NBA Jam Tournament Edition

"Razzle Dazzl"

This game cheats.

The End!

Well, it could be the end of the review, if I were feeling lazy, because what else do you need to know? Why would you play a game that cheats? If your lead is too big, the CPU opponents suddenly start intercepting nearly every pass, blocking nearly every shot, and stripping you nearly every time you cross half court.

I am aware that there are a bunch of freaks of nature that are really good at NBA Jam, and they have poured in so many hours that they can't beat 100% of the CPU teams as well as their own buddies, but we're not talking about them now. Reviews should be for people that are new to the game, and if you are you're going to be frustrated. Eventually you will realize it, maybe it will be when Scott Skiles rejects your Shawn Kemp at the rim 4 consecutive times. Or when you notice that if the CPU is even bothering taking a 3, it will go in 98% of the time (probably when you have a huge lead that won't hold). Or when you notice that a hand in the face really does not affect the CPU's shot AT ALL, regardless of what the little in game message tells you. Eventually it will hit you.

Sooner or later a bunch of little flaws will pop up and make you feel like you got shafted - Why is the most blockable shot a dunk, and the LEAST blockable is the little floater in the lane? As much as games are escapism, you want your basketball game to sortakinda play like basketball.

It is fun though. If it didn't cheat or randomly erase your progress in head to head mode, I'm thinking it could be an 8. The controls are nice and simple, your players are (for the most part) responsive, and the pace is rapid. The graphics are good, but who cares. It's 2009 and that's not why you're playing NBA Jam today. The sound is, well, basketball-y.

Maybe I am missing the point a little here... The whole selling point of the game is the non-reality of it all. Those 20 foot leaping dunks aren't too impressive anymore, but they're still sorta cool in that retro charm way. And it is fun pushing the other team to the floor (and hearing the ensuing boos) to try to steal the ball. Also, there may be no greater joy than boiling down the Utah Jazz Starting Five to John Stockton, Karl Malone, Nobody, Nobody, and Greg Ostertag's Ghost.... Aaand to be fair, what I said about the CPU making all those threes, you won't miss many either (Person FTW!... I mean, literally for the win, not like, in the stupid internet way).

Some people prefer the original Jam, but eh I just think they're being purist and snotty. This one is absolutely worth a try. Just try not to break your household objects when the computer cheats it's way to a buzzer beating win though. It will happen, a lot. As in, almost every game a lot.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/30/09

Game Release: NBA Jam Tournament Edition (US, 02/23/95)