NBA+JAM


 * NBA JAM-Entertainment Game Review (Justin Rush)**

Description of Game:

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NBA JAM is like the cartoon version of a two-on-two pick-up game between your favorite NBA players. All of the expected aspects that people love about basketball--slam dunks, three-point shots, blocks, steals, alley-oop dunks, spin moves, and cross-over dribbles--are exaggerated to a ridiculous degree. Players can dunk from the three-point line, find hot spots on the floor that make it virtually impossible to miss, or make three unanswered baskets and catch fire...the basketball actually catches on fire when it is in that player's hands. And best of all, you can shove opposing players, causing them to drop the ball. All of this makes for a very fast-paced, in your face, basketball brawl. The announcer is way over the top, with catch phrases like "boom-shaka-laka," "en fuego," and "kaboom!" But he will also call you out if you go cold. NBA JAM is compatible with either the Wii remote and Nunchuk combination controller or the classic controller. As many as four players can play at one time.

Kinds of Learning Involved:

After playing my first game, I realized I needed more practice, so I decided to try JAM CAMP mode. This is essentially a training mode, where you can practice your moves on an empty court, sans defenders. This was critical, as it was in this mode where I learned how to take off for more powerful and harder to block dunks, how to line opponents up to be shoved, how to time your jump to block a shot, how to execute an alley-oop, and when to release a jump shot (you must release it at just the right time, at the peak of your jump). JAM CAMP allowed me to get comfortable with the controls and basic skills of the game without the added stress of in-game consequences. And there was certainly a learning curve, as I am still pretty bad at using the nunchuck to control more traditional games on the Wii (i.e. not a full-body-motion game like Wii tennis or golf, where you imitate the motion of the actual activity). In game, the main thing I learned was how to play the game in a way that allowed you to win, even when the computer player turned up the intensity. If you built any sort of lead, the computer opponent would begin shoving you and stealing the ball away from you at a pretty unfair rate. Thus, as I got savvier, I learned to utilize their own tactics against them--I began pushing their players down as much as I possibly could. Also, I quickly learned how much of an advantage being on fire was. The best strategy was to push and steal as much as possible in order to make three straight baskets and get on fire. Once on fire, you drain as many threes as you can (shooting lots of threes is a pretty good strategy as well).

I also quickly learned that different players had different strengths (as is outlined in each player's ratings). When you have a smaller guard or forward guarding you, it is usually best (especially if you are a power forward or center) to drive to the basket for a dunk. On the flip side, if you are a guard and have a big, slow center trying to check you, a cross-over dribble usually could shake them and free you up for a wide open three pointer. In this way, you learn what the strengths and weaknesses of actual players are, things that to a certain extent can be brought into actual basketball games. For example, if somebody bigger and slower than you is guarding you, you should utilize your speed.

Kinds of Teaching Involved

I certainly felt that most of the teaching in the game was trial and error. However, in the JAM CAMP mode, you can choose to read hints and tutorials on how to execute moves most effectively. The ball glows red in this mode when you have reached the top of your jump when shooting--when your shot should be released. Images are provided to show the movement that is required to execute moves using the nunchuck controller. And just like all console video games, there is a diagram of what all the different buttons on the controller do, as well as a list of which buttons need to be pushed to execute particular moves. I would say most of the teaching directly involved in this game was guidance and information. Players are able to learn at their own pace in JAM CAMP, but during actual game play, you have to adjust on the fly and teach yourself how to most effectively play the game through trial and error. In a sense, the CPU players "teach" what not to do. I eventually learned that spin moves were risky (as it made you more likely to turn the ball over), but that cross-over dribbles were a very effective, low risk way to shake a defender. The CPU players also teach you not to hold the ball because if you do they inevitably shove you across the court and steal the ball. I think NBA JAM employs these methods of teaching because it is a fairly straight-forward, simplistic game that is somewhat established (the Wii version is simply an updated version of the original. As such, less direct instruction or creative teaching is needed for new players to grasp the game.

Online Community

EA (the company that produces the game) has an official site for game franchise (http://www.ea.com/nba-jam-on-fire). This website includes news/updates, information on the game, a blog, and a forum. The blog and forum mostly looked to me like a huge list of complaints, but there were several threads dedicated to unlocking special characters and game modes, as well as cheat codes. Going back to it's Nintendo 64 and Playstation days, NBA JAM has always been a game that relied heavily on cheats and unlocking "secret" characters in order to create interest. As with just about any video game, GameFAQs is a great resource, not only for game reviews and walk-throughs/guides, but also for cheat codes and secrets (Also, gamewinners.com). NBA JAM also has a facebook page, which mostly just has more news and information about the game. Because the game is based on actual professional basketball teams and athletes, the culture around NBA JAM runs somewhat parallel to the culture and fans of the NBA. Especially now that the game is available for online play, roster updates are much for frequent and can keep up with the constantly changing lineups with trades and free agency. Much of the discussion and news updates on these websites centers around these roster updates, as players want to play as their favorite players and teams in their most up-to-date uniforms.

Overall Reflection

Me and my friends were huge fans of this game back in the day, so I was really excited to try out the newer version. And while I was comforted by the similarities between the new version and the old version, I couldn't help but think that they could have switched it up a bit more. It was a joy to play as Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Brandon Roy--players who were not playing when the old version came out--but everything else about the game was essentially the same. The most difficult thing to get used to was using the nunchuck controller. I only recently got a Wii and am still getting used to its controls. With all of that said, it was a freaking blast to play. It reminded me of many heated times between me and my friends in the past. I do think that the game could incorporate some different ways of teaching the game, especially for those who never played the old version. The CPU players can become a bit predictable and "cheap" when you build a big lead on them, but I suppose this is to be expected. Overall, I would say that playing NBA JAM was a fun experience and that I will definitely be playing it again sometime very soon.