Review: NBA Jam: On Fire Edition

Developer: Electronic Arts
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Rating: Everyone

Has the NBA lockout got you down? Can’t afford NBA 2k12? Electronic Arts is here to help you out with the followup to last year’s hit of a revamped classic in NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. The classic arcade style basketball is back, with the over the top, above the rim style of basketball you remember with a few changes on the X-Box Live Arcade and Playstation Network’s Store. If you feel like setting aside a mere $15 for this title, I’ll send they alley, then you send the oop, here’s the review.

He’s on fire

Not much has changed from last year’s version of NBA Jam as far as looks go, however if you haven’t played last year’s version but remember the old classic version you’ll notice a somewhat dramatic change in the players. Since it is an exclusive X-Box Live Arcade and Playstation Network title the game is in HD. The audience, and other background people look like animated cardboard cutouts of the same few people plastered over the arena. Some cheerleaders have the animated body, but might have the heads of some of the female development team. The players themselves mostly have the same body types, however have the heads of the players taken from pictures, which has a comical feel to it, especially when you use “Big Head” mode.

Arenas have the same scorers table that shows both the time left in the quarter and the shot clock on both sides of the court. The courts themselves look like the authentic floors that you would see when you watch a basketball game. The only difference is that the courts and rims feel smaller because the players are bigger and much faster.

Is this how you spell “Boomshakalaka”?

Where realistic sports simulations offer up season and franchise modes, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition gives less modes than their realistic counterparts. The On Fire Edition offers up some of the same modes as the previous NBA Jam, with the exception of the Remix Tour. The Online Arena offers up the same modes as the regular single player experiences to allow for co-op, and work up more experience points to use in the NBA Jam Store to buy unlockable players, different balls to use in the game (such as an eye ball, and an 8 ball), and other logos to customize your banner for online play.

When I mentioned the experience points, all can be earned a little at a time in the Jam Now mode, or gather larger amounts in the Road Trip mode. Road Trip is where you select a division, and take on a franchise in three different contests while completing a list of challenges on a list, such as blocking an opponent 5 times. First time is usually a 2 on 2 with the current players. The second and third contests are where things get changed up. This is where the remnants of the Remix tour come into play. The second and third contests offer up games different challenges such as games where dunks are worth three points, and three pointers are worth four points.

The change in the Road Trip mode the On Fire Edition offers up is that you can go from one team to another, and one division to another instead of sticking to one team until you finish. This is a welcome modification to the game, and still offers the best of the Remix Mode and combines it with the Road Trip mode to condense it to a smaller game, but in a good way.

Other additions to the Team Fire Edition are Razzle Dazzle and Team Fire. Razzle Dazzle allows you to taunt your opponents while you have the ball. Team Fire allows both members on the court to have the benefits of being “on fire” after the team makes three alley oops in a row. This generally lasts about 20-30 seconds, and can not be extinguished unless the opposing team makes an alley oop of their own, or time runs out.

HE’S ON FIRE!!!

Controls in the game are very simple. For the most part on offense it’s only shoot and pass, on defense it’s steal and block, except when you push the turbo button steal becomes shove. However the simplified controls are slightly delayed on defense when you try to block a shot, so working on timing takes a slight learning curve. Despite this everything else is quite responsive and simple.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, IT’S AN ALLEY OOP!!!

When it comes to the sounds of this game, the most important thing to mention is that Tim Kitrow is the announcer and brings a lot of joy to the old school NBA Jam fans. He’s as over the top with his one liners as the game is. Everything else in the background such as music and the crowd work well for the game. Nothing you would really notice while playing, but if it were gone it would be a lot quieter.

Too big, too strong, too fast…too good

The overall full experience of the game is a great one. The major flaw of this game is that there almost isn’t enough to do in the game. Granted, Road Trip and the Online feature will keep you busy at your own pace, but a modified season mode or maybe some type of ladder mode where you take on each team individually would be nice.

The pros of the game are vast. They play up the nostalgia factor, while refreshing the franchise. NBA Jam: On Fire Edition does a lot of things right, and executes them all with a great amount of precision. Gameplay is fluid, fast, a lot of fun, yet simple enough to pick up and play for just about anyone. Not to mention it’s only $15 or about 1200 Microsoft Points, it won’t put a great dent in your wallet.

NBA Jam: On Fire Edition offers up an enhanced gameplay, updated rosters, new legends, and maintains the old school, over the top feel of the original NBA Jam. If you love arcade style basketball, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is right up your alley and is worth the download.

Final Verdict: NBA Jam: On Fire Edition gets 9 glass shattering slam dunks out of 10.

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