![]() ![]() As in Volume 2, Gamebreakers can be saved up, giving you access to a Gamebreaker 2 for an added bonus. Getting fancy with ball handling is encouraged since it builds up your Gamebreaker bar, letting you pull off special shots that give you points and subtract from your opponent’s score. The real style comes from ball handling, allowing you to dribble, fakes and other antics normally not seen in a normal game of basketball. ![]() You can go for more long-range shots, or go for dunks on every shot. The arcade style really lends itself to fast-paced games and really lets you do things you normally wouldn’t do in a simulation. Instead, matches are three-on-three and place more emphasis on style and showiness rather than choosing the right plays. NBA Street Showdown is in no way a simulation, so this may not be the best title if you’re expecting the handheld answer to NBA Live. An ad-hoc mode is also included for multiplayer games. In addition to the added unlockables, you can also choose from a selection of mini-games, like a carnival-style game where you try to sink as many shots as you can in a limited time. Showdown is loaded with extras, adding lots of replay value. In addition to being able to improve your character’s individual skills, like ball handling and speed, you can also purchase special dunks. In the beginning, you’re limited as to what you can do, but later on you’ll have a wide variety of clothing options and other additions to really make your character your own. You’ll also earn points that can be spent on improving your character’s skills.Ĭharacter building is rather deep and allows for lots of customization. The more courts you “own”, the more things you’ll unlock – such as new courts and legends. Career mode is slightly deeper and lets you create your own custom player and travel to real-life street courts around the country and face off against NBA players. Pick-up games are exhibition games that you play with the included NBA teams, making it ideal for a quick-game. Showdown is broken down into two core modes: Pick-up and Career. The game includes partial rosters, mostly the big names, from all 30 NBA teams as well as unlockable legends like “Magic” Johnson and Pete Maravich. NBA Street Showdown follows the same basic structure as the console versions. How much you like the soundtrack will depend greatly on your personal feelings towards hip-hop, but even if you don’t particularly like it, it works well enough within the context of the game. Tracks include De La Soul’s “Me, Myself and I” and House of Pain’s “Jump Around”, just to give you a taste of what to expect. Showdown uses the same soundtrack as Volume 3 and is heavy on the hip-hop. ![]() There are still a few choice comments used during big plays, but overall you’ll really only hear the background music during games. I’ve never liked the commentary in NBA Street, so I didn’t miss the constant jawing of DJ during the game. The absence of commentary is a welcome addition – or should I say subtraction – to Showdown. Numbers and names are slightly bigger to help them stand out and the action doesn’t get so fast that it blurs up the screen, making it hard to tell what’s going on. A few slight enhancements have been made to the game to make it a little better-suited for the PSP’s smaller screen. It’s still amazing to think that these types of visuals are coming out of a handheld. As with other PS2-to-PSP ports, the game is slightly pared down, yet still manages to have a nice, fluid look. The game sticks to the more realistic-vision of the game seen in NBA Street Volume 3 rather than the over-exaggerated style seen in the game’s first two iterations. NBA Showdown delivers in the presentation department. Though it’s a slightly cut down version of the console version, NBA Street Showdown still manages to provide a top-notch arcade experience. After a less-than-thrilling NBA experience with 989’s NBA, basketball fans finally have a game to get into. ![]()
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