NBA Street Homecourt
Like many, I spent my younger days in the arcade playing games like NBA Jam and Blitz. Sure, these franchises were the epitome of nonsensical sports but they offered such a good time in the end nobody cared what superhuman feats the players pulled off. It was a long time coming but EA's Street franchise has stepped forward as the next over the top arcade-style digital sports arena.
When Street was released in 2001 it took the sports genre by storm. The innovative gameplay, tight control, and personality made basketball something to care about again. The sequels have evolved the series in one way or another and each is different than the last. In the case of Homecourt things have once again been shuffled around a tad though it's safe to say that the gameplay is more refined than ever.
The thing about NBA Street Homecourt that struck me at first was just how quickly I was able to get into the action. The single player mode this time around is relatively straight forward and all you really do is pick between different challenges on the court. It's a simplistic approach to structuring the menu selection but it's effective. No real story is offered here though there are a few snippets of stories and histories involving some players and locations.
As far as the gameplay goes once again NBA Street delivers the goods. Things are fast, frenetic, and flashy the moment the ball first touches your hand. I'd almost go as far as to say that the style is more pronounced in Homecourt than in previous installments but that may just be due to the fact that I have played the prior ones recently. For instance players now have the ability to score twice with a single dunk. It's quite impressive to see a player slam the ball down, grab it before it hits the ground, and flip off the rim for another dunk.
While controlling a player you can do all of the basic things with ease. Dribbling, passing, shooting, and dunking are mapped out to buttons on the SIXAXIS comfortably and I had no issues with the way things were set up. Shoulder buttons modify the various tricks you can do and some swift button pushes allow for some nice showboating while you strut across the court. As always the showing earns you points which can be applied to unleashing a Gamebreaker.
One of the biggest things to remember while playing Homecourt is that you're not just running across court, dodging defenders, and trying to dunk. Along the way you should stop to taunt the defense with some slick moves and try to set up more impressive team maneuvers rather than fly solo to the rim. When doing both of these things you'll notice points being tallied on screen with the climax of a raised Gamebreaker bar at the top of the screen when you finally do score.
Once the bar is maxed out you'll notice the center court start to glow with light. Step into the ring and activate your Gamebreaker to really make the competition sweat it out. Your ball-handling is more impressive, you have the ability to actually deduct points from your opponent's total, and you can rack up more points than normal shots. Unlike previous Street games you're not invincible though.
In Homecourt it's possible for an opposing player to steal the ball away from whoever is Gamebreaking. This act transfers the power associated with the Gamebreak regardless of how full their meter is. It certainly adds an air of danger to showboating and you'll want to think twice about how risky you want to be depending on your lead. Sometimes it's just better to do what you need to do and get it over with given the situation. This holds true whether you're looking at the single player or multiplayer.
Speaking of which, both game modes offer a nice amount of play value. The single player mode definitely has the lowest replay value with straight forward matches and a somewhat lackluster feeling after a while. This mode is best suited for creating a baller and exploring the system before you head online to play against someone who is probably better than you (or at least talks like they are).
I hate to come right out and say it but this is probably one of the best basketball games that I have ever played. The Street series has dethroned NBA Jam in my opinion and Homecourt truly offers action worthy of that statement. The sense of style is amazing and every aspect features something to love. The single player experience can be a tad on the boring side after a while but multiplayer is downright solid. If you're looking for an arcade sports title that will keep you going for a while this is one to check out.
With video support for 480i, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p you know that NBA Street Homecourt is going to look good whatever you're watching it on. Simply put: character models and court designs are fantastic. There is a certain cartoon-like appearance to each player yet at the same time they are realistic enough to identify. Skins and textures are well and good though, but it's the animation that makes all the difference.
After hours of play I still got a kick out of watching these players move the ball. Flipping it behind their backs, faking out opponents, and jumping around like sports-loving ninjas was more entertaining than it should have been. The fluidity of character movements is great and though the maneuvers may be a little too silly for their own good at times they impress big time.
My only real gripe with the visuals in the game involves the Technicolor hue that appears over some courts and during Gamebreakers. With reds and blues covering everything I felt like I was playing the game with broken 3D glasses on. It wasn't distracting all the time but there were moments when it got really annoying.
Previous NBA Street installments offered some great audio quality and Homecourt is no different. The soundtrack fits the retro, yet fresh, style perfectly thanks to remixes and new cuts. The sound effects are realistic and the voice acting is top notch as well. Some of the phrases get repetitive after a while but for the most part they are relative to what's happening in the game.
NBA Street Homecourt is not a perfect game. There are certain letdowns when it comes to the single player experience, repetitive voice work, and graphical flare. It is however a damned good game and frankly one of the best basketball titles that I have ever played. The gameplay engine is rock solid and the style is just about as good as you'll find anywhere. Over-the-top sports titles have come a long way since the days of NBA Jam and Homecourt deserves a place on your shelf if you ever considered yourself a fan of the genre. Highly Recommended