Harlem Beat: You're the One

"A uniquely adapted game from one of the best basketball manga..."

About The Game:
As many have known, or judging form the title itself, this game is based on the manga by Yuriko Nishiyama with the same title, Harlem Beat, a basketball shounen manga that focused on rising high school basketball star.

In late 1999, the manga was adapted into the game for PSX focusing on Naruse Toru himself, or an anonymous male & female manager of your choice that's exclusively created by the author for the game.

The game itself in general have two objectives that you have to accomplish in order to see the (standard) ending:
-Reaching national tournament.
-Scoring a girl.

In addition to the girls from the manga (at least 3 possible), the author also created 3 extra girls exclusively for the game, which mean there're 6 (or maybe more) girls of your choice for scoring throughout the game, while reaching the national tournament as the primary objective.

Genre/Gameplay: 7/10
The playstyle of the game engine itself is kinda unique for a PSX game, as it's basically divided into 3 parts for player to control the character's action in various ways:

-Simulation, where you interact/socialize with characters to build trust, develop relationship and try score a girl that you're aiming for.

-Training, where you got to build the team members as you see fit, to increases their basketball abilities, such as speed, shooting, jump, stamina, etc.

-Match, where you have matches with other rival schools, to move on the story, you have to win the match until national, losing a match beforehand resulting in game over.

Story: 9/10
The game story is based off from manga volume 6 – 21 of Harlem Beat, where Naruse managed to get 2nd place on street basket tournament, his struggle to stay in the high school main team, and eventually leading to the national tournament.

If you have read the entire manga, you'll probably know what's going on just by the pictures presented throughout the game.

Graphic: 8/10
The game mostly focused like many simulation game in which characters face graphic and the dialog box showed as you're talking to them, as well as other special pics to collect from the main game.

On the basketball match though, the graphic changed to 3D polygon characters of characters, showing the motions like mostly basketball game would perform.

Sound/VA: 8/10
The sound in the game is mostly anime-styled, like how the sounds would fit on the condition that characters in, not so much to boast about, but rather good for a simulation game.

In addition to the game music, even though there's no anime for Harlem Beat, the game include a VA for characters while in basketball match, so it would be a certain delight to hear how Naruse and other characters voice performed in an anime style.

Good Point:
+The only Harlem Beat game, considering you're a fan.
+Pics, events, & VA that's exclusively for the game.
+Dating sim, you got change to score Mizuki, Tomoyo, Kiriko, etc

Bad Point:
-Exclusive Japan release (and rare to find).
-Little to no control during the basketball matches (especially If you choose to be the team manager).
-Too short (end after the showdown with Kanakita).

Overall: 8/10
This game is, of course, for those that have read at least first 6 volume of Harlem Beat, or even better, the whole 29 volume. There's nothing to boost the game except you have the change to date & score the girls in Harlem Beat, hearing the VA roles, and the game exclusive pics.

To find the game nowadays would be kinda hard, as I myself get to play it from some old friend. Trying to search from online game stores would be a best bet, though I wouldn't guarantee much.

For the manga itself, it's a great shounen basketball manga, I'd highly recommend to read it as it even on par with Slam Dunk.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/19/07

Game Release: Harlem Beat: You're the One (JP, 10/28/99)