NBA Jam (2010)

This article is about the 2010 video game. You may be looking for the 1993 arcade game of the same name.

NBA Jam (2010) Boomshakalaka is back! Genre(s): Sports Platform(s): PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Nintendo Wii iOS Windows Phone Android Mac OS X Release: Original release Nintendo Wii NA: October 5, 2010 AU: November 25, 2010 EU: November 26, 2010 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 NA: November 17, 2010 AU: November 25, 2010 EU: November 26, 2010 iOS February 10, 2011 Mac OS X WW: December 14, 2011 Android WW: March 15, 2012 Windows Phone WW: March 21, 2013 On Fire PlayStation3 NA: October 4, 2011 Xbox 360 WW: October 5, 2011 Developer(s): EA Canada Publisher(s): EA Sports Country: Canada

NBA Jam (2010) is a basketball video game developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports. This is the latest installment of the NBA Jam video game series thus released in 2010. A PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have an exclusive On Fire Edition of the game.

Why It's On Fire Once Again

1. The graphics are a major step up to the previous games. They consist of a unique visual style by using 3D models with high-resolution photos for the heads of each player without being too uncanny. If you wanted to play the game in glorious HD, the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will give you that complete with the visuals being upgraded.
   • And who could not forget the color palette being upgraded as well.
2. Thanks to the new technology, the character animations are a lot smoother almost feeling like it combines life-like movements with a fast-paced cartoon-like tone.
3. Good controls that are responsive enough for a great gameplay experience.
4. Announcer Tim Kitzrow makes a return to this game from the original NBA Jam whereas he ends up re-recording all of his lines from the previous NBA Jam titles. Tim's voice is a lot more clear to listen to.
5. For its time, the roster is accurate as of April 7 of 2010 with players that were available at the time the game was released.
6. Gameplay still stays true to the predecessor. You still have the exaggerated nature such as slam dunks that defy both human capabilities and the laws of physics.
7. As always, there are no fouls, free throws, or violations except defensive goaltending and shot clock violations. In other words, you still get to shove or elbow the opponents.
8. The On Fire feature once again makes a return. The On Fire state gives you unlimited turbo, no goaltending, and increased shooting ability
9. New features have been added into the 2010 version of a reimagined arcade game with a modern twist.
   • Campaign - Has 1-on-1 boss battles
   • Elimination - Up to four players can play this game with the looser having the lowest number of points
   • 21 - A 1-on-1 match where the first one to get 21 points is the winner
   • Domination: You just appear on a basketball court with colorful pads and the one player has the most points wins
10. The Wii version has two modes.
    • Classic mode - This one plays like a traditional NBA Jam game
    • Remix Tour - This one has all-new camera angles, power-ups, and boss battles altogether. It wasn't until the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have the Remix Tour mode that they became stand-alone products
11. The Wii allows you to play with different controllers including the Wii Remote, both the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, the Classic Controller, and the Classic Controller Pro.
12. The Wii gives you a moment to battle against NBA legends Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
13. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions allow you to play online unlike the Wii version.
14. The game pays homage to your typical arcade-style game.
15. You can unlock some players in this game. They include people like John Starks, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Tim Hardaway, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Dr. J, and Detlef Schrempf.
    • You also have input codes as well where you can unlock people like Geroge Bush, Beastie Boys, Dick Cheney, George Bush, Joe Biden, 9th Wonder, the Mascots, Michelle Beadle, Colin Cowherd, etc.
16. Basketball players are not the only ones that are unlockable, you can also unlock boss battles, cheats, and basketballs just by doing certain unlocking criteria to unlock them like a Lava Basketball or a Happy Face basketball.
17. The game gets more fun to play when you play in multiplayer mode.
18. A jam (no pun intended) worthy soundtrack that fits so well with basketball.
19. The On Fire Edition exclusive for the PS3 and Xbox 360 has bigger rosters, more than 30 unlockable secret teams (including an EA-based team featuring Isaac from Dead Space and Faith from Mirror's Edge ), and enhanced gameplay, new modes, and all-new online modes. The player roster is also updated to the 2011-2012 NBA season. The Team Fire from 'NBA Hangtime makes a grand return.
    • The in-game currency is Jam Bucks which rewards players for playing any game mode. They are spent on the Jam Stor on new players, teams, player icons, titles, and new gameplay mutators.

Bad Qualities

1. The Wii does not have an online mode for some reason since Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection exists at the time. The Wii also lacks an On Fire Edition
2. The gameplay hasn't really changed much aside from the new things.
3. Some characters were cut in the On Fire edition like Jeff Green, Baron Davis, Caron Butler, J.J. Barea, J.R. Smith, etc.

Reception

The game got favorable reviews with the PS3 having Average reviews according to Metacritic. Other publications have given the game good reviews like Metro, PSM, TouchArcade, Nintendo Power, and Giant Bomb. As for the On Fire Edition, both the PS3 and and Xbox 360 versions has gotten favoritable reviews also according to Metacritic. Others have given good reviews as well a 411Mania, PSM, OPM, OXM, and GameZone.

Trivia

• The game was initially planned to be available as a full retail release for the Wii, with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions available for download via a coupon upon purchasing NBA Elite 11. As September 28 of 2010 announced NBA Elite 11 got delayed.

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