"This game clearly beats all those other NBA games for the N64"

This game clearly beats all those other NBA games for the N64

I must say this is the best basketball game for the Nintendo 64. I have owned all NBA games on the N64 and I can clearly say that NBA Courtside 2 beats all those messy basketball games for the N64. NBA Live, NBA Jam, NBA Showtime, NBA Hangtime, and I guess I can take that one college basketball game (Fox Sports College Hoops) into consideration even though that is one of the worst examples of a basketball game I have seen in a long time (well, maybe the worst ever). Also, some of you may just HATE Kobe but just because the box says ''featuring Kobe Bryant'' doesn't mean the game automatically sucks. He doesn't stand out in the game that everything has to do with him.

Incase some of you might be wondering, 'What is so different about NBA Courtside (the first game) as opposed to NBA Courtside 2?' If your not wondering this, feel free to skip this paragraph and go to the next one. Anyway, this game features a lot more then it used to. It now has an updated roster, more signature moves, a new style of drafting, a fantast draft, and enhanced gameplay and more styles of play with great new options. In my opinion, I think NBA Courtside 2 is an update to an already great game. Read more and make your decision, but this would be the one NBA game you would want to own on.

Lets go over some of the options:

Quick Play: for quick game of basketball, you and a friend/enemy and a computer compete against each other.

Season Play: Season play gives you another menu with more options. You can start a new season with your own rules and you have the option of having a fantasy draft. In a fantasy draft you can choose between standard or ladder drafting. You pick the order of drafting and then everyone starts drafting players. You may save or continue the season whenever you want, and once the season is over (just like in reality) your team moves on to the playoffs if your team is good enough to qualify or you can choose to advance your team to the playoffs whenever you would like.. Also, you can make trades, look at the leader board, or create your player. You may make him as good or bad as you want. You can make him look as bad or good as you want.

Arcade Play: This is a more crazy way to play basketball. Though it isn't as realistic it adds more fun for some people. In arcade mode, if you are making lots of baskets in a row and get your momentum meter you can shoot more accurate from longer distances with more players and if your lucky, you can do a monster dunk which is where you jump to where your almost touching the roof of the court and fall back down slamming the ball into the basket.

3-Point Contest: Pick your player(s) and go head to head with a computer or friend/enemy in a 3-point contest. After every round the person who makes the most threes qualifies to the next round until the final round where whoever makes more points you win the 3-point contest.

Custom Users: Put in your name and every time before a game starts select the custom user of your choice to record everything about your stats. The custom user in the first spot is the top user and the custom user on the bottom is the worst out of the users.

Practice: This is where new players get familiar with the control and movement of the game. Pick your team and practice with them. You can learn special ways of dunking, find some nice signature moves, or learn some crazy alley oops!

Options/Preferences: The options and preferences let you customize the game as best you can so that you can understand it best. In the options it lets you edit the rules and how fast the game goes. In the preferences it lets you customize the game by doing things like turning off the player indicators or turn off the annoying (if you think Chick Hearn's is annoying) announcer or crowd volume.

The graphics are very well done for a system like the N64. The faces are not just blurs; you can actually see some detail of all of them. You can also see most every player that has a special signature move; for example, whenever Jeff Hornaceck shoots for a free throw, before he shoots the ball he rubs his cheek then shoots. I think the signature moves are what makes this game so unique from the others.

The music and sound are great although I don't think there is any music. That's okay though, because this is an NBA game, no music is needed to make a great NBA game like this one. The sound is great and the effects of the ball and player's movement is all very much realistic. There is realistic sound of the official Laker announcers, Chick Hearns and Stu Lance. Man I love those guys. They have many comments so you won't keep hearing Chick repeat his official speech, 'The eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the jello is jigglin' or something like..

Overall I think this is a great buy for all basketball fans and N64 owners. If you had one choice for a great N64 basketball game, it would have to be this one by far. It's hard to give up playing when you're really in the mood of playing this game. It adds a good challenge to anyone and lots of skill to a two player one on one match. I give this game a nine because it's the best basketball game for the N64! Its safe to say it's the best because, sadly, it doesn't look like the N64 is going to have any more games.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/31/02, Updated 08/17/02