NBA Jam

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Description

NBA Jam is a two-on-two basketball game You can play any NBA team, and you can play as players like Barkley, Starks, Pippen, and Grant. Each human player controls a single player, so choose your squad wisely to take team-mate skill into account. The game is action-oriented, and players can perform unrealistic slam-dunks. Full performance statistics are automatically recorded. The play clock and 3-point line apply, but other rules are largely overlooked.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "NBAジャム" -- Japanese spelling

Part of the Following Groups

• NBA Jam series
• NBA licensees
• Visual technique / style: Digitized sprites

User Reviews

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Critic Reviews

GamePro (US)	Genesis	Mar, 1994	5 out of 5	100
Power Unlimited	Genesis	Feb, 1994	9.5 out of 10	95
Freak	Genesis	Mar, 1994	93 out of 100	93
Mean Machines	Genesis	Mar, 1994	89 out of 100	89
Computer and Video Games (CVG)	SNES	Mar, 1994	88 out of 100	88
Mega Fun	SNES	Feb, 1994	88 out of 100	88
Play Time	SNES	Feb, 1994	85 out of 100	85
Mega Fun	SEGA CD	Dec, 1994	85 out of 100	85
Play Time	SEGA CD	Jan, 1995	85 out of 100	85
Retro Archives	Game Gear	May 02, 2021	14.5 out of 20	72

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Trivia

1001 Video Games

NBA Jam appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Athletes

One of the game's major features is the NBA license and the real athletes. The arcade version became such a hit that several NBA athletes requested to be included in the game. Some of those requests were fulfilled and special versions were sent to a few select arcade owners. One of those athletes was Michael Jordan who actually was featured in a pre-release version but taken out because he left the NBA. According to Mark Turmell, Shaquille O'Neal actually bought two arcade cabinets; one for his home and one for his hotel rooms when traveling.

Easter egg rumor

Another famous thing about the original arcade version is the big number of easter eggs, including hidden athletes and a free Battlezone variant (arcade owners really didn't like that one!). The promotional material of the game included photos of cheerleaders, portrayed by Playboy models. So everyone searched for the hidden codes to unlock their models in the game... Kerri Hoskins was even pestered with phone calls at home.

Sega Master System port

A port of the game for the Sega Master System was developed, but never released.

Success

According to the magazine Retro Gamer, the arcade version made over one billion dollar during its first year.

Awards

• Electronic Gaming Monthly
  • February 1994 (Issue 55) - Game of the Month (SNES version)
• GameFan
  • Vol. 3, Iss. 1 - Best SNES Action/Arcade Game of the Year 1994