AND 1 Streetball

First came NBA Jam, then NBA Street – now AND 1 Streetball. The latest in a long history of arcade-style basketball games, AND 1 Streetball was inspired by style, player finesse, and a mixed tape of rap music.

Gamers expecting to feel like a pro the second they start playing will be happy to hear that And 1 Streetball takes advantage of the NBA Jam / Street basics. This game has its own version of the EA "trick stick," letting you perform several different moves with the right analog stick. It seems a little intimidating at first, if not a little unpredictable. I ran around the court, pushing the right stick in every direction. Doing so quickly did not yield decent results. Rather, it caused the same simple move to be performed repeatedly until I let the stick go.

This was strange, I thought. I decided to stand still and push the stick more lightly and more precisely to check its sensitivity. Sure enough, my eagerness was the problem. First of all, the game has two kinds of moves (called I Ball moves) that can be executed with the right stick. By pushing the stick a small amount (say, in the upper right corner), you'll perform a Dizzy Branch. That's a stationary move. It makes your opponent dizzy, or at least that's the intent, enabling you to sneak past and go for a shot. Likewise, push the stick toward the bottom left corner and you'll perform a trickster move. It's what the game calls a "Crownin' Branch."

Scoring isn't as easy or as frequent as in other street ballers. Get close enough in NBA Street and you're all but guaranteed to make the shot. In And 1 Streetball, the basket seems reluctant to take balls that aren't nothing but net. Timing is one area you have to be aware of - the longer you hold the circle (shoot) button, the longer your player waits to release the ball. One quick press will have him jump and shoot; keep holding on and he'll wait to shoot until he lands, reducing the potency of the move.

Add R1 to the equation and he'll dunk. Dunking is by far the simplest move to perform, so long as you're close enough to the net to complete the action. If you're too far away the game won't usually register your move. That might protect players from making stupid mistakes. However, it also diminishes the possibility that you'd take a chance, jump from a far, and make an unprecedented landing.

The game is big on exaggeration though, featuring dozens of stylin' moves from the likes of AO, Escalade, Hot Sauce, and Half Man Half Amazing. If those names don't sound familiar, then chances are you're interested in this game for its NBA Street-like qualities and not because it's based on the AND 1 Tour license. Those guys are just four of the many stars who have been touring with AND 1. Skip-to-My-Lou is also on board, along with Pharmacist, The Professor, and Sik Wit It.

Style moves generally involve the stretching of players' bodies, unlikely spins, gravity-defying dunks, and homegrown moves that combine pre-made options with player preferences. Creating moves looks more overwhelming than it is, having players string animations together something that's truly cool, or a move that's truly weird.

The single-player mode lets you battle dozens of ballers for major props. Win enough games and you'll be one of the new stars of the AND 1 Tour – the