Let me preface this with a disclaimer: I've stayed away from every NBA Jam game on every platform. Being a big fan of the NBA 2K series, the comical gameplay of the title just didn't appeal to me. With a lack of decent basketball games on the iPhone, however, I thought I might as well give NBA Jam a shot.
Visually, the game look stunning on the small display. With the characters sporting 3D polygonal bodies and high-res photographs for heads, the effect is equally creepy and hilarious -- just the very things the developers are likely aiming for. The animation is fluid and actual game performance is predominantly smooth (with a few hiccups here and there).
The old NBA Jam gameplay is recreated in the iOS version. That means, a relatively free-for-all game of 2-on-2. All the crazy things you can do on console versions are faithfully remade, so it's a lot of fun if you're into the on-court mayhem that's been the title's trademark all these years.
Control system works very well. You get a virtual stick, a turbo button and another pair of buttons that changes functions, depending on whether you're on defense or offense. It's simple, but accurate. There's a training camp mode where you can pick up more advanced controls, such as making use of the turbo to turn regular moves into something spectacular (and, often, implausible).
All 30 NBA teams are represented, with 3 to 5 current players for each team available for use. Each team has unlockable players, too, which range from retired legends to team mascots. And, yes, it's a boatload of fun.
If there's anything missing in NBA Jam for iPhone, it's multiplayer. Arcade games, especially action-packed sports ones, are just bundles more fun when played against people you can insult throughout the game. As it is, though, this is a very fun sports title well worth the $4.99 price.
[EA]
