NBA Jam 99
- January 01, 2000 00:00 AM PST
Acclaim Sorts is making great graphical strides, and Jam '99 is really close to being an excellent game. Yet, when it comes down to it, gamers are looking for more than just excellent hi-res graphics and awesome animation's - gameplay is the key, and this game isn't up to the championship speed. Stick with Live '99 - its fast gameplay and wealth of features slam this Jam.
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Shut Up and Jam
Jam �99 steps in the gym with a respectable lineup of features and gameplay modes that�ll appeal to any roundballer. Aside from the usual play modes and standard lineup of pro teams, players (minus The Man), and stadiums, hoop-heads can brush up on their free throws and compete in a three-point shootout in the Skills Contest or crash the hardwood in the raucous no-holds-barred Jam mode.
If you�re familiar with the classic two-on-two slamfest, then you know what to expect: No rules and no fouls, just straight up smash-mouth hoops. But unlike in the Jam of old, you field a team of five guys, not two, and there isn�t an option to turn on those outrageous hot spots that gave you more than two points for a bucket. There are, however, some crazy dunks goin� on, including high-flying somersault rim-shakers and between-the-legs Kobe Bryant�style slams.
Three-Point Brick
Unfortunately, like QB Club �99 before it, Jam�s excellent hi-res graphics can�t mask its shoddy gameplay. At times, Jam plays exceptionally well as players move to the right spots on the court to set up for an open jumper or a monster slam. At other times, however, players wander the court looking like they got lost on their way to the concession stand. Not only is this aggravating, but it totally slows down the pace of the game.
Jam also suffers from less-than-adequate control. While it does provide icon passing and an easy-to-use alley-oop command, the controls are sometimes slow to react when you want to switch players on defense. And when you�re on offense, players tend to walk after receiving a pass instead of sprinting to the hole, giving the defense a chance to drop back and snuff the play.
Houston, We Have a Problem
Acclaim Sports is making great graphical strides, and Jam �99 is really close to being an excellent game. Yet, when it comes down to it, gamers are looking for more than just excellent hi-res graphics and awesome animations--gameplay is the key, and this game isn�t up to championship speed. Stick with Live �99--its fast gameplay and wealth of features slam this Jam.
