Street Hoops

Players move, look, and behave in a realistic fashion, but fatigue, substitutions, and playcalling don’t interrupt the fun. It’s like a two-way bridge from NBA Street and NBA Jam to NBA Live and NBA 2K3, and it’s worth a rent (at the very least) for just about every basketball fan.

Activision keeps it real but not too real. True to its name and goal, Street Hoops captures the look and style of playground basketball all the skills of the NBA but with a hell of a lot more personal expression and hip-hop flava. Motion-captured moves and a high frame rate support the killer crossovers, smooth spins, and outrageous dunks that personify street basketball. The hip-hop soundtrack (Method Man and Redman, DMX, Ludacris, and others) never intrudes on the game, but the announcers get annoyingly repetitive. Intuitive and responsive controls on both platforms make the hard stuff easy. Street Hoops straddles the line between arcade and simulation nicely. Players move, look, and behave in a realistic fashion, but fatigue, substitutions, and playcalling don’t interrupt the fun. It’s like a two-way bridge from NBA Street and NBA Jam to NBA Live and NBA 2K3, and it’s worth a rent (at the very least) for just about every basketball fan.

I'd have to say that it's been a while since my initial opinion of a game has been so incorrect. I totally thought this game was going to suck...a cross between Street and NBA Live that looked like a train wreck. I was pleased to see that it played well, and far surpassed my expectations, and the extras in the game show that they were really out to provide as much value as they could. If you like Street Ball or basketball games in general, pick this up, as you're in for a treat.

Although it has its fair share of problems, I really enjoyed Street Hoops. It lacks the mechanics and graphical flair of other games, but still manages to remain a fun game - which is, after all, the reason we game in the first place.

Street Hoops is a decent basketball game that will definitely appeal to people who are part of the street basketball culture. Even if you are not a part of the street basketball culture, you may still enjoy Street Hoops since it is different than standard NBA or NBA Jam games. Street Hoops also has a lot of extra features, videos, and options to keep you coming back for more. With the added gambling options it makes you want to win the game, lead at halftime, block the most shots and score the most 3-pointers so you can win money. Then, with the money you win you can buy new courts to play on and new athletic apparel, jewelry or hairstyles for your players. So, if you are looking for a game that has a NBA 2K or NBA Live feel without all the glamour of the NBA, look no further then Street Hoops by Activision.

Since it appears that Midway won't be bestowing a new version of NBA Jam/Hangtime/Showtime/Hoopz upon the gaming public this year we'll have to play Street Hoops instead. It's a good Jam-style game that fans of that game will enjoy despite its faults. It may not be perfect (and it's not for everyone), but the computer A.I. is just hard enough to keep you challenged and the 8-way multiplayer will keep you coming back for more. Just ignore the siren song of Sean Jean and you'll be OK.

Street Hoops is a game that had a lot of potential but somewhere along the line it totally lost track of the reason gamers and sports fans like myself would like to play basketball to the extreme level. Still, the game has its share of fun moments and could be worth your while until something better comes along.

Sans atteindre le niveau de fun que procurent les références du genre, Street Hoops se défend quand même grâce à de jolies gestes techniques et un gameplay plutôt varié. Mieux vaut jouer à plusieurs pour l'apprécier davantage.

Sans atteindre le niveau de fun que procurent les références du genre, Street Hoops se défend quand même grâce à de jolies gestes techniques et un gameplay plutôt varié. Mieux vaut jouer à plusieurs pour l'apprécier davantage.

Street Hoops fails to grasp the raw intensity of a basketball street game or offer something that comes close to a challenge. Fans of basketball will be surely disappointed with this offering and that’s too bad, really, considering there are enough playing modes to choose from. I suggest skipping out on this one and investing it in the much better NBA Street.

There's not enough basketball to keep you engaged as a gamer looking for a new hoops experience and far too much attention paid to an ill-conceived representation of what life is supposed to be like for playground all-stars. An arcade game like Midway's NFL Blitz doesn't have us simulating the behavior of overly aggressive football players before a game like buying steroids or bashing a forehead into a brick wall, because those are common myths about a world many gamers may not understand and they should be required to enjoy that kind of game. It would be like buying jewelry and getting new haircuts for the playground legends in an arcade hoops game.

Street Hoops was a struggle to get to know, but in the end it's not as bad as I initially thought it would be. On the surface, you see a rough looking (graphically, not socially) arcade basketball game with a ton of ambitious superficial elements. At its core, Street Hoops is a weak playground simulator with a little basketball thrown in on the side. I always thought "Hoops" was the operative word for this basketball videogame, but it turns out it's all about the "Street," at least as much Black Ops and Activision can understand it. And this is its fundamental problem.

