FIFA, NHL, Madden€ there are so many sports franchises that take themselves terribly seriously. 2K's NBA series has taken the same route - you need a degree in basketball theory and playmaking mastery to make head or tail of it all. This obviously appeals to hardcore fans of these sports, so it makes sense that the developers would want to make them as realistic as possible, but that doesn't always mean that it's the most fun. And isn't that what we're here for? Well, if it's pure, adrenaline-injection-in-the-heart basketball good times you're looking for, then NBA Jam is the one you want. Extravagant, explosive, unaffected by complex strategies or textbooks full of player stats, this classic series got more kids excited about basketball than any other game before it. Later editions brought updated visuals and new features, but the core gameplay has been left pretty much untouched. If you've given this high-energy dunkfest a spin (and since it has been released on just about every platform known to man, the chances are good that it's crossed your path), you will know that realism is an unknown concept in NBA Jam. Instead, it's a full-on thrills 'n spills arcade ripper where style and high impact dunks are the order of the day. Players fire off unbelievable three-pointers all the way from their baseline, or launch themselves into the air, slam-dunking so hard that the backboard shatters into tiny pieces across the court. It's silly, but it's meant to be. And how could anyone forget the commentary - lines so passionately delivered that it made each dunk feel like Jordan winning the NBA Championship right on the buzzer. NBA Jam didn't come close to giving us a glimpse of real basketball, but it was the excitement that came with jamming those dunks in from outside the three-point line, or the delightful swooshing sound that came with a long range "nothing but net" basket, which thrilled us and made us feel invincible.
Game-obsessed since the moment I could twiddle both thumbs independently. Equally enthralled by all the genres of music that your parents warned you about.
