Is NBA
Street V3 the ultimate arcade basketball game? That’s the question everyone’s
looking to have answered. It’s at this point (the third chapter) in any game
series where they solidify the position of champion, or show that they didn’t
have as much steam as we all thought. EA Sports hasn’t been one to disappoint
us though. Let’s see if they can keep the tradition.
At first
glance the series doesn’t appear to have changed much. Actually that might not
be the best way to describe it – it’s clear from the screens alone that the
graphics have been upgraded. But the gameplay – that doesn’t seem to be
changed at all. It’ll stay that way if you play the game exactly as you’ve
played the previous volumes.
From this
point of the game the newest and coolest thing was the artistic graphic style.
Anyone who’s seen Kill Bill will instantly pick up on the interesting use of
blue colors and wide camera angles. I wouldn’t have thought of something like
this as being appropriate for a basketball game, but it just goes to show how
other art forms have influenced the game industry.
Goals have
been dropped down a point. Three-pointers no longer exist, and you only get
one point for dunking and standard shots. Not a bad change, though it can make
the games last a LOT longer.
I‘m
gonna dunk you like an Oreo in milk.
The increase
in length is justified by the increase in gameplay variety. NBA Street V3
implements the trick stick controls utilized in FIFA Street. This game
succeeds where FIFA failed; dozens of tricks are available, all of which can
be whipped into a combo, creating hundreds of unique possibilities. I wasn’t
overly excited about using the stick at first, but that’s only because it’s
something we don’t experience everyday. Most games don’t even acknowledge the
right analog stick’s presence except to give players a way to change the
camera. It isn’t hard to use though, and it does seem to give you more move
and combo opportunities than you would have had with a single trick button.
Subtle
gameplay tweaks take the series back to the beginning, but also move the game
forward. Volume 2 was great, but it felt like it was too easy to lose the ball
if your opponent was a good goaltender. Goaltending hasn’t been removed, nor
has its potency been lessened. However, the long shots, even those from the
side where no backboard is there to help you, have become a little bit easier.
Each player has his/her set of strengths and weaknesses, but many of them
seemed really good at it, even those whose strengths favored dunks over
shooting.
This doesn’t
make the game easier for anyone; it just makes it more of a challenge for
those who love to goaltend (this includes everyone on the planet). New
strategies must be learned to keep up with the computer-controlled players as
well as your friends. It’s these kinds of gameplay enhancements the Street
games worth coming back to year after year.
One of the
most-talked-about features for NBA Street V3 has been the court creator. It
sounded like a good idea, but in the back of my mind I couldn’t help but
wonder: is this going to be a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater knock-off? How much time
will I need to invest in the game to create a good court? Will the process be
any fun?
Drop
the ball and high-five me. Come ‘on, it’s not a trick! Honest!
Answer: no,
not much, and yes, yes, yes! Once again NBA Street is the most stylish game of
its kind with tons of street-style changes. Change your location (upscale
cities or moderately aged neighborhoods); add logos and emblems; change the
color and line formation; make the court looker old and dirty or fresh and
new; switch the net, grab a new basket, incorporate different backboards, etc.
The mixture of items lets players give their court their own personal touches.
Homemade courts are only unique in their asthetics, but I was surprised by how
much fun it was to build one. As you move up the ranks in the Street Challenge
mode, you’ll earn points that unlock additional building material. Get ballin’
and the players will come callin’.
Within the
Street Challenge mode are dozens on top of dozens of challenges for you to
conquer … if you’re good enough. NBA Street masters should get through the
first half of the game without breaking a sweat, but don’t write your trophy
acceptance speech just yet. NFL Street Vol. 2 might’ve given you the
impression that the series wasn’t going to be as challenging as it was before.
Maybe it’s just me, but the last NFL Street game seemed easier than the first
(it still ruled in the day in multiplayer, earning an overall score of 9.0).
NBA Street V3 is considerably more challenging.
Before you
begin the challenges and start earning points to make that perfect,
so-cool-it-makes-your-friends-drool court, the Street Challenge mode has you
create your own player. Male or female, tall or short, thick or skinny. Hair,
skin tone, the shape of the player’s face – if it’s relevant to the creation
of a good athlete, you can bet it’s in this game.
Besides
height, which I love to push to the limits (you can’t jump higher than the
tallest baller on the court), the best part is being able to upgrade your
player’s stats. Dunks, shots, blocks, and steals are just four of the
attributes that players must work toward improving. A few points are given to
you at the start of the game, but depending on which attributes you want to
increase the most (shots cost a lot), your character may not grow as evenly as
it should. Whether or not the cons are worth the pros – that’s up to you.
I can jump
higher than you! I can jump higher than you!
From the
Street Challenge and all the features within it, to the multiplayer brawls and
the new Dunk Contest, NBA Street V3 is a rock-solid, must-play sequel. The
six-player feature is all most gamers will need to keep their butt from
getting off the couch. Those who need (or want) more get it in the form of
lengthy single-player modes. Design your own shoes if you like, using brand
name models (create and save up to ten pairs).
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Gameplay: 9.0
When you play NBA
Street V3 for the first time, you might not know which mode to check out
first. Should you check out the Dunk Contest, which asks players to jump over
a series of obstacles and perform the best dunk? Should you go for the Street
Challenge and spend the next few days honing your skills, making new shoes and
polishing your court, all the while increasing your athlete’s butt-kicking
ability? Or should you go online, join a team, and compete in one of the best
multiplayer games around? So many choices. So many reasons to love NBA Street
V3.
Graphics: 8.9
Beautifully
detailed, beautifully artistic. NBA Street V3 doesn’t blow its competitors or
predecessors out of the water. It does, however, showcase some of the coolest
camera angles and graphic styles that I have ever seen in a sports game.
Sound: 5.0
More rap/hip-hop
for your listening pleasure, if you consider that pleasurable.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Being a pro
baller is tougher than it looks. And with the new trick stick moves, it’s even
harder to be that million point-scoring superstar you wish to become.
Concept: 8.0
Improves on the
original and the first sequel. NBA Street V3’s trick stick adds more moves and
maneuverability to the player; the Street Challenge mode is stuffed with
time-killing challenges (score the most points, the most trick points, the
first Gamebreaker, etc.); and the online multiplayer mode was a must for the
series and a no-brainer.
Multiplayer: 9.4
Got a few
friends? Invite ‘em over and make sure they bring along a couple of their
friends. You’ll need them if you want to play NBA Street V3 the way that it
was meant to be played: three-on-three multiplayer madness with six players!
New online multiplayer mode means broadband users can do the same, extending
the challenges and fierce challenges for months to come.
Overall: 9.1
V3 – standing for
very vivacious and vonderful (that’s a word! Sure, of course it is!) – takes
the game forward, shifts it into reverse, backs up a little, then speeds ahead
to become the best in the series. It’s got all the goods of the original, more
refinement than the sequel, and more replay value than both predecessors.
