NBA Street: Homecourt

UPC: 014633153088

Platform: Xbox 360

Publisher: EA Sports Big

Developer: EA Canada

Category: Sports

Style(s): Basketball

Synopsis: In NBA Street: Homecourt, players go up against NBA superstars on courts in their hometowns. Gamers who go "Career" must create a character and then pick a home to represent. Players then work their way from nobody to street ball legend by defeating other teams on their turf. Gamers go up against such NBA all-stars as Shaquille O'neal, Dwayne Wade, and Melo. As players progress through the game they are rewarded with upgraded skills and attributes for their avatar. To truly own the courts players must master the "Trick Remixer." Gamers may execute a variety of special moves and combos during gameplay to upset the opponent's defense and to earn more points. Each successful trick bumps the Gamebreaker gauge up a notch until it is full and players activate the money ball. With control of the money ball, gamers can either go for a single basket or attempt to complete several combos before the dunk and earn up to three extra points. Online, players can create teams, chat with friends, check the leaderboard, and schedule tournaments. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 12-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

EA's showboating successor to Midway's NBA Jam series has finally moved onto greener pastures, or at least grittier concrete, for its rookie debut on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While a significant visual upgrade was expected, the pace, flow, and "feel" of the three-on-three action is better than any previous Street game. Homecourt doesn't tinker too much with the arcade-style play mechanics, but the thoughtful control tweaks and new 3D engine help breathe new life into what could have easily become a winded series. Hoops fans won't be shocked to learn that Homecourt features well-detailed players, but it's each athlete's smooth moves that immediately impresses, from the low crossover dribbles and backboard-bending slams to the goofy kick passes and jump-off dunks -- a variant on the alley-oop that involves using a teammate's back or shoulders as a springboard for some impressive hang time. Despite its over-the-top theatrics, Homecourt's visuals are more realistic than in previous games, with stars and street courts looking almost photo-real in their appearance. The combination of 3D background elements, dynamic lighting, and razor-sharp detail on high-definition displays makes Homecourt as much a pleasure to watch as it is to play. Of course, the premise will be familiar to anyone who has enjoyed earlier titles in the flamboyant series. No matter which game variant you choose, your goal is to reach a certain number of points before your rivals. The manner in which this is accomplished is what makes the game so addictive, with the ability to modify basic shots, passes, and dunks at will. New to Homecourt is the "trick remixer" system, allowing players to perform situational moves while dribbling, backpedaling, standing, and so forth, by pressing one of two face buttons. Timing is an important part of the controls, with the speed or difficulty of certain moves influenced by whether you hold down or tap a button at the right moment. Double dunks are now possible, for example, by holding down the dunk button and releasing it just as the ball nears the rim -- wait too long and you'll come crashing to the ground as the ball clangs off the basket. The gamebreaker system, something players either love or hate about the Street series, has also improved. Maxing out the trick meter now causes the center of the court to glow. Tapping a button while standing in the light activates the gamebreaker, which kicks off Herbie Hancock's classic song amp;Rockit as you breakdance across the court and try to score before the shot clock expires. The more outlandish moves you pull off, the more points you'll receive if you make the shot. Yet a gamebreaker is not an instant "I win" move. Players on defense can perform timing-based counter moves and create turnovers, stealing the gamebreaker for themselves by slamming the ball through their basket. This risk vs. reward element makes the gamebreaker mechanic surprisingly fair and enjoyable for both teams involved. Unfortunately, the goodwill the developers created with the new engine is nearly lost by the lack of meaningful game modes and customization options. The character creator is appallingly simplistic, with players only able to choose from a pre-made guard, center, or forward rather than starting from scratch. Modifying a custom character's appearance first involves picking two NBA stars and then morphing the default face to pick up specific features or traits from all three "donors." Yes, it's as weird as it sounds. You can't edit or change an athlete's hairstyle, size, weight, or eye color, nor can you create jersey numbers or outfit players with sunglasses, hats, and other fun elements as seen in games like the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series. The customization woes spill over to the Homecourt Challenge mode, a scaled-down version of the career-like campaign found in previous NBA Street games. You can't design your home court like you could in NBA Street Vol. 3, unlock NBA legends like Larry Bird or Dr. J, play against real-life streetball stars, or purchase new moves, dunks, or abilities. Created player progression is now automatic, so leveling is a simple matter of playing games and you can't even assign points to specific attributes. The rest of the play modes are variants on the pick-up game, with the gamebreaker battle, trick battle, back-to-basics, and custom game modes differing only in how you score points. Where is the dunk contest? Where are the mini-games? Sadly, all are casualties of the new game engine, but there is at least online support, even if it "only" supports single matches instead of full-fledged tournaments. NBA Street: Homecourt is entertaining, but at the same time, hard to fully appreciate when comparing it to the earlier versions. Homecourt's core gameplay is excellent on both sides of the ball, with the high-octane offense balanced by goaltending and shoving without reprieve on defense. The physics model has improved considerably, and the controls require a degree of technique instead of blindly mashing buttons. The lack of in-depth modes or customization features should be a warning sign for solo players, but as a party game, this Street's appealing arcade-style action opens up new avenues for fun. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.