Sega CD

NBA Jam

Only die-hard lovers of the game need apply here. If you had the choice of this CD or the Genesis cart six months ago, you definitely would've opted for the CD, which outscores the Genesis by a three-point shot. The long holdup may have cost NBA Jam CD some popularity points. However, if you still crave some pulse-pounding parquet action, NBA Jam CD is for you.

It's a small thing, but symptomatic: with all that storage space, there's so much opportunity for nifty extras that taking so little advantage of the extra space is almost a crime. It's still the same great game, but in a way, that's exactly the problem.

The long awaited Sega CD version of NBA Jam has pluses and minuses that make it about as good as the Genesis version. It's a great game, but Sega CD owners who held out for the CD version may be upset that this one's not significantly better than the cartridge. Additions include updated player rosters and a terrific soundtrack; the music's just as good as the arcade version, if not better. There are a few new "special guest" characters too.

NBA Jam has always been a game that was a blast to play. Whether you have the classic version, 32x port, Tournament Edition, or the Sega CD format, you are most certainly guaranteed to have a good time. The improvements in audio as well as the addition of video clips, while fairly good, detract from the game in the long run due to the loading times that they bring with them. If you have a little time on your hands then this game will not let you down whatsoever.