Lace up them high-tops, put on some platinum chains, and get those tongues loose for some trash-talkin’ because it’s basketball season and that means a whole slew of basketball games from the top publishers in the video gaming industry.  I’ve always felt that of all sports games, pro basketball titles are often the least enjoyable, requiring the least amount of strategy and the most amount of frantic button pushing.  While graphics have improved, sound has advanced, and plays have become more spectacular, basic gameplay in pro basketball video games hasn’t advanced much further than Konami’s Double Dribble for the original Nintendo Entertainment System.  The next-gen consoles show some promise, and prospects are high for this season’s squad of games.

First on the court is 989 Sports with their title NBA Shootout 2003.  The game does hit nothing but net in some aspects of the game, but overall comes up a few points short of a winner.  Even thought NBA Shootout 2003 looks to be the best offering from 989 this year, Sega and EA had better step it up, or this year’s team of basketball games will be this year’s Cleveland Cavaliers (for you non-basketball fans, that’s bad). 

NBA Shootout 2003 can be played in exhibition, playoffs, practice, season, and career modes.  Exhibition is your normal run-of-the-mill “let’s just play” mode pitting two teams of your choosing against each other.  Playoffs is very self-explanatory, make a run for the crown the Lakers have dominated the last three years without the doldrums of the regular season.  Season mode can be played in a 28, 56, or 82 game format, and it comes complete with an All-Star Game and playoffs.  Practice mode may seem trite, but it’s basically a simple freestyle shoot around in a gym.  It’s very helpful for practicing your timing on shots or perfecting behind the back and crossover moves.  One plus for NBA Shootout 2003 is the ability to play with this upcoming season’s rosters or last year’s rosters.

The real All-Star and highlight of the game is the brilliant Career mode.  This is probably the best addition to any basketball game since the pumpfake.  Career mode starts by creating a player with limited abilities and working him into an NBA superstar over several seasons.  This is the only mode, to my knowledge, that allows you to follow one player.  Games begin with a short pro summer league, where NBA vets and other aspiring ballers get a chance to make it into the bigs.  Your performance on the court will determine your skills and future.  After showing off in the summer league, your player may be offered a few contracts into the NBA.  You can accept these offers or refuse them and continue on into the NBA’s Minor Leagues, the National Basketball Development League (NBDL), and continue to develop your player.  All the NBDL teams are there, including the Greenville Groove, the Roanoke Dazzle, and the North Charleston Lowgators.  Once in the NBA, you’d better show up to play, because you can be sent down at anytime for poor performance.  This is the mode that makes the game worth purchasing.

What makes the game not worth purchasing would be the disappointing graphics.  After playing a few games, I had to check the box to make sure the game wasn’t a Playstation 1 title.  There isn’t a whole lot going here in the graphics department, from the choppy faces to the rougher-than-sandpaper clarity.  It’s an unfortunate deficit for a game that can otherwise be enjoyable. 

Controlling players is incredibly realistic.  Get caught leaning one way while the opponent is going the other, and you’ll have to regain momentum to catch up.  Sure it’s realistic and it looks good, but it makes the game a little harder to play as you can get burned for little things.  For pure sim fans, this is solid gold.  For run-and-gun basketball fans, it’s frustrating.  Playing defense is futile as you are more likely to hurt the team than help.  Offensive controls are fairly straightforward.  You can direct passes, pumpfake, set screens just like most other NBA games.  NBA Shootout 2003 does place emphasis on playing real basketball, rewarding patient offenses rather than driving to the hole each time. 

The commentary team of Ian Eagle and Bill Walton sounds pretty good.  They get excited at the right times, and use a consistent tone throughout the game.  Unfortunately, tones don’t amount to squat when you spout the drivel that these two continually do throughout the game.  The sounds of the game, on the other hand, are more than adequate with props going out to the excellent stadium announcer. 

NBA Shootout 2003 won’t blow you away, but is a good showing from 989 sports.  Career mode is outstanding, the gameplay is fairly good, and the realism is a plus.  On the other hand, the disappointing graphics should alienate gamers.

NBA Shootout 2003 is rated E for everyone. 

Gameplay: 7

Basketball is probably the hardest game to emulate in a video game format, but NBA Shootout 2003 does a respectable job.  Blocks occur more often than other NBA games (perhaps a little too much) and the number of steals are decreased for a more realistic NBA game.

Graphics: 5

The graphics are definitely the low point of the game.  While the moving animations look pretty good, the players and their surroundings are unworthy of next-gen consoles. 

Sound: 6

Hit-and-miss here.  The commentary needs a lot of work, but the stadium sounds are adequate.

Difficulty: Medium

Not too hard to pick up a controller and score a few points.  Playing successful defense?  Good luck.

Concept: 9

All these points go to Career mode.  An outstanding addition to any sports game, and one I hope to see on future games.

Multiplayer: 6

Standard support for up to eight players.  My question: Where is the online mode?

Overall: 6.8

Career mode steals the ball and dribbles down the floor, passes to gameplay, gameplay passes the ball to graphics, graphics dribbles the ball off its foot.  That about sums it up.