Reviewer: Agent K
Company: Tecmo
Rarity: Not Rare (C+)
Expertise: Never lost!
As the title implies this is a basketball game. In my opinion this is the best one available on the NES. I realize that isn't saying much, but I do like this game a lot. Is this an accurate simulation, no. Is it fun, I sure think so. What most impresses me is that this version is almost just as good as the SNES version. Although this game is fun, there are definitely some problems and things that take getting used to. First off, the game is very highscoring. In 4 minute periods I usually put up around 110 points. Defense is very difficult even once you master the game. What makes defense even more difficult is how hard it can be to switch to the defender you want. Another problem is keeping track of who has the ball and who you have on defense. Once all of the players get close to each other it can get messy. About the only way to tell players apart is by color. But once you've played the game awhile it gets easier to sort out. What makes this game so great is the season mode which offers full stat tracking. Also you can play a season with as many humans as you want which is very nice.
Graphics and Sound: Not great
I wouldn't say the graphics are terrible but things can get confusing at times.
Gameplay and Controls: Decent
On offense the controls are good. The only problem is passing, it can be hard to get the ball to the player you want. It's especially hard to get the ball to a specific player since they all look the same. The defensive side of the ball is another story. When first playing this can be a nightmare. If a player is fastbreaking it's impossible to swith to the correct defender. What I do is just take a big man who is down the court and run him next to the basket. This cuts out some of the easy layups. Also, the steal and jump buttons are the same which can be annoying.
Features: Quite a Bit
Season mode with stat tracking, period length options, and game speed options are nice. However there is no option of increasing the computer's skill which is too bad since he currently has none.
Fun?: Yeah
Personally I like this game a lot. However it does take some getting used to.
Challenge: Medium
Against the computer there is no challenge once you get good at the game. However, against a human player everything changes.
Replay: Tons
So you're great huh, try winning the championship with the worst team. Done that, now come over to my place and we can play.
2 Player: Yup
Like all sports games there is a 2-player mode. Even better you can play 2 or more player seasons if you like.
Online Manual?: No.
Bottom Line: Yes
If you like basketball and the NES then this is your game. Then again what else are you going to buy, Double Dribble?