The Observer, March 23, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 21
NBA Street remains king of the Homecourt
Electronic Arts has always seemed to put more effort into their NBA Street series than most of itsother sports franchises. Whether players were jumping 15 feet in the air or break-dancing with the ball, the first three "volumes" were incredibly fluid and polished. One might assume then that this company, often criticized for their annual updates with diminishing returns, would be willing to bring a new Street installment to next-gen consoles with the obligatory visual boost and not much else. However, NBA Street Homecourt is anything but a quick cash-in. No, this arcade hoops game arrives on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in style, with important changes and even more ludicrous dunks than before.
Even the most outrageous basketball games need to have strong fundamentals, and Homecourt is no exception. Players have complete control over their favorite NBA stars, as tricks and passes can be strung together without hesitation. These smooth moves can be attributed to the incredible animation. Running at 60 frames per second, you'll be able to pull off split-second passes with ease.
These qualities have been excellent since the inception of the series, but players now have even more techniques at their disposal. A teammate can kneel down at the top of the key to function as a human springboard. Players can now dish the ball off to computer controlled teammates in order to initiate alley-oops. Best of all is the creation of the "double dunk," in which a player brings the ball through the hoop a second time for an additional point. These adjustments don't radically alter the gameplay, but all of them make the classic Street gameplay feel fresh again.
The trick system and "Gamebreakers" have also been tweaked. Tricks are now determined by timing rather than by the direction of the right analog stick. The modifier buttons can still be used, but the simplified controls are more accessible without sacrificing depth. The Gamebreakers are more forgiving as well. When the opposing team activates their (even more) unbelievable superpowers, your players can now steal the ball and use their power-up against them. Veterans may need some time to adjust to the changes, but Homecourt just feels more balanced than its predecessors.
With all of the time spent working on the core gameplay, it's a shame that EA's game has so few options. The single-player tour across the nation is addictive for a while, but the limited challenges become repetitive. The dunk contests in Volume 3 were not phenomenal, but they at least lent that game some variety. The create-a-player mode is a shadow of its former self. In a bizarre nod to Conan O'Brien's "If They Mated," the faces of the NBA's finest are spliced together. Maybe it sounded like a good idea on paper, but good luck trying to create your own likeness. Jersey and accessory options have been neglected too. Sadly, in-game advertisements are at their worst here, as you'll be forced to pick between yellow-and-green Sprite and Michael Jordan brand duds.
The multiplayer modes will keep Homecourt in your console's tray longer. Competitive multiplayer will inspire the same kinds of gaming rivalries that NBA Jam and NFL Blitz did years ago. Even better, cooperative play against the computer is a blast, since there are many more options in this sequel for when players don't have the ball on offense. Online play is limited, but is infinitely more entertaining than the story mode.
Surprisingly, the soundtrack is another highlight. Rather than using the same, generic EA "Trax" that are used in all of their other franchises, Homecourt includes funkier songs from artists such as Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. The absence of the emcee from Volume 3 is also welcomed.
NBA Street Homecourt still has some minor issues on the court; blocks are too frequent and the camera angle can sometimes be awkward. Even so, it's hard to imagine a basketball game coming any closer to perfection. This is the sports game for people who don't typically enjoy sports games.
