FREE: NBA Jam - N64

The listing, NBA Jam - N64 has ended.

NBA Jam 99 is actually two and a half games in one, so the best way to review this game is to address each one separately. The game's bread and butter is its NBA play simulation mode. It's rich in features and options, the most notable being a fantasy draft in which you can rebuild the NBA with custom rosters, then trade and create players under a bonus points cap. The 80-plus plays are easy to customize and call on the fly.

The game plays well as a sim, if a little on the slow side. The control is very responsive, and the inclusion of icon passing and special-situation options caters to most gamers' playing styles. For instance, the ability to call for a screen is so easy that I found myself using it at least once every offensive trip. The computer AI on both sides of the ball is sharp: Computer players are aggressive stealers and shot blockers, plus there's lots of movement off the ball. Also, there's apparently no option to switch to the defender closest to the ball; instead you have to toggle through the roster, which is a burden.

The second "game" is the jam mode, a more challenging five-on-five affair that adds the spectacular dunks, special moves, on-fire players, and wacky comments synonymous with NBA Jam.

In terms of presentation, it's clear Iguana knows hi-res graphics. The stadiums and court floors are more than adequate visually. The players, while still slightly boxy, are animated well. Plus there's enough room in the memory to actually put a ref on the floor during fouls and tip-off. There are notable instances of slowdown, such as on some special move animations, but they don't hamper gameplay flow to a great extent. As far as sound goes, the good news is that there's a great deal of two-man commentary from Kevin Harlan and Bill Walton, especially given the N64's limits. The bad news is that occasionally they'll blurt out incorrect phrases or serve up a bit too much chatter.