First came
NBA Jam, then NBA Street – now AND 1 Streetball. The latest in a long history
of arcade-style basketball games, AND 1 Streetball was inspired by style,
player finesse, and a mixed tape of rap music.
Gamers
expecting to feel like a pro the second they start playing will be happy to
hear that And 1 Streetball takes advantage of the NBA Jam / Street basics.
This game has its own version of the EA "trick stick," letting you perform
several different moves with the right analog stick. It seems a little
intimidating at first, if not a little unpredictable. I ran around the court,
pushing the right stick in every direction. Doing so quickly did not yield
decent results. Rather, it caused the same simple move to be performed
repeatedly until I let the stick go.
This was
strange, I thought. I decided to stand still and push the stick more lightly
and more precisely to check its sensitivity. Sure enough, my eagerness was the
problem. First of all, the game has two kinds of moves (called I Ball moves)
that can be executed with the right stick. By pushing the stick a small amount
(say, in the upper right corner), you’ll perform a Dizzy Branch. That’s a
stationary move. It makes your opponent dizzy, or at least that’s the intent,
enabling you to sneak past and go for a shot. Likewise, push the stick toward
the bottom left corner and you’ll perform a trickster move. It’s what the game
calls a "Crownin’ Branch."
Scoring
isn’t as easy or as frequent as in other street ballers. Get close enough in
NBA Street and you’re all but guaranteed to make the shot. In And 1 Streetball,
the basket seems reluctant to take balls that aren’t nothing but net. Timing
is one area you have to be aware of – the longer you hold the circle (shoot)
button, the longer your player waits to release the ball. One quick press will
have him jump and shoot; keep holding on and he’ll wait to shoot until he
lands, reducing the potency of the move.
Add R1 to
the equation and he’ll dunk. Dunking is by far the simplest move to perform,
so long as you’re close enough to the net to complete the action. If you’re
too far away the game won’t usually register your move. That might protect
players from making stupid mistakes. However, it also diminishes the
possibility that you’d take a chance, jump from a far, and make an
unprecedented landing.
The game is
big on exaggeration though, featuring dozens of stylin’ moves from the likes
of AO, Escalade, Hot Sauce, and Half Man Half Amazing. If those names don’t
sound familiar, then chances are you’re interested in this game for its NBA
Street-like qualities and not because it’s based on the AND 1 Tour license.
Those guys are just four of the many stars who have been touring with AND 1.
Skip-to-My-Lou is also on board, along with Pharmacist, The Professor, and Sik
Wit It.
Style moves
generally involve the stretching of players’ bodies, unlikely spins,
gravity-defying dunks, and homegrown moves that combine pre-made options with
player preferences. Creating moves looks more overwhelming than it is, having
players string animations together something that’s truly cool, or a move
that’s truly weird.
The
single-player mode lets you battle dozens of ballers for major props. Win
enough games and you’ll be one of the new stars of the AND 1 Tour – the
ultimate goal for these polygon athletes. There’s not much of a story to it,
but history has proven that stories don’t usually work well in sports games. I
want to be a part of the excitement, not watch it.
Whether you
get into the tour or not, the best part is the multiplayer. This is the only
street baller I can think of that lets you compete with seven players
(offline, via multi-tap). Basketball games can be hard as is when it’s a
one-on-one experience. In four-player games I often have a hard time deciding
when I should pass to my teammate and when I should just take the shot myself.
The opposite is also true, and that’s why And 1 Streetball’s multiplayer is a
bit more strategic than the average arcade-style game. It’s not more
challenging than NBA Street – it’s challenging in a different way.
There are
technical issues like clipping, transparent player models (where they run
right through each other), and lackluster graphics, but the only real downside
to this game is that it’s a rather generic experience. Not bad, but not
particularly good either. There are better games in the same genre that do
almost exactly the same thing. The multiplayer mode keeps And 1 Streetball on
a time-killer level. If you have a multi-tap, this is the next game you’ll
want to rent.
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Gameplay: 5.5
NBA Street with
different moves and more ballers, minus the polished gameplay. The analog
stick’s heightened sensitivity is not as innovative as it is a refinement.
Aside from that one element, AND 1 Streetball feels a bit clunky and, in
single-player, excessively repetitive.
Graphics: 5.9
Six years ago
this game would’ve looked great. Today it’s a bit out of style. Clunky player
animations and poor background detail detract from the intricate details found
in some of the players.
Sound: 6.5
Loads of rap
music from an exclusive AND 1 Mixtape. I’m not really into the genre, but
these tracks are better than the average over-played music video.
Difficulty: Medium
Have you mastered
NBA Street yet? Those who have won’t find many hurdles in conquering AND 1
Streetball’s story mode. Multiplayer battles are much more challenging and
rewarding, assuming your friends can stand up to your mad skills.
Concept: 6.0
Multiplayer: 6.5
A time-killer for
you and your buds. Won’t knock your socks off, but it’s something new to
master in the vein of NBA Street. Online is limited to two players, while the
multi-tap peripheral lets you hit the court with seven others.
Overall: 6.0
Arcade sports
fans haven’t had too many new titles to get excited about these days,
especially those who want nothing more than an NBA Street-killer. AND 1
Streetball doesn’t fulfill that dream, however, there is some joy to be had
within the multiplayer experience. Rent it, but be sure to return it on time –
it’s worth $8 for a seven-day lease, but doesn’t have enough oomph to
make it a must-buy at the full price.
