NBA Jam 2000

• Release Date: November 23, 1999
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Basketball
• Similar Games: Arch Rivals (Nintendo Entertainment System), NBA HangTime (IBM PC Compatible), NBA HangTime (Nintendo 64), NBA Jam (Game Boy), NBA Jam (Sega Game Gear), Arch Rivals (Sega Genesis), College Slam (Sega Genesis), NBA Jam (Sega Genesis), NBA Jam T.E. (Sega Genesis), College Slam (Sega Saturn), NBA Jam T.E. (Sega Saturn), College Slam (PlayStation), NBA HangTime (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), NBA Jam (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), NBA Jam T.E. (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), College Slam (IBM PC Compatible), College Slam (Game Boy), College Slam (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), NBA HangTime (Sega Genesis), NBA HangTime (PlayStation), NBA Jam (Sega CD), Arch Rivals (Arcade), NBA HangTime (Arcade), NBA Jam (Arcade), Run & Gun (Arcade), NBA Jam T.E. (Sega Genesis 32X), NBA Jam T.E. (PlayStation), NBA Jam T.E. (IBM PC Compatible), NBA Jam 99 (Nintendo 64), NBA Jam 99 (Game Boy Color), NBA Live 2000 (IBM PC Compatible), NBA Live 2000 (Nintendo 64), NBA Live 2000 (PlayStation), Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (Sega Game Gear), NBA Jam T.E. (IBM PC Compatible), NBA Jam T.E. (Atari Jaguar)

Game Description

NBA Jam 2000 is the 1999 release in the popular NBA Jam series from Acclaim Sports. This version features both a five-on-five Sim Mode and a two-on-two Jam Mode. In either mode, gamers control over 300 real NBA players from 29 authentic teams (with ratings and statistics based on the 1998-99 season), or custom players that they can create and save to a Controller Pak.

In both Jam and Sim Modes, gamers must choose from three different types of play: Simulation, a game with realistic NBA-style rules; Arcade, a game with very few rules; and Custom, a game where the user sets the rules. No matter which mode is chosen, players can set quarter lengths between one and twelve minutes, their skill levels, the tenacity of referees, the speed of the game, rosters, and other play options.

Jam Mode is a two-on-two basketball simulation featuring high-flying dunks, hard-nosed defense and very few rules. Players who hit three shots in a row "catch fire" and will continue to hit shots until either the opposing team scores or the hot player scores an additional three uninterrupted baskets.

In Jam Mode, gamers can choose Jam Play, which is essentially an exhibition game that lets you choose which two teams will play and which players to control. Players can also choose Tournament Play within the Jam Mode, which involves players trying to beat every NBA team. If gamers use custom players in Tournament Play and win, they'll receive attribute points used to improve their custom players. Winning the Jam Tournament unlocks hidden courts and players.

Sim Mode is a traditional five-on-five basketball matchup. Players can either play meaningless exhibition games or they can choose to mount a full-season campaign to capture the NBA crown. If players decide on the Season Mode, they'll be able to choose one team and attempt to take them to the top. Players set the number of games in a season, the playoff format, trade deadlines, and whether to include a mid-season All-Star Game. Gamers do not have to play each game on the schedule; they can simulate any or all of their games. They can also choose to jump directly to the playoffs.

In Season Mode, gamers act as their team's General Manager, meaning they can sign, trade and cut players in order to create the perfect team. As mentioned before, users can also create custom players and add them to their team's roster. Custom players gain attribute points as the season progresses and can eventually become NBA superstars.

If players choose the Franchise option in Season Mode, they can lead a team to several championships over several seasons. Franchise Mode involves a great deal more than simply playing basketball. As the General Manager, it's the gamer's job to draft rookies, sign free agents and bring in the fans. If a team fails to win, they can even fire coaches.

Finally, for gamers who want to bone up on their technical skills, NBA Jam 2000 features both a Three-Point contest and a Free Throw simulation. NBA Jam 2000 also offers four-player support, Rumble Pak support for vibration feedback and Expansion Pak support for high-resolution graphics. The game requires two Controller Paks to save both Jam Mode and Sim Mode games.

Roots & Influences

The NBA Jam series was one of the hottest sports videogame series of the 1990s. As time wore on, however, gamers tired of the simple two-on-two shootouts in each update. So, starting with 1998's NBA Jam 99 and continuing with 1999's NBA Jam 2000, Acclaim Sports added a five-on-five simulation mode, hoping to keep pace with the ever-popular NBA Live series from EA SPORTS.

