Description
NBA JAM SNES
NBA Jam is a basketball video game developed and published by Midway for arcades in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series. The project leader for this game was Mark Turmell. NBA Jam was the third basketball video game released by Midway, after TV Basketball (1974) and Arch Rivals (1989). Midway had previously also released such sports video games as the American football titles High Impact (1990) and Super High Impact (1991). The gameplay of NBA Jam is based on Arch Rivals, which was also a 2-on-2 basketball game. However, it was the release of NBA Jam that brought mainstream success to the genre.
The release of NBA Jam popularized a subgenre of basketball games which were based around fast, action-packed gameplay and exaggerated realism, a formula which Midway would also later apply to the sports of football (NFL Blitz), hockey (2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge, later NHL Hitz) and baseball (MLB Slugfest).
NBA JAM SNES
NBA Jam, which features two-on-two basketball, is one of the first real playable basketball arcade games and is also one of the first sports games to feature NBA-licensed teams and players, and their real digitized likenesses.
A key feature of NBA Jam is the exaggerated nature of the play – players can jump extremely high and make slam dunks that defy both human capabilities and the laws of physics. There are no fouls, free throws, or violations except goaltending and 24-second violations. This means the player is able to freely shove or elbow opponents out of the way. Additionally, if a player makes three baskets in a row, the character becomes “on fire” and has an unlimited turbo and increased shooting precision. The “on fire” mode continues until the other team scores, or until the player who is “on fire” scores four additional consecutive baskets while “on fire”.
NBA JAM SNES
The game is filled with Easter eggs, special features, and players activated by initials or button/joystick combinations. For example, pressing A five times and right five times on any Genesis controller will activate “Super Clean Floors”. This feature causes characters to fall if they run too fast or change direction too quickly. Players can also enter special codes to unlock hidden players, ranging from US President Bill Clinton to Hugo, the Charlotte Hornets mascot.
NBA JAM SNES
On the arcade machine, there is also a hidden “tank” game that allows the player to drive a tank and shoot enemy tanks for a minute. Just before the court is shown at the start of a game, joysticks 1 and 2 must be moved down and all six of their buttons held down.
Another great retro game available at Escapist Gamer – PGA Tour Golf (SNES)