Street Hoops isn't a terrible game exactly, it just seems like it's a game that isn't really sure of itself. The speed is there, but the physics don't mesh. The culture is there, but not the core game. The lifestyle and attitude surrounding the game is completely present here, but I can't help but feel like the soul didn't quite punch through. Of course, I'm not a basketball sim fan, and the game may appeal more to those who dig the more detailed approach to moves. The game is certainly worth renting to at least experience the general feel of the game, but more than likely you'll come to the same conclusion as I did before you have to return the game: Street Hoops needs more hoops and less street.

Street Hoops is a strong title, in theory. Full of endorsed products, music from hot rap stars and a creative concept to bring basketball back to its gritty, primal roots, the basic formula for creating an awesome franchise was almost all but insured. (Besides, how can you argue placing bets with a bookie?) However, poor controls, imbalanced play and arbitrary items helped turn it into a shadow of what it could have been. If you're rabid about b-ball, or love certain musical acts, I can see you snagging a copy of this. Otherwise, you might find yourself veering more towards NBA Street, NBA Live or NBA Showdown.

The concept behind Activision's Street Hoops is simple enough: tried and true arcade basketball wrapped up in the bandannas and sleeveless tees of playground ball. In their efforts to differentiate Street Hoops from arcade basketball games like NBA Street or Midway's Showtime: NBA on NBC, Black Ops drew on every element of hardcore playground basketball they could -- from the music, to the clothes, to the jewelry -- to give their game an unrivaled sense of street credibility. The only problem is somewhere along the way, the basketball itself got lost in the mix. Going to barber shops, pawn shops and FootAction stores can be a hell of a lot of fun, but in a videogame called Street Hoops, we want good basketball, not a great shopping simulator.

This could have been the ultimate street basketball title. But with the bad defensive AI and awful collision detection problems and the unrealistic every-shot-is-good offensive abilities of the CPU opposition, the only ones who may be interested in buying Street Hoops are players that have actually hooped it up on some of the real-world courts contained in the game. For serious basketball video gamers, Street Hoops is best as a rental to tide you over until you can go out and buy NBA2K3.

Street Hoops was hoping to be another NBA Street -- a fast-paced, hip-hopping hoops bash. Unfortunately, while EA was hitting nothing but the bottom of the net, the folks at Black Ops have thrown up a series of bricks that clang unceremoniously off the rim. Street balling could be a long-running sub-genre of the basketball sim, and with some retooling, Street Hoops could make for a solid franchise. That's two "could's" though, and a lot of speculation. If you want your blacktop action now, grab NBA Street.

In the end, Steet Hoops is a decent game that handles the abrasive, urban atmosphere of street ball well, but doesn't quite match up to the likes of NBA Street 2 when it comes to gameplay or visuals. Fans of the And 1 Mix Tapes will likely have a blast playing with real street hoopsters like Hot Sauce and The Main Event, but casual basketball fans will probably find the lack of defense too big a flaw to overlook. Street Hoops does do quite a few things right and there is much hope for the sequel, but until then I would strongly advise giving the game a trial rental before shelling out any more than ten or fifteen dollars on its purchase.

Street Hoops is a credible first effort, but it’s not enough to knock off NBA Street from its throne, gambling options aside. The graphics aren’t nearly as sharp in comparison, and the cameras need some serious tweaking. Gameplay could be smoother, and the AI in single player ranges from the brain-dead to the psychic - this is a much better game played against friends than the console. The front end UI could use retooling, especially when it comes to making selections in the Footaction USA area. Swapping out players for your team is the most non-intuitive experience I’ve had in some time. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. All the ingredients are here to make the ultimate street ball game - but it’s very apparent that some more time in the development kitchen could have made the difference between what is just an OK game, and one that is truly great.

Street Hoops comes up short from almost every area with what is needed to make a successful basketball game on one of today’s next-generation systems. It took me time to get the jest of Street Hoops but once I did I was not overjoyed with the final experience. If NBA Jam was your favorite game as a child then you might be able to step into the shoes of Street Hoops but otherwise I think this game needs to stay on the bench. The graphics and gameplay are two of the games lowest points, which really concern me. Maybe a weekend renter for you and your thug friends, but that’s about it.

Ben je met veel moeite mannetje 1 voorbij, staan mannetje 2, 3, 4, 5 en ja hoor ook weer 1, voor je neus. Dit zorgt er voor dat je nooit die snelle, cleane slam, bam, here I am, actie van NBA Street krijgt. Het is spijtig dat de gameplay zo fucked up is want de introfilm, de muziek en de geinige trashtalk hadden beter verdiend.

Ben je met veel moeite mannetje 1 voorbij, staan mannetje 2, 3, 4, 5 en ja hoor ook weer 1, voor je neus. Dit zorgt er voor dat je nooit die snelle, cleane slam, bam, here I am, actie van NBA Street krijgt. Het is spijtig dat de gameplay zo fucked up is want de introfilm, de muziek en de geinige trashtalk hadden beter verdiend.

