NBA Ballers

by Midway Games

Product Features

• Ballers new and old bang and bump for supremacy in the most authentic one-on-one basketball game ever made
• NBA ballers features basketball at its purest by focusing on the one-on-one battle
• Realistic player attributes and skills: each NBA baller and legend has more than 10 different off-the-hook skills
• Creating a genuine representation of your favorite NBA superstars mad game
• Personalize the game by hooking up a player with the skills and attitude to take on the best ballers in the NBA

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008XL08
• Item Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: April 5, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,987 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #28 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Sports > Basketball

Product Description

Platform: PlayStation2

Game Informer Review

This isn't just a game about basketball. It's about the NBA lifestyle and the pursuit of becoming rich and obnoxious. Through a mode dubbed Rags to Riches, gamers will make the journey from no-name street baller to the king of the NBA court. Whether you're dropping dimes at Kevin Garnett's residence, breaking ankles on Scottie Pippen's yacht, or making legends look like punks at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, you'll gain respect and the ever important bling bling that comes with it. By winning tournaments, you'll procure cash that can be used to purchase clothing, tattoos, and vehicles.

Going into this review, I really didn't know what to expect from this lifestyle angle. Truth be told, I was convinced that it was going to be one of the cheesiest things I've ever laid eyes on. Thankfully, Midway went out of its way to make this experience thoroughly engrossing, highly interesting, and above all, rewarding to the player. Not only does it give you a glimpse of the players' lives, it delivers a story (yes, this is a sports game with plot), and brings out the collector in you. The number of unlockable items isn't nearly as extensive as I would have hoped (especially in character and crib customization), but you usually find yourself unearthing things of value – like hidden players and videos that give you a behind-the-scenes look at the NBA.

The action on the court is equally as impressive. Basically take the setting of Julius Erving and Larry Bird Go One-on-One and insert the high-flying gameplay of NBA Street into the mix. The controls are silky smooth, the computer opponents prove to be extremely skilled, and the moves that you can perform would make a Globetrotter stare in amazement. Not only can you bounce the ball off of your opponent's face (which gives you a split second to break for the hoop), you can use their back as a springboard, and toss the ball to a friend stationed courtside to set up an alley oop.

From a technical standpoint, I absolutely love how the ball cursor is used for rebounding. The realism that accompanies stealing is equally as handy. In other hoops titles, I always find myself jamming on the steal button to try to knock a ball out of a player's hands. In this game, loose balls are not randomly decided. If you get your hand on the rock at the opportune time, you'll strip it free. On a negative note, I don't like how the Act a Fool dekes are randomly produced. I often found that the moves my player would perform would go against my drive.

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.

The Edge

Both versions of Ballers excel in different ways. Online gameplay is exclusive to the PlayStation 2. Given the intensity of the one-on-one play, talking trash through the headset is sweet thing. While the Xbox lacks online, it lights up the screen with amazing HDTV support. It's a beautiful game to begin with, but viewing it in 480p or 720p is truly a sight to behold.

Concept:
Combine the grit of street ball with the flash of MTV Cribs to create a unique and rewarding one-on-one basketball experience

Graphics:
A visual slam dunk that features realistic character models and unbelievable animations

Sound:
An excellent collection of underground rap tracks and a catchy theme song by DJ Supernatural

Playability:
Finely tuned, perfectly balanced, and incredibly responsive. Ballers' gameplay is right where it needs to be

Entertainment:
It's a great multiplayer experience, and the bevy of unlockable content gives single player legs

Replay:
High

Rated: 8 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
Issue: May 2004

2nd Opinion:
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. I would have liked to see some more variety in the move set, and more depth in the lifestyle content (tours of the homes or yachts you play at would have been nice, and I wish I could have designed my own MTV-worthy crib), but what's here is more than enough to please most NBA fans. The lack of online play for the Xbox version is a complete bummer, but in the end it doesn't really matter, as the online play isn't as engrossing as I had hoped. If you have to choose, go Xbox just for the high-definition support, but either version will entertain.

Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Andy McNamara


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Product Description

NBA Ballers delivers the pure essence of basketball, with the excitement of playing against the game's greatest - and the thrill of living an NBA star's life! Play wild one-on-one games with world-famous b-ball stars, and earn money for the hottest homes, cars and clothes.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nba Ballers, February 24, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: NBA Ballers (Video Game)

Ok i checked out da videos on this game and this game is amazing. usually i would say that i could make a better game if i had the chance but this game is all dat and a little bit more

holla back!!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who give this a 1 or 2 stars well then..., June 3, 2005

By 

''Yous'' (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: NBA Ballers (Video Game)

I repeat, who ever gives this game a 1 or 2 stars SUKS!!! THIS IS GAME IS SWEET... LOOK I HAVE PLAYED EVERY AND I MEAN EVERY GAME TITLE FOR B-BALL ... WHEATER IT BE NBA STREET... NBA LIVE OR ANY OTHER WORKING TITLE FO B-BALL THIS GAME IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE SO FAR! THE GRAPHICS ARE AMAZING... WHEN I SAW VINCE CARTER, I THOUGHT THAT I WAS WATCHIN TV!! IT IS SO LIFE LIKE... THIS GAME IS CHALLANGING.. AND FUN ALL AT THE SAME TIME.. U CANT GET ANY BETTER THEN THIS ... I CANNOT BELIVE ANYONE COULD GIVE THIS A 1 OR 2 STARS... I CANNOT BELIVE IT.... WHEN THIS GAME COMES OUT FO THE PSP (WHICH I HAVE) I AM DEFINATLY GETTIN IT...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this game is so funny (and awesome), May 2, 2005

A Kid's Review

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: NBA Ballers (Video Game)

okay. lets start with the good and bad stuff first. the game's graphics make u feel that the stars are with u. the rags to riches is really fun. u get to start out on the streets and work ur way up to play the biggest stars. it feels so cool when u finally get 3,000,000 credits and unlock yao ming's school. yao ming's school (can u believe that) u can also get the houses of stefan marbury, kobe bryant, shaq, vince carter, tim duncan, steve francis, allen iverson and the hall of fame (thats all i remember). you can unlock a whole lotta players and they have lots of cool collectibles that u have to do a certain task to get. see bill walton in a clippers jersey! get friends, cars, magazines. plus, if you are stuck getting something. just look on a cheat website for the password to get it. the tv tournament's are really fun becausse if ur stuck on one of them, you can adjust the level to such an easy level. the best feature is the move bringin' down the house. u get house meter by doing moves. if it's full, the crowd will go "too slow, too slow!" thats ur cue. press the turbo buttons (L1,L2,R1)and press triangle in the lane. you'll go up for an alley-oop and automatically win the game (plus get alot of points). there's the good things. now come the bad things. the thing that bothers me the most is that there's no michael jordan. i'm from chicago so it really get's on my nerves.please someone answer me. why isn't there mj?????? also, sometimes in rags to riches, it'll become frustrating because u can't beat someone. that's all that's bad. here is the fun things u might see in nba ballers

john stockton dunking over shaq.

john stockton pointing and trash talking to karl malone.

ur friend crying on the side when ur opponent makes an awesome play.

gary payton picking up bill russell and throwing him(forcing him to let go of the ball)

reggie miller bouncing a ball off yao's head.

any player rolling on the ground to cross an opponent.

when u pick a player, no matter who it is, the mc will say their name and they'll make some signals to u.

ur opponent lookin' around when u pass the ball to ur friend.

a.i dancin' around in inside stuff.

and finally

you will see some people pushing each other around when one takes a shot. here are some couples i love to see do that

shaq and kobe

magic and larry

wilt and bill russell

john stockton and karl malone

lebron and carmelo

AND....

well, that's all i can think of.

there u have it, my nba ballers review (buy it)!!

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