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Sports InsiderThe Best NBA Video Games Ever!
May 20th 2007 06:13
The NBA Conference Finals are amongst us and we could take a
similar route like the million other sites that dedicate themselves to basketball and draw up a comprehensive preview of the match-ups but that would be boring. Instead here at NBALOUD we’re going to review and rank the best NBA inspired video games ever. As per usual this will be a top 5 list that will be in order because we’ve got no fear here.
This writer being a basketball head-case has played many basketball inspired games and a lot of great titles may have slipped this feeble mind. If anyone out there has an opinion feel free to drop a line and give your choices.
5. NBA 2K (Whatever)
The only version that this writer has ever played was the 2K5, or whichever one had Ben Wallace on the front cover, and to be honest it never really clicked. It seemed to be a poorer imitation of the NBA Live series and from memory the control mechanism and graphics were inferior.
In saying all of that though a decent simulation game is nothing to scoff at and let’s applaud this series for trying some new stuff that tries to separate itself from its more popular cousin. This writer’s little brother played it for awhile so maybe he can give you a better take on the game.
Maybe someone who owns the next generation consoles can impress NBALOUD with their take because we feel like we’re selling this game short.
4. One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird
Now this is an old, old, old school game and was one of Electronic Arts first forays into game development. The game was released on the Apple II, Commodore 64, Amiga and Atari 7800. NBALOUD was fortunate enough to play it on three different consoles but the look and the feel of the game was exactly the same on all three.
Um, since this writer was an infant when this game was played and it wasn’t even played during its first release because it would have been played before the necessary hand/eye faculties were developed, let alone the ability to speak, eat solids and be toilet trained we missed out on the initial excitement of Doc vs. the Birdman.
Apparently this game was massive and for its time the graphics were impressive. Players could either pick Doc or Larry Legend and get it on with a rather wide range of basketball moves. The most exciting part of this game was when someone would dunk the ball and the glass would shatter. Oh yeah! Good times.
3. NBA Live
Ah, the pinnacle of basketball simulations and NBALOUD is proud to say that we owned the first version of the series of NBA Live 95 if we’re not mistaken. The game play back in the day was outstanding and the ability to control superstar players that we’re based on the real deal was rockin’. Although, it did peeve off this writer that Michael Jordan wasn’t licensed in the
game so he and some other players were just known as something generic. Lame.
However, all players are now available and the game play and graphics are just mesmerising to say the least. The new generation versions are mind blowing and the realism would make both Dr. J and Larry Bird cry in their pixelated form from One on One.
2. NBA Jam
This game was the bomb! When arcade parlours were all the rage this game was the first title that really impressed NBALOUD to such an extent that an unhealthy addiction was developed. Published by Midway NBA Jam went away from the attempts at simulation and turned up the funk.
Upon its initial release NBA Jam was arguably the first game ever that really resembled the actual star players which was very exciting. The joy didn’t end there though – hidden characters, attributes and special features made this title a killer.
What was the best bit of NBA Jam? The commentary, jacking the excitement up tenfold when your player was on fire.
1. NBA Street
Yes, as you readers may be able to tell the NBA games that appeal most to this writer are the outrageous arcade versions. It may come as a surprise though that this was not always the case because the arcade versions of sport games really used to grate on NBALOUD.
Attitudes do change and NBA Street gets the nod on this list because countless hours was spent on this game by this writer, easily surpassing any of the other games in effort directed to any video game ever!
NBA Street was similar to NBA Jam but it was obviously an upgrade graphically and in game play. This title was such a success that NBALOUD now owns FIFA Street 2 on the PSP and now exhibits signs of another unhealthy case of addiction to a video game.
Finally, we’d like to make a very belated welcome to Ryan Ward who has given his take on the world of NBA basketball for the past couple of weeks. A sincere public apology is in order to Ryan who we have acknowledged only right now. Please, give Ryan your support.
Today’s video is of a wonder pass from Steve Nash in Game 6 against the Spurs. Let’s all mourn the loss of the Phoenix Suns from the playoffs and hiss at San Antonio the rest of the way.
