"An innovative-styled basketball game that only lacks in basic areas."

Introduction
Jordan vs Bird: One on One is a different type of basketball game that focuses on two superstars at the time, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Although many of you may not be basketball fans, this game tends to focus more on the solo aspects of the game, rather than the teamwork. J vs B was originally created by Milton Bradley, who has made numerous mediocre games for the NES. Despite all this, Jordan Vs Bird may be the change in gameplay that you're looking for when it comes to sports games.

Graphics [6/10]
If anything, the graphics in J vs B are above average, and down to the point. Everything from the characters to the background is cut clean like a paper slicer. Although Jordan is a black guy, and Bird is a white guy, there's plenty of other details on the screen. Things such as time remaining, the score, and even judges are visible in the background. People have visible faces, and the whole idea was set up well. While this may sound pleasing to your ears, there was some serious problems in the animation department.

For some odd reason, the animation sequences in this game were horrible. Whoever you're playing as or whenever you move, your arms wobble like a turkey. It looked freakish to see Larry Bird flapping his arms going one-on-one against Jordan. If anything, this gave the game a horrible presentation, and really ruined the fun aspect of the game. Most of the on-court animations aren't too great. Sometimes a 3-point attempt looks like he's hook shotting it every single time. Other times, it almost looks like the player is giving a middle finger to the ball. Either way, I wasn't too impressed by the graphics.

Sound/Music [5/10]
For a basketball game, there isn't much you can expect. There's none of those 80s hits, or songs that just make you want to dig it. Although there were a few tunes here and there, the main theme song is just a little ambient tune with a bunch of beeps and tones. Simply put, there's no music that'll make you feel like the eye of the tiger.

Sound effects are a tad better. The basketball makes a slight thump sound when it hits the ground. Dunks make slamming sounds, and so on. But at certain times, it almost felt like the sound effects were being muffled by the theme music playing over them. It just didn't seem like there was anything interesting to listen to.

Gameplay [8/10]
Ah yes, the best part of this game. Jordan vs Bird is the perfect example of complete game control in a game. The basic storyline is that Michael Jordan, the young star (although not young anymore), is going up against Larry Bird (the famous shooter) in a duel to see who's the best. You can play as either player, each with their advantages and disadvantages. There's also three different modes of play, including the typical One-on-One, Jordan's Slam Contest, and Bird's 3 Point Shootout. Simply put, One on One is a matchup of the two players, and you play until you reach a certain point amount or time limit. You can also play against the computer or a friend if you wish. Jordan's Slam Dunk Contest is a competition where you perform slam dunks, and receive scores by the ''judge panel'' based on how much speed, air time, and impact was involved. There's over 10 different dunks to perform, and plenty of practice is involved. Finally, Bird's 3 Point Shootout is basically what it stands for. There are 5 rims of 5 basketballs. You have 60 seconds to shoot them all from behind the 3 point line. Your score is determined by how many you score before the 60 seconds run out.

Simply put, the gameplay aspect is amazing. There's about three different modes of play, including the ability to have 1-4 human players compete against each other. Controls are very responsive, and you shouldn't have any problems when it comes to facing an opponent.

Fun [5/10]
I had some fun when playing the game. Although it doesn't provide the rush that Contra or Punchout may provide, it certainly shows the different varieties of basketball that there are. I'm not a big basketball fan, so the game didn't impress me that much. You may find it fun to play with up to 4 people, but not all 4 people play at once, so that can be a deterring factor.

Replayability [3/10]
With no real modes to unlock, or secret characters, this game is almost like an exhibition. The players themselves have to recreate the experience. There's no secret codes (at least to my knowledge), or anything like that. The only replay value you can get out of this game is based on how many times you play it over, which probably won't be that much.

Difficulty [6/10]
The real difficulties in the game involves mechanics. If you have trouble hitting the shots, it's probably because you're pressing the shoot button too soon or too late. Other times, you may find it frustrating to score a dunk because the ball bounces off the rim. Either way, J vs B has some extra challenge which you must solve by practicing.

Final Factor [6/10]
While Jordan vs Bird may sound like an interesting basketball game, it's just not that appealing. There's nothing that revolutionizes the gaming industry, eye-popping graphics, classical songs, or anything of that sort. It's just an innovative basketball game composed by Milton Bradley. If you ever do decide to purchase it, don't pay too much. Not only is it common, but it hardly has any significant value, unless you're a true basketball fan.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 03/14/03, Updated 03/14/03