Review: NBA Jam (Xbox Live)

Author: Nokia / Electronic Arts

Version Reviewed: 1.1

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In a sense this is a bit of a time capsule of a game. The look is wonderfully nineties, with oversized heads, an enthusiastic audio sampling of an over-eager commentator, and the cheesiest background music... in the world. It's a retro throwback and I have to be honest, it suits the temperament of the game on show, which is all about having fun while presenting users with what is quite a challenging game.

You'll start off being offered a training zone, which takes you through the four basic moves you have in the game - moving around the court, free throws and shooting, slam dunks, blocking and stealing, Even if you've played NBA Jam before on another platform, it's best to go through this training to get a feel for the controls.

These are a virtual joypad layout, with the stick on the left and your three buttons (run / jump / tackle) on the right. There is decent spacing between all three, and it's not a complicated system. You can tap the buttons to do the action, or slide from the run key to shoot or tackle with more gusto if you feel the need.

Back to the challenge of the game. This is 2v2 basketball, so you'll be able to pass the ball as required. That means you'll need to work on movement and keeping the passing lines open to your team mate, and always being aware of gaps that you could run into to reach the basket. Basketball is a high scoring game, and NBA Jam is no exception. If you can block a few of the opposing team's attacks, and still make your own, the chances are victory will be yours. But making sure you grind out your baskets, that's the key.

Thankfully the screen never gets too cluttered - with four players total on the court it's always clear where everyone is and what your opponents are up to. The ball also stays clear, with good contrast to the court, and when something special does happen (such as a steal or a rebound) it will flash to help you see where it is and take action accordingly. The graphics might not be modern photorealistic, but they work, and once you start to play, the heightened colour palette helps your eyes pick up all the movement.

I'm still not sure why the file size is so high on this title (upwards of 300MB) so you will need to be on Wi-Fi to download it, but I can say it's worth it. The single player game is tough but fair, while the multiplayer option allows players in the local Wi-Fi network to either work together on the same team against the AI opponents, or be on opposing teams with a digital sidekick helping to make the plays. It's not a perfectly coded system, you will need to try a few times to get a good connection, but do persevere, it is worth it.

And that kind of sums up NBA Jam. It's worth it. And before you ask, yes, you do get to hear "Boomshakalaka", so rest easy and go download the latest EA title for your Lumia handset. It's definitely one title that can be recommended.

Reviewed by Ewan Spence at 6:19 UTC, June 28th 2013