Genesis

Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs

Da freut sich der Korbjäger: Electronic Arts ist hier zwar kein 1a-Sportspiel wie "John Madden Football" gelungen, aber innerhalb des Basketball-Genres gehört "Lakers versus Celtics" klar in die Oberliga. Schneidige Präsentation, sinnvolle Optionen und eine durchdachte Steuerung sind Garanten dafür, daß dieses Modul bei mir keinen Staub ansetzen wird. Die Grafik sieht gut aus, die Animation könnte allenfalls etwas schneller sein. Die Soundeffekte sind Durchschnitt, die rockige Musik von Rob Hubbard fetzt dafür um so mehr durch. Kein Jubelmodul, aber Basketball-Freunde werden sehr zufrieden sein.

You might find Lakers vs. Celtics a bit limited due to the small selection of teams and game modes, but those seeking to relive the greatest rivalries of the late '80s should look no further. There's a lot of history to be found in Electronic Arts' historic title, both in terms of the basketball era it represents and the benchmark it set for future video game renditions of the sport. It's easy to get into, but it offers just enough depth to put it above the generic basketball games that saturated the market at the time. Those who are considering playing LvC today shouldn't look to the computer for a challenge, but should instead play head-to-head. But then again, isn't that how sports titles are best enjoyed? I dare anyone to take on my Bird (hmm, that didn't come out right...), and Kevin McHale owns the paint!

As bad as it sounds, these limitations force you to rely on well-timed passes, making the gameplay more strategic. It's surprisingly fun, and the slow-motion dunks are quite satisfying. On the downside, instead of the "star" icon used in later games, your "selected" player sports black shoes which are hard to see. Sometimes a player will score even when the ball clearly didn't pass through the hoop. The rebounding game is fairly atrocious, and it's not usual to see offensive players follow up their own missed lay-ups or dunks - several times in a row. And for goodness sake, turn OFF that blaring music that plays nonstop during the game. That leaves you with a crowd that's dead silent until you score. Lakers Vs. Celtics definitely shows its age, but if you accept its limitations it's still worthwhile.