* All Images on this post from wikipedia
This writer being a basketball head-case has played many basketball inspired games and a lot of great titles may have slipped this feeble mind. If anyone out there has an opinion feel free to drop a line and give your choices.
5. NBA 2K (Whatever)
The only version that this writer has ever played was the 2K5, or whichever one had Ben Wallace on the front cover, and to be honest it never really clicked. It seemed to be a poorer imitation of the NBA Live series and from memory the control mechanism and graphics were inferior.
In saying all of that though a decent simulation game is nothing to scoff at and let’s applaud this series for trying some new stuff that tries to separate itself from its more popular cousin. This writer’s little brother played it for awhile so maybe he can give you a better take on the game.
Maybe someone who owns the next generation consoles can impress NBALOUD with their take because we feel like we’re selling this game short.
4. One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird
Now this is an old, old, old school game and was one of Electronic Arts first forays into game development. The game was released on the Apple II, Commodore 64, Amiga and Atari 7800. NBALOUD was fortunate enough to play it on three different consoles but the look and the feel of the game was exactly the same on all three.
Um, since this writer was an infant when this game was played and it wasn’t even played during its first release because it would have been played before the necessary hand/eye faculties were developed, let alone the ability to speak, eat solids and be toilet trained we missed out on the initial excitement of Doc vs. the Birdman.
Apparently this game was massive and for its time the graphics were impressive. Players could either pick Doc or Larry Legend and get it on with a rather wide range of basketball moves. The most exciting part of this game was when someone would dunk the ball and the glass would shatter. Oh yeah! Good times.
3. NBA Live
Ah, the pinnacle of basketball simulations and NBALOUD is proud to say that we owned the first version of the series of NBA Live 95 if we’re not mistaken. The game play back in the day was outstanding and the ability to control superstar players that we’re based on the real deal was rockin’. Although, it did peeve off this writer that Michael Jordan wasn’t licensed in the
However, all players are now available and the game play and graphics are just mesmerising to say the least. The new generation versions are mind blowing and the realism would make both Dr. J and Larry Bird cry in their pixelated form from One on One.
2. NBA Jam
This game was the bomb! When arcade parlours were all the rage this game was the first title that really impressed NBALOUD to such an extent that an unhealthy addiction was developed. Published by Midway NBA Jam went away from the attempts at simulation and turned up the funk.
Upon its initial release NBA Jam was arguably the first game ever that really resembled the actual star players which was very exciting. The joy didn’t end there though – hidden characters, attributes and special features made this title a killer.
What was the best bit of NBA Jam? The commentary, jacking the excitement up tenfold when your player was on fire.
1. NBA Street
Yes, as you readers may be able to tell the NBA games that appeal most to this writer are the outrageous arcade versions. It may come as a surprise though that this was not always the case because the arcade versions of sport games really used to grate on NBALOUD.
Attitudes do change and NBA Street gets the nod on this list because countless hours was spent on this game by this writer, easily surpassing any of the other games in effort directed to any video game ever!
NBA Street was similar to NBA Jam but it was obviously an upgrade graphically and in game play. This title was such a success that NBALOUD now owns FIFA Street 2 on the PSP and now exhibits signs of another unhealthy case of addiction to a video game.
Finally, we’d like to make a very belated welcome to Ryan Ward who has given his take on the world of NBA basketball for the past couple of weeks. A sincere public apology is in order to Ryan who we have acknowledged only right now. Please, give Ryan your support.
Today’s video is of a wonder pass from Steve Nash in Game 6 against the Spurs. Let’s all mourn the loss of the Phoenix Suns from the playoffs and hiss at San Antonio the rest of the way.
* All Images on this post from wikipedia
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Comment by Nina
TV Babble
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Comment by Anonymous
65 and 0.
i rule.
in the version that came out after it where you could customise your own player my record was 55-0. having a max height fully dfensive player was the bomb. id win games like 80-2!
Comment by Stanley