When it comes to sports video games, the genre can get very detailed. Everything from trading players to getting the arenas down to the smallest blade of grass. Sometimes, players don’t want the realism, they just want to hit start and play the game. This was the approach that Midway took in 1993 with the release of NBA Jam. Was it realistic? No, but it was a lot of fun.
The premise is simple: Pick one of the teams and challenge another player or the computer. There are no timeouts, fouls or substitutions. Just a 24 second shot clock and an announcer who is very into the game. Players could spin a few times in the air before dunking the ball or hit three shots in a row to become “on fire.” The players were two of the most recognizable people from that team. Some players were not there, including the greatest player of all time, but you would be hard pressed to find a fan who didn’t know the players on his or her favorite team.
NBA Jam was also remembered for the amount of cheat codes that could be put in. Players could have enormous heads, slide around the court or even drive a tank. Secret characters could also be unlocked, from Bill Clinton to the Charlotte Hornets mascot Hugo. This type of insanity was right at home in this game. The mandate was for players to have fun, and the developers took it to heart.
NBA Jam ruled the market for a couple of years. Gradually, developers moved away to the more realistic version of basketball. Ask anyone who ever played the game, however, and they will tell you with stories with a smile on their face. The game was reintroduced in 2011 with many of the same features. It’s most enduring legacy was that the terms have entered the real world of the NBA. From “he’s heating up” to “Boomshakalak”, NBA Jam will always be around in some shape or form.
