If you liked NBA Jam, Hang-Time, and Showtime, NBA Hoopz is the best of the pack.

This game is definitely for the fans of the genre. This is not NBA 2K1, nor does it try to be. NBA Hoopz is the solid sequel to the popular arcade game, NBA Showtime, which was originally introduced in the arcade. NBA Hoopz is the first 3 on 3 arcade style basketball game with all the action we have come to expect from Midway. The game boasts excellent graphics, accurate rosters, crazy dunks, customizable teams and players.
Features:

Only 3 on 3 extreme style b'ball game you'll find this season.
500+ Animations including dozens of different dunks and signature moves.
Mini games: Including, 21, 2Ball, Around The World and 3-Point ShootOut.
Secret Courts, create-a-player, and customizable teams

As a fan of the genre, I was excited to see an update to Showtime. Although there is not room for big improvements, NBA Hoopz definitely has enough to keep gamers happy. The big difference this year is that the game has gone 3 on 3 compared to the typical 2-on 2 action. I'm not going to say the game is realistic, but Midway made the game more realistic in a round-about sort of way. It's a lot more difficult to make open shots. With 3-guys on defense, it makes for an ultimate challenge on offense finding the open man. NBA Showtime suffered from lack of defense in every way possible. Midway fixed this is in Hoopz. Read on.

Graphics: These type of barn ball games have never been about visuals. Hoopz is no exception. But that doesn't mean things are bad. Of course next to 2K1, you might be disappointed, but as a 3 on 3 arcade game, things look pretty good. The players bodies, once again, are overly exaggerated. Most look like they could be part of the Mr. Universe competition. But the modeled faces look very good, and most players look recognizable.

In terms of the action on-screen. Hoopz rocks. The animations are slurpy smooth and I didn't notice any slow-down. And considering how crazy the action gets, this is quite a feat for 6 players on-screen. The players do between the leg passes, fade-away jumpers, high-flying 3-Pointers, dozens of dunks and no-look passes and it's simply fun to see it on-screen.

Although not important to game itself, I have to say this is the best looking crowd I have ever seen in a basket ball game. Midway actually took time to breathe some life in the usual card-board cut out animations and made NBA Hoopz look good. The stadiums are virtua-size, and you can notice the size perspective in some of the mini games and the instant replays.

Control/Gameplay: Of course the game is not realistic, but it is accurate in terms of player strengths and abilities. Don't think because it's arcade style that you'll be nailing 3-Pointers with Mutumbo and Shaq. NBA Hoopz is all about easy, simplistic control schemes and fun-frantic gameplay. The two main buttons are shoot and pass. The turbo button comes in handy when driving to the rim for a dunk and fleeing swarming defenders. Midway did add a new button called the "Hoopz Button" which adds a little more depth. On offense, the Hoopz button lets the ball-handler back-down the opponents to the basket. It doesn't fee like Live or NBA2K1, but it's the only game where you can back-down at the 3-Point line and a throw a sky hook from the trifecta.

Playing with 2 other team-mates is a bit different from the usual 2 on 2. But the computer seems a bit more competent on the defensive end. The computer appears to help out a little more on defense, and with 3-Players, playing defense certainly has more affect on the outcome of a game. My first attempt with Hoopz, I had 10 blocked shots and 10 steals, and only about 1/2 were done by me, the rest by my computer controlled teammates.

You can opt to choose to play with Tag-Mode on or off. With Tag-Mode on, you take control of the player with the ball. With it off, you control the same player throughout the game. (which seems to be a bit easier for novice players). With the Tag-Mode on, it was a bit frustrating me to figure out who I was controlling on defense, most might want to stick with the single-player control. As stated above, my computer controlled team-mates appear to be a bit brighter this year. They didn't turn the ball over quite as much, and if they start blowing the game, you can tell them to pass the ball.

I did have an opportunity to play with 3 other people. The game supports 4-Player gameplay. The game is absolutely fantastic with 2 players on a side with one computer controlled team-mate. At times I wanted to kill the computer controlled team-mate, but he seemed to be in-sync with the 4 other human player actions, for the most part. If you can find 3 other players that can figure the controls out, NBA Hoopz is the best multi-player sports game you'll ever find.

Mini Games: Midway added some fairly decent mini-games that is a good change of pace from the 3 on 3 action. The 3-Point ShootOut, 21, 2Ball, practice, and Around the World.

21 is every man for himself. Three players take the court and the first to 21 points wins the game. The only catch, if you score over 21, your score resets back to 11. After two baskets, you get a free shot. Make the free shot to retain possession, if you miss it, the ball is up for grabs for the 2 other players. The game is quite additive, especially with 2 other human players.

Around the World: The goal of the game is to make shots from designated markers on the court. This game uses a target meter which is quite intuitive. The target meter will move faster depending on the length of the shot and the player you are controlling. If you miss a shot, you have the choice to retake the shot or yield. If you choose to retake the shot and miss the 2nd time, you are penalized and have to go back several markers.

3-Point ShootOut: This one is self-explanatory. 5 balls in a rack, 5 racks, one money ball in each rack worth two points. You know the drill. This one also uses the target meter.

2Ball:2 players take control and shoots from 7 possible shooting spots. The catch is, is that you must alternate after every shot and you must never shoot from the same location. This is better as a 2-Player game rather than with a computer controlled team-mate.

Practice: Do I really need to explain this one? Select a player and just shoot around from either end of the court. No defense, just you, the ball, and the rim. Fun for about 2 minutes.

Sound: The Midway announcer is back, you know the dude from HangTime, Showtime and NFL Blitz? He basically says the same jargon he always has. It's not play-by-play, but he gets the job done for the arcade style. The music is just okay, nothing to write home about. The sound FX are your standard fare, and the crowd needs to be a bit more involved.

Final Call: Fans of this genre will be more than pleased with NBA Hoopz. With the addition of 3 on 3 gameplay and the decent mini-games, this game is highly recommended. However, if you are a simulation junkie and want realism, stick with 2K1.

The Good and the Bad:
+ 3 on 3 is different and better than 2 on 2.
+ Multi-player is a blast. Bring over some buds.
+ Mini-games ain't all that bad.
+ Graphics are goofy, but good for the arcade style.
+ Fans of the genre will love it.
+ Yes, you can still catch the ball on fire.

- Non-fans of the genre will hate it.
- Can't trade players to get rosters updated.
- Losing to the Chicago Bulls might upset you.
- Computer still seems to cheat when losing by big points.


Reviewed by: John