PlayStation 2

NBA Ballers

Our only complaint is that Ballers should've tossed in some actual trash talking amongst the players. Though to be honest, Supernatural does enough of that on his own. It's a minor quibble that won't diminish your enjoyment in any way. With over sixty NBA players to choose from and a bevy of unlockable content ranging from character outfits to full-motion video clips, Ballers takes replay value to the next level. And even after you've evolved to the caliber of a Michael Jordan or Jason Kidd in the single-player mode, don't pass up the endless opportunities to school the competition online. Overall, if you're looking for impressive product simply on the fun factor alone, we can't think of a better game worth spending time playing with.

When the creators of NBA Jam and the original Spy Hunter get together to make a new basketball game, you know you're in for something special. Forget the bling, the mansions, and the NBA players, the real stars of NBA Ballers are its producers who've managed to piece together a game, that in concept sounds like a sure-fire rental. But they've thrown in so much game-recognize-game, jaw-dropping, drop-the-controller and pump-your-fists-in-the-air excitement, that NBA Ballers is a must-buy for both the hardcore sports fan and the casual jock who traditionally enjoys the Midway adrenaline series, including NFL Blitz and the aforementioned classic, NBA Jam.

When NBA Ballers was shown off for the first time last year, it created a good number of skeptics. Despite the fact that Ballers is a one-on-one game instead of three-on-three, the hip-hop soundtrack and streetball theme may have led some to believe that Midway was just trying to cash in on the success Electronic Arts had with the NBA Street series. While it's natural to draw comparisons between the two franchises, NBA Ballers offers a unique gameplay experience, with a high quality presentation overlaid on a solid game design.

All told, my complaints are few and my praise is high. NBA Ballers is a fresh spin on the NBA that brings great depth, dynamic gameplay, and fevered multiplayer to the video game court.

In the end, what you get out of NBA Ballers is a result of what you put into it. If you take the time to unlock everyone, and you have the time and ability to go online, then you'll have a great time. However, if you are just interested in playing some quick games with good players, you can't, because they're all locked. If you can't get online, or you aren't willing to put in the time it takes to find a good opponent, then you're missing out on a good portion of the game, and if you can't stomach long load times, you'd better go elsewhere. It's a solid effort, but one that could benefit from deeper rosters that are easier to access and some more gameplay options.

I must admit that I was a little wary of a b-ball game that only featured one-on-one play, but Midway's NBA Ballers is surprisingly engaging. The play mechanic is solid, with silky smooth controls that offer great battles against both human and computer opponents.

Clairement orienté arcade, NBA Ballers flâne sur les traces de son grand frère NBA Street, et se place en tant que concurrent non négligeable au magnifique soft d'Electronic Arts. Moins léché et surtout moins profond, il dispose quand même d'atouts certains qui ne peuvent que plaire aux personnes cherchant un jeu au plaisir immédiatement présent, et idéal entre amis. Pour finir, juste une petite remarque, on pourra avoir un peu de rock ou d'électro la fois prochaine monsieur Midway ?

When NBA Ballers was shown off for the first time last year, it created a good number of skeptics. Despite the fact that Ballers is a one-on-one game instead of three-on-three, the hip-hop soundtrack and streetball theme may have led some to believe that Midway was just trying to cash in on the success Electronic Arts had with the NBA Street series. While it's natural to draw comparisons between the two franchises, NBA Ballers offers a unique gameplay experience, with a high quality presentation overlaid on a solid game design.