NBA ShootOut 98 (Playstation)

by Playstation

Product Details

• ASIN: B00002STRY
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,417 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

GameSpot Review

Sony has impressed basketball fans for the past two years with its ShootOut series, and many thought from the look of things it was going to have the best basketball game on the PlayStation for a third year in a row with ShootOut 98. Unfortunately for fans of the series, including myself, ShootOut 98 no longer has the magic of the first two. The core features that were in the previous ShootOuts, such as the amazingly fun and intuitive gameplay, beautiful graphics, and realistic NBA action have been compromised. Apparently Sony had to make room on the disc for all of the new play control features and dunking animations because in certain situations, the game slows down. This actually affects gameplay since what was once an unconscious thought of running from point A to point B has to now be factored in with the varying speed of the game. But since it's fairly random and you have no warning or no idea how long it lasts, it's hard to deal with it. If that's not bad enough, the control seems a little sloppier this year, too. The gameplay is frustratingly bad, rife with rampant shot blocks and steals that seem to happen more often than a shot attempt. I say "attempt" because shooting a basket in ShootOut 98 is a whole lot harder than in any other basketball game I've played - even the computer has trouble. There is one surefire way to make a shot though: the spin button. New to the game is a spin button that allows you to virtually spin through any defender in your path. With that you can get as close to the basket as you want. Once there, ShootOut 98 features more ways to make a basket than any other basketball game on the PlayStation. It has leaners, fadeaways, hooks, tip-ins, alley-oops, and its all-new total-control dunking system, which is just like the direct dunking of NBA Live 98 in that you can select which dunk you want to perform as you go up for the slam. Another new feature that's kind of cool is icon cutting. With this you can direct any of your teammates toward the basket at any time when you're on offense by simply pushing their specific button. On defense you now have a similar feature that allows you to choose the defender that you wish, with the specific button method as well. These new features might sound all well and good, but with the buttons that you have to push to make them work, you'll feel like you're typing rather than playing a game of hoops. If it weren't for the bad colliding sound effects of the players and the still annoying announcer, I could say that the sound is almost perfect. In some cases the sound effects are the only way to tell what's happening. Of the six camera angles supplied in the game, three are tolerable - the beloved action camera from the first two games just doesn't track the action like it used to. In fact, a couple camera selections immediately switch to the opposite end of the court after a missed free throw leaving you only guessing at what events unfolded underneath the basket. Compared with other basketball titles out this year, ShootOut 98 is at the bottom of the pile. The problems that plague it make the game downright unplayable. You're better off with any of the other basketball games out there, including last year's ShootOut.--Ryan Mac Donald--Copyright © 1998 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.

Manufacturer Description

Pick your team practice your jump shot and hit the hard wood for some fast-paced basketball action. With NBA Shoot Out '98 you can take a team from pre-season through regular season and all the way to the championship. All 29 teams and over 350 NBA players are included in this game. Each players' signature moves and tendencies are also included. For example Anthony Mason is a physical force Shawn Kemp is a dunking machine and John Stockton make incredible assists. All new 3D polygonal graphics allow for motion blending highly detailed players and fast game play. A new passing system gives you more control on the court. Use behind the back passes no look passes and fake passes. You can even control cutters screens and double teams.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Fun Fun, January 14, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: NBA ShootOut 98 (Playstation) (Video Game)

This video game is superb in every aspect from graphics to gameplay. The instant replays look perfect to there player models. If you have an open lane you can pick the dunk you want to do. It is so fun to play!

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst basketball video game I have ever played in my lifetime, February 12, 2010

By 

T. Tripp (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: NBA ShootOut 98 (Playstation) (Video Game)

This has to be the worst basketball game (or sports for that matter) videogame that I have ever played. I've rented this only twice when it came out and the controls, gameplay and graphics are definitely sloppy and very confusing that you do not know where you are at times. Plus, another thing, is that there are way too many blocks in this game, in addition to turnovers. The first two installments of the series were very good and this one-NBA ShootOut 98 dissapointed me. In fact, for everyone that has a PlayStation 1, I would get any game (including any other basketball game) besides this piece of junk.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No MJ or Shaq?!, February 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: NBA ShootOut 98 (Playstation) (Video Game)

This game is overall a very good game (for it's time). However,it does have some major defects. I do not understand why the creators left out the greatest player ever to play the game: Michael Jordan! Instead of him the programmers put in some imitation player called "roster guard". They did the same thing with Shaq, except they called him "roster center"! NBA Jam, NBA Jam T.E., and NBA Hangtime also left out "His Airness". I hope that these video game people dont do the same thing with Kobe, I may have to lead a basketball boycott.