ziprz's Full Review: NBA Courtside for Nintendo 64
If you can get this game for $6 at Blockbuster video, take it, otherwise leave it! NBA Courtside is average in every aspect of the game, and downright boring when it comes to game play. This game is on the fence between an arcade style action basketball game like NBA Jams, and a faithful representation of the game as it really is like most EA Sports Games. I would personally much prefer to play an arcade style basketball game because I'm not a real basketball fan. I want to make spectacular slam dunks, inhuman trick shots, and be able to level the opposing team. Let's call it "NBA Blitz". But I digress...
Sound - Take the opening for instance. You've got what sounds like a stadium announcer reciting the league's policy on fan behavior in an NBA arena. Then you have Kobe Bryant doing some moves on the basket with a twangy guitar riff in the background. WOW! That really makes you get excited about this game. The sound during the rest of the game is equally rotten. You've got canned stadium noise that gets repetitive very quickly. The "play-by-play" consists of the stadium announcer stating who got the last shot, and who had the assist in a monotone, stadium announcer kind of way. The on-court sounds include only a few squeaking sneakers, but no grunts when a player is flattened, no smack talking between players. This game has no personality in the sound department. If I were to make a basketball game, I'd have Spike Lee shouting in my ear telling me what a pansy I am for missing the last shot.
Game Play - Passing and shooting are simple enough. Calling plays is pretty easy. It gets a little annoying when you run into another player. It basically stops you in your tracks and leaves you with only pivot foot. You can avoid these roadblocks by doing special dribbling moves like behind the back. Who cares?! When I make a shot, I want the arena to go crazy. I want to be able to be able to hit an alleyoop to David Robinson and have the net come crashing down. I want instant replays of spectacular shots. There's none of that here.
Graphics - The graphics are fairly well done, but in the end are kind of boring. Players have their typical 3D blocky appearance. NBA Arenas are rendered for each team, and makes it feel like you're in Chicago or San Antonio. I guess I'm so unimpressed with the sound and "atmosphere" of the game that it makes the graphics even worse than they probably are.
Statistics - The game has a fairly extensive repertoire of player creation, season statistics, trades, and whatnot. I just can't get myself to play this game long enough to endure an entire season.
I like that I paid $6 for this game. It is the only basketball game I have, so when I need a break from Madden Football, or Griffey Baseball, I throw this in for a spin.
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