It’s painfully apparent that Street Hoops was thought up by some guys in suits to capture an urban audience with urban music, gear, and slang. They even did a semi decent job at capturing those facets. What they forgot, though, is that urban gamers – like the rest of us – look for gameplay first. With choppy play, no strategy, and an asinine betting system (bet on the most dunks and you’ll win every time), Street Hoops is a tall guy paper doll simulator at best. NBA Street wins in a rout.

Street Hoops could be a strong basketball contender - it has all the equivalent modes and features plus some moderate challenge from the AI - if it learns from it’s shortcomings and does something to address them. It might be worth a rental to see how much potential SH has; otherwise, just give it a miss.

Street Hoops is a wonky basketball engine wrapped up in a nice, big blanket of generalized stereotypes ("Would you like that fro and gold necklace now, sir?"). Its one saving grace is also its downfall, as the sheer simplicity will attract some players and will make quick multiplayer games enjoyable, but with more content off the court than on, most gamers will be left wanting more. Given, there a solid number of courts, players, and features, and if this is your thing, you'll be in heaven; everyone else - about 99% of the gaming public, I suspect - would be better off waiting for something else.

In grammar, the adjective enhances the subject, so Street Hoops should be a basketball game enhanced with plenty of street attitude. Unfortunately, it's more like Hoops Street, a "street" game with some basketball added to it. If you're big into the whole street scene, this might hold some interest for you, but if you're looking for some arcade-style hoops action with an authentic street feel and style, you're looking at the wrong game. Given, Street Hoops isn't bad as a "pick-up" title to kill a little time with a game or two. However, trying to get into the game and complete all its modes and create a baller simply isn't worth the risk to your controller or your TV, as the pitiful game mechanics and incredibly shoddy controls guarantee that something is going to get thrown.

With no other games like it available on the console, Xbox owners may be tempted to give in and pick up Street Hoops. But I strongly advise against it. Full of stereotypes and terribly boring gameplay, it's little more than a vehicle to deliver the licensed clothes and music that attempt to prop it up. And as one of the most visually challenged games on the console, those who wait will be able to find it in the bargain bin not long from now. If you own an Xbox and want to break some ankles, go back to playing the street ball mode in NBA 2K2 and wait for a better solution than this.

Full of stereotypes, Street Hoops tries to make you believe that all a street baller's life is about is money, ice, gear, and high-top fades. This shallow interpretation of street ball culture may be offensive to some, but it's hard to deny that taking sports games off the court, field, or arena could work if done in a tasteful way. With that said, the game's more successful at being Virtua Barbie for the urbanite than playing a mean game of basketball. Rent this one only if your curiosity's getting the best of you.

Street Hoops is, quite simply, poor. The simplistic and boring gameplay makes it seem like the developer spent more time making sure the licensed clothing fit into the game than making sure that the basketball gameplay had any merit to it. If you were a fan of Strawberry Shortcake Musical Match-Ups for the Atari 2600, or any other game where the main function is dressing people up in various clothes, then Street Hoops is nonstop excitement. But anyone looking for basketball, arcade-style or otherwise, would be better served by NBA Street, NBA 2K3, or just about any other GameCube basketball game.

Street Hoops is, quite simply, bad. The simplistic and boring gameplay makes it seem like the developer spent more time making sure the licensed clothing fit into the game than making sure that the basketball game had any merit to it. If you were a fan of Strawberry Shortcake Musical Match-Ups for the Atari 2600, or any other game where the main function is dressing people up in various clothes, then Street Hoops is nonstop excitement. Anyone looking for basketball, arcade-style or otherwise, would be better served by any other basketball game that has hit the North American market over the last five years.

Street Hoops is an attempt by Activision and developer Black Ops Entertainment to make a fast-paced basketball game with a whole lot of hip-hop flavor. Or, to put it another way, Street Hoops is an attempt to duplicate the success of EA's similarly themed NBA Street. However, unlike EA's game, Street Hoops is ugly, shallow, and incredibly dull.

There are many other aspects that make up a game, such as replay value, control, etc. However, this game is so truly terrible that it gave me a splitting headache and I had to take 3 aspirin and lay down. Therefore, I will simply sum up the entire game with the following- people who purchase this game need to have their heads examined, and may God have mercy on the poor souls who actually find any redeeming qualities in this travesty of a game.

Since NBA Street didn't come out for the Xbox, I can't recommend that you buy it instead of Street Hoops. Instead, just wait for something better. Street Hoops tries to capture the sensationalized style of hardcore playground ball, but only manages to come off as a weak, thinly veiled copycat. Let's see some new moves in the future.

And while you're at it, check out NBA Street again and leave this one on the racks. Street Hoops tries to capture the sensationalized style of hardcore playground ball, but only manages to come off as a weak, thinly veiled copycat. Let's see some new moves in the future.