Best basketball game ever made, which is a great hybrid of NBA Jam, NBA Street and the popular pickup basketball game 21 along with it's own flair.
Gameplay is superb. Games are played on half court in either a 1v1 or 1v1v1 format where the first to score 21 points wins (though this is usually split into two 3-minute rounds where the first to score 11 points wins the round). You can perform NBA Street like jukes and tricks to fill your house meter, which is this game's version of Street's Gamebreaker that gives you an automatic win. Ballers also have various abilities like a hot spot to increase shot percentage, on-fire after making 3 consecutive shots, the ability to put back missed dunks, pass to a friend in the crowd, etc.
Story mode is great, as you create a baller in a Rags to Riches mode that has a classic TV Guide style presentation. As fun as this mode was, it had a few annoyances. Some matches throw in some frustrating rule-sets like 5 second shotclock, No fouls, Must get 5 steals and win, hold your opponent under 10 points, etc. It does offer some variety and switches things up, but can drag down some of the enjoyment.
Gameplay-aside, all other elements are top notch. Presentation hits hard and embodies the 2004 era of hip-hop, NBA and streetball. All the best and notable NBA stars at the time are present and playable. Since this is a Midway game, there's even the versus screen tonight's matchup codes from NFL Blitz and NBA Jam that add for more zany, crazy arcadey fun.
The lack of a 2v2 NBA Jam mode is disappointing (which was added into the sequel), but NBA Ballers is a top notch basketball game in the same league as NBA Jam and NBA Street Vol. 2.
Gameplay is superb. Games are played on half court in either a 1v1 or 1v1v1 format where the first to score 21 points wins (though this is usually split into two 3-minute rounds where the first to score 11 points wins the round). You can perform NBA Street like jukes and tricks to fill your house meter, which is this game's version of Street's Gamebreaker that gives you an automatic win. Ballers also have various abilities like a hot spot to increase shot percentage, on-fire after making 3 consecutive shots, the ability to put back missed dunks, pass to a friend in the crowd, etc.
Story mode is great, as you create a baller in a Rags to Riches mode that has a classic TV Guide style presentation. As fun as this mode was, it had a few annoyances. Some matches throw in some frustrating rule-sets like 5 second shotclock, No fouls, Must get 5 steals and win, hold your opponent under 10 points, etc. It does offer some variety and switches things up, but can drag down some of the enjoyment.
Gameplay-aside, all other elements are top notch. Presentation hits hard and embodies the 2004 era of hip-hop, NBA and streetball. All the best and notable NBA stars at the time are present and playable. Since this is a Midway game, there's even the versus screen tonight's matchup codes from NFL Blitz and NBA Jam that add for more zany, crazy arcadey fun.
The lack of a 2v2 NBA Jam mode is disappointing (which was added into the sequel), but NBA Ballers is a top notch basketball game in the same league as NBA Jam and NBA Street Vol. 2.