Review: Overall

Just when I thought that the NBA Jam series had been bled dry, Acclaim released NBA Jam 2000, reaffirming my belief that the series is one of the most important sports video game dynasties of all time. NBA Jam perfected roughhouse basketball, and NBA Jam 2000 continues that tradition.

One key addition to this installment of the NBA Jam series is the new five-on-five Sim Mode. It's on par with most other NBA-based basketball games and allows gamers to play a full season, jump right to the playoffs, or practice their three-pointers and foul shots.

Sim Mode is a complete departure from what fans of the NBA Jam series have come to expect. The graphics are more streamlined, the dunks are far less spectacular, and both teams put five players on the floor instead of two. In other words, NBA Jam 2000's Sim Mode is striving for realism instead of fantasy.

NBA Jam 2000's Sim Mode is good, but it is not flawless.

First, the graphics are not extremely sharp. They are more detailed and realistic than they are in Jam Mode, but they could better utilize the Nintendo 64's capabilities.

Second, free throws take far too long. After a foul, there are two setup screens, and then several seconds before players take the shot. Computer players are slow, and human players are even slower. Although gamers can bypass the transitionary screens with a button push, they shouldn't really be there at all. They are meaningless eye candy. The reason human players take so long to shoot from the charity stripe is Acclaim's hokey foul shot system. Players try to move a basketball icon into the middle of a circle. While it's possible to get the ball within the circle, it can take an excruciating amount of time.

The third big bug in Sim Mode is the automatic substitutions feature. The user can turn off this feature, but when it is left on, it can really disrupt the flow of a game. Each time the computer decides to sun in players, the game freezes. Then a screen is displayed showing the players coming in for each team. Why not simply replace the players during a play stoppage, show the names at the bottom of the screen, and keep the game moving?

Finally, Sim Mode's three-point shootout is not fun. The control is jerky, and it's really tough to establish the rhythm needed to sink ball after ball.

The Sim Mode in NBA Jam 2000 is a big reason to pick it up. While it's not as good a simulation as contemporary games like NBA Live 2000, it gives gamers more options than simple two-on-two action.

NBA Jam 2000's Jam Mode reminded me why the NBA Jam series took off in the first place: big dunks, few rules, and fast action. NBA Jam 2000's Jam Mode is still great fun, but there are some drawbacks.

First, although the game manual insists that NBA Jam 2000's Jam Mode features "tagging" capabilities, I could not find the option anywhere. (Tagging means that the human player on a team controls whichever character has the ball.) The Tag Mode feature is an important one to many gamers, and I was disappointed that I could never find it. I also had trouble playing Jam games on the street courts touted on the package. Perhaps I got a bad cartridge, but I doubt it.

Second, the graphics in Jam Mode are sometimes odd. I understand that the graphics are supposed to be in more of an animation style in Jam Mode, but some NBA players are simply hideous. I got the distinct feeling that the folks at Acclaim hate Shaquille O'Neal, because he looks a lot like Fat Albert in this game. I know that Shaq is a big guy, but he's far from being morbidly obese.

Finally, the computer-controlled drones in NBA Jam 2000 are extremely stupid. They cannot handle the ball, catch a pass on a throw-in, or shoot when you want them to shoot. This is why Tag Mode is such an important feature. It eliminates many drone mistakes.

Still, even with all the flaws in game play, NBA Jam 2000 is still amazingly fun to play. Although you will find yourself frustrated at times, that frustration quickly fades away when you play. Sim Mode is fun, but Jam Mode is even better.

The sound in both modes of NBA Jam 2000 is good. Marv Albert is good on the microphone, although he does suffer from repetitiveness like many video game sportscasters. NBA Jam 2000's sound effects and music are good and go well with the tempo of the game.

NBA Jam 2000 is a good buy for N64 owners. Fans of the original will enjoy the two-on- two action in Jam Mode, and fans of true basketball simulations will enjoy the five-on-five action in Jam Mode.

Review: Enjoyment

It's hard to believe that NBA Jam can still be fun years after its inception, but it is. Jam Mode is superb fun, while Sim Mode offers a welcome break from the high-flying basketball sideshow.

Review: Graphics

Generally, the graphics are excellent, but there are a few anomalies that can become a distraction.

Review: Sound

Marv Albert on play-by-play is great, but he suffers from repetition disease, as do most video game announcers. The rest of the soundscape is great, including good samples and music.

Review: Replay Value

Player creation and season modes are just two of the reasons NBA Jam 2000 players will continue to come back for more.

Review: Documentation

The documentation appears to be complete, but there are a few features in the manual that I could not find within the actual game.

Production Credits

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)