Editorial Review
Players who love the
Flubberesque exaggerated leaping of arcade basketball games, and also those who want to run serious simulation games for fun, should be pleased with
NBA Courtside 2. A fairly complete arcade mode exists, with super dunks from just inside the three-point arc, smokin' passes for players with hot hands, and 5-, 10-, and 15-point hotspots for shooting big numbers. The sonic boom dunk actually causes the opposing team to fall down onto the parquet floor.
While many novice gamers will enjoy the high-flying, mad-dunking action of the arcade mode, the heart of this game is a serious basketball simulation. With excellent controls, impressive artificial intelligence, and easy play-calling for cuts to the basket, this game should sit well with purists who prefer their mix of coaching and playing in equal doses. A deep create-a-player mode is also available for nurturing an NBA star-in-the-making and powering up his abilities as he performs well over a season. The moves of Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant were motion-captured for the movement of the players in this game, so expect fluid athletic motion. --Jeff Young
Pros:
- Exciting arcade mode
- Well-designed control scheme
- Realistic matchups between players
Cons: - Graphics could be better
- Multiplayer mode is a bit complicated with offscreen players
Product Description
Instant replay, player editing, and performance adjustments contribute to the true-game feel of
NBA Courtside 2. More than 300 NBA players, including Kobe Bryant, are accurately modeled after their on-court counterparts. Each is rated for shooting percentage and range, foul tendency, dribbling, passing, speed, jumping, rebounding, strength, dunking, stealing, blocking, and stamina. In addition to the standard moves you'd expect from a video game basketball player,
NBA Courtside 2 adds tons of new, user-controlled actions, such as spin moves, first-step fakes, changing hands on the dribble, post-up moves, calling for the pick, and boxing out opponents. As coach for your team, you'll also be able to call plays using the digital control pad. Moves that you can control include box, perimeter, low post, high post, isolation, motion, inside triangle, and outside triangle.
