Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs

This is very much a typical EASN (or EA Sports, as they now like to be called) presentation. Unfortunately, it's also a typical EA Sports game in the fact that it's a bit jerky in animation, a bit rough looking, and inferior to its Mega Drive version. Don't let this put you off too much, though - it's still very playable, and packed with neat touches. Real basketball fans will probably prefer this to Super NBA, but when all's said and done they both play a fine game of basketball.

Even though Bulls/Blazers is an excellent basketball game, it's too similar to Lakers/Celtics, and USA Basketball. I feel like I've done it all before, but if you're a SNES owner, and you're into basketball games, I'm sure Blazers will keep you and your friends busy for many moons.

Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs when first released was one of the best basketball titles on the Mega Drive. Despite not bringing much new to the table, it was still the best the system had to offer. A few months later NBA Jam changed this, but Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs will still go down as one of the better basketball releases in 1993.

At its core, Bulls Vs. Blazers uses the same lethargic engine as its predecessors, and the best players are unstoppable once they find their "spot" on the floor. Charles Barkley's signature slam is performed at the foul line with no running start, and it's not unusual for him to pass through several defenders on the way up. EA was clearly content to pump out rehashes in the early 90's (imagine that). I eventually sold Bulls vs. Blazers to my friend Tuan for $17 (after getting NBA Jam), and I still remember him calling me up and complaining about how incredibly slow it was.