Developers
have said that the PSP’s power lies somewhere between the PSone and PS2. The
system’s launch titles seemed to confirm this assessment. Most of them looked
better than any PSone game available but weren’t on par with the top PS2
releases.
The PSP
version of NBA 08 won’t change that belief. It could, however, make gamers’
opinions of sports games lean in PSP’s favor. While many of the 2007/2008
sports titles have sank on PS2, the PSP versions are getting better, showing
that the system – which celebrates its third birthday in about six months –
has more years of room to grow. NBA 08 is a prime example, containing the best
controls of any PSP basketball game, multiple (and exclusive) mini-games, and
a street-style mode where you battle for control of a team and its athletes.
Considering
EA and 2K Sports’ previous dominance of sports gaming, NBA 08 might be a
little startling if this is your first time with the series. The game follows
its PS2 predecessor by using a proprietary shot indicator – a small, circular
image that appears over your player when you press the circle button. The
indicator has three ranges of shot efficiency, each displayed with a different
color. You alter its efficiency by holding the circle button.
Red, the
first color, is the worst and most likely to appear. If you’re being blocked,
shoot too far from the net, shoot while jumping sideways, etc., the indicator
is likely to stay red the entire time. Yellow, the second color, is more
likely to land a basket than red but isn’t overly effective. The final color,
green, is the one you’re shooting for. It’s also the hardest to obtain. You
may only have a split second to release the circle button while the indicator
is green, making it very difficult to get a perfect shot.
But green
doesn’t guarantee the ball will go in, it merely increases your chance of
scoring. These variables give the game a substantial advantage – and a
substantial challenge – over its competitors. Impatient and/or unskilled
players are likely to be very frustrated for the first few hours of play. But
in the long run, the shot indicator in NBA 08 is definitely the way to go. It
may be turned off, but then you’re shooting without any guidelines for when
the ball should be thrown.
On the
Streets
NBA Jam was
the arcade king of its era. NBA Street is the arcade king of today, albeit
without an actual arcade to play it at. That would make NBA 08 the simulation
king on the handheld scene, and this year it’s taking a stab at the street
formula of gaming with an updated Conquest mode. There are two basic
differences that separate Conquest from standard NBA basketball: scoring and
city commanding. Points are not earned, they are subtracted from the opposing
team. By scoring, you deplete your opponent’s score. Knock the score down to
zero to win.
Just as you
can select any team in the Season, Exhibition and other game modes, Conquest
gives you access to the full NBA lineup. The goal is to challenge other teams
within your division to take control of their players. If you challenge and
lose, the winning team receives one of your players and vice versa. The game
is randomized, so you never know for certain when you’re going to be
challenged.
The
challenge, whether playing on the veteran setting or at a higher difficulty,
is fairly robust. Don’t expect to be overwhelmed unless you’re struggling with
the shot indicator – then you might as well throw in the towel. But you will
have to work for your wins. These opponents are great at intercepting lazy
passes, and are even better at blocking, which can prevent the shot indicator
from turning green, all but guaranteeing that a point cannot be scored.
Finding a
Niche
On PS2 and
PS3, the NBA series has been focused on lengthy single- and multiplayer
gameplay. Though the PSP can handle those kinds of experiences, most
developers want their handheld games to be exciting at intervals of five
minutes. To make this a reality with NBA 08, the developers added to last
year’s list of mini-games and carnival games. In addition to Dodge Ball,
Horse, Skills Challenge, Own the Court, 3-Point Contest and HORSE, NBA 08
contains Shootin’ Bricks, Fast Break and Elimination. Each deserves further
explanation. The first is a great Arkanoid-inspired arcade game with 2.5D
graphics (2D gameplay; 3D graphics). As you’d expect, players control a small
rectangular platform that’s used to bounce the ball around the room until all
of the bricks have been eliminated.
Fast Break
is a short game of 3-on-2: on offense you’ll play against two defenders; on
defense you’ll play against three players. In Elimination mode, players win
power-ups by eliminating their teammates. This is done by scoring six points
with each player. The first team to eliminate four players wins.
Arkanoid, NBA 08-style.
There is
also a great pinball mode that gives you three terrific pinball tables (more
are supposed to be available for download at a later time). Each incorporates
several elements of the sport: baskets, player outlines, two- and three-point
shots, etc. Skee-ball and Chuck E. Cheese-style b-ball shooting games are
featured as well.
These
mini-games are almost as fun as the rest of the game, which may very well be
the solution to the sports genre’s biggest problem. Gamers and critics are
continually unsatisfied by the minute changes from year to year. During those
less innovative, in-between updates, if handheld developers add a plethora of
distractions, the game could feel more complete. NBA 08 is complete on both
sides of the spectrum, giving gamers everything they could want from a PSP
baller.
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Gameplay: 8.5
The series’
latest PSP outing isn’t just its best handheld sequel. It’s also the series’
best update on any platform. The gameplay variety is icing on an already
irresistible, double-decker cake with layers of control depth and seamless
gameplay.
Graphics:
8.5
Excellent player
models, animations, camera work, reflections, presentation – the works. This
is what a PSP sports game should always look like.
Sound: 8.0
A short but
wonderful selection of rock music mixed with rap, techno, and surprisingly
good commentary from Ian Eagle and Mark Jackson.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Easy mini-games –
difficult Conquest and Season modes.
Concept: 7.9
The mini-games,
old and new, enhance the overall experience of NBA 08 while Conquest adds a
different kind of challenge to the large set of game modes.
Multiplayer: 8.0
Ad hoc and
infrastructure multiplayer return for another great season. Multiplayer is
also supported for some of the mini-games.
Overall: 8.5
NBA 08 is like a
two-disc set: half is a simulation basketball game with a new street mode, the
other half is a series of mini-games that could’ve been sold as a collection
via the PlayStation Network. The b-ball gameplay is great – stellar controls,
smooth frame rate, and an impressive array of animations. NBA 08’s pinball and
Arkanoid-style mini-games are tons of fun, and the rest are entertaining
diversions that encourage players to return.
