Editorial Review
Showing off the extreme attitude of the arcade smash hit
NBA Jam, Midway's
NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC brings intense two-on-two arcade-style hoops to the Dreamcast. The emphasis is on fanatical basketball, with gravity-defying dunks and over-the-top animations. The game lets you select from 140 actual superstars representing all 29 NBA teams. Throw in wacky unlockable players such as team mascots and characters from other Midway games, and
NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC is a fun departure from the more down-to-earth basketball simulations.
Complementing the goofy gameplay is a feature-rich player editor, where you can customize everything from your created player's height, weight, and ability to clothing and facial features. With a TV-style presentation and impressive visuals, this is one hoops game that any arcade sports fan will enjoy. Simply put, if you liked NBA Jam, you'll love NBA Showtime. --Sajed Ahmed
Pros:
- Remarkable in-game graphics, and even more impressive replays
- Detailed sideline commentary
- 4-player simultaneous action makes it a great party game
- Endorsed by Shaquille O'Neal--what more could you want?
Cons: - 2-on-2 arcade basketball has been around forever
- Shallow arcade play, without lasting depth or long-term playability
GameSpot Review
NBA Showtime is the latest game in Midway's long-running line of over-the-top arcade sports titles. While Showtime may play a lot like NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime, the insanely good graphics and fast gameplay will have you wondering how Midway packed an entire arcade machine onto a Dreamcast disc.
The Dreamcast build we received is much like the earlier builds of NFL Blitz 2000 for the Dreamcast. The actual code used in the arcade game has been ported over to the Dreamcast, leaving the gameplay completely intact. While this version lacks sound (just like the earlier beta versions of Blitz 2000), the game runs at a full 60 frames per second. There's a bit of slowdown here and there, and the game has one or two graphical glitches, but since the game isn't coming out until November (most likely the week before Thanksgiving, according to Midway representatives), there will be plenty of time to ensure that every facet of the game is arcade perfect.
VMU support is where this game is really going to shine, as you'll be able to create your player, save your stats to the memory unit, and convene with three friends to put your stats on the line. The game will also feature 145 NBA players, including rookies from 1999, plenty of hidden characters, NBA mascots, and yes, big heads.
Each NBA home court, as well as several hidden courts, are in the game, but there's been no word concerning new hidden features specifically for the home versions of the game. The graphics in the build we received were shocking. The fact that such a recent arcade game could be put on the Dreamcast with such minor adjustments made to the graphics really says a lot for the Dreamcast hardware. Look for updated information as the game's development progresses. -- Jeff Gerstmann
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