2006
- Also On: PlayStation 2
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For my money I want a completely overhauled game and not something that feels nuked. Don't give me some cheesy unlockables and a few new modes and call it a new game. This isn't a new game.
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For the die-hard hoops fans this is of interest, mostly for the story aspect. The gameplay can be a bit... awkward at times, but veteran players of basketball games shouldn't have much of a problem.
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The two-year development cycle between the original and this release passed by with no significant improvements to add to the total experience. That can't happen again for this franchise to survive.
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If you like a little more meat to your basketball games, this is surely a great game with plenty to keep you occupied both online and off, but when pit head-to-head against a full field of competitors, what Phenom offers is different, but not quite in a league of its own.
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The bottom line is that fans of the series and arcade b-ball will find plenty to love with Phenom. Whether you are looking for the story driven single-player or simply want to fool around with the multi-player this game will satisfy your hunger for over-the-top style street ball.
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Don't buy it expecting a complete remodel -- it's just a fresh coat of paint on an old frame.
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The gameplay itself hasn't really evolved that much, and those who didn't feel the vibe from the first game will certainly not feel it here either.
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Even the online mode feels lacking, supporting only one-on-one matches using either your custom character or an unlocked NBA star, rather than the two-on-two match ups available offline.
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Electronic Gaming MonthlyToo bad it doesn't quite execute in the clutch though. [May 2006, p.98]
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NBA Ballers: Phenom is built around a solid core but has gone beyond its limits, like when Michael Jordan quit the NBA to play minor-league baseball.
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This successor to Blitz: The League starts off strong with an open mode, but let down by simplistic and shallow gameplay. Fun, but only for a while.
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It is a little disheartening to think that adding two-on-two matches and throwing in a few rhythm games can be considered by the publisher to be innovative, but Phenom's free-roaming aspect has potential if it is fleshed out even further in future installments.
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There are definitely enough elements to have some fun with it, and it breaks up the monotony of the usual "win tournament to gain points" model.
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I just hope both companies come up with something big when making the transition to next-gen, as this genre needs a shot in the arm…but please no performance enhancing substances.
Awards & Rankings
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42
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74
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#74 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2006
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23
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#23 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2006
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User score distribution:
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Positive: 3 out of 5
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Mixed: 2 out of 5
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Negative: 0 out of 5
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Mar 24, 2022best game I ever played, unique players, unique mechanics, just simply awesome