NBA Street V3

"A Street Basketball Game Worth Checking Out"

"A Street Basketball Game Worth Checking Out"

Welcome back to the world of NBA street basketball. If you thought Vol.2 was a big improvement, well, it'll be a bit of a step for NBA Street V3. This game introduces the new trick stick, the right analog stick, which you use for tricks rather than the square button. In the PS2 version, they also introduced online. Also, they've added Practice Mode, Dunk Contest, and being able to play with up to 6 people offline.

Gameplay 8/10
Gameplay seems to be even smoother now. The graphics look slick and a bit more realistic, so it's enjoyable to look at. The trick stick is a main new thing, and allows a bit more variation in the tricks you can do, and being more simpler to just be using both sticks instead of having to stick with the square button, although it may be an adjustment. Gamebreakers have changed, making that those past the 3 point line will be just automatic points(except they'll probably miss past the half-court line), and the ones inside allowing you to do a few tricks with each player of your team, passing to each other, until the last one makes the dunk. Too many tricks or mistiming will result in failing this. However, it is more interactive than the GB in Vol.2. You'll be able to charge the meter faster, too, and there's no need to store it, as there is no level 2 Gamebreaker. One flaw with playing is that the ball can easily be stolen by either team, no matter your Steal rating, leaving that to be something you wouldn't like about playing. Not too major, but making that you'll have to move the ball around if you want to keep possession.

You'll also be able to use skill points at the V3 store to create ballers more creatively, adding accessories, tattoos, and different clothes onto them. You'll be able to make your own courts in different locations, and can be played on during the career mode. You can change the building around the court, the hoops appearance, and even the bleachers, although they can never be as unique as The Cage or even Rucker Park. Skills can also be bought with points, allowing all created players to go up to 99 in any skill. Although this leaves more varying degrees within skill, all created players will end up being equal when "maxed out".

Sound 9/10
You won't be disappointed with the sounds in this game. From the swish of the basket to the sound effects of making steals and fakeouts, everything is just about up to par. Bobbito is still around, more annoying than ever. It's up to preference whether it's a good thing that you hear him more often, but whatever it is, he's recycled a lot of lines, but added a few new ones. The music tracks are pretty good, though, so it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Game Modes 8/10
They've got the main mode, Street Challenge, where you take your Created Baller, create him a court, and over the course of 10 weeks, make yourself a star through this career mode. They've got Street Legends playing, including 2 from the original NBA Street. 6 in all. They've also added the Beastie Boys, which is a unique team who also has some music tracks for the game. For Street Challenge, you play unique challenges as trick point challenges, pick-up games, and Slam Dunk contests to get Street Points to upgrade your character, and reputation points to play at more courts.

In Dunk Contest, you try to impress a panel of 3 judges how good you are. The higher your Dunk rating, the better you do. You can pass to yourself, jump over props, and do plenty of mid-air moves in this one. Pretty cool feature to add.

Rent or Buy
If you're a big fan of NBA Street and already have Vol.2, it's worth renting before buying. The features are pretty unique and teams are updated, but it's up to you whether it's worth another game to buy. If you're not a big fan, just go ahead and pick this up for some variety in your basketball game collection, but you should always rent or borrow to get your own opinion on it.

Overall 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/24/05, Updated 07/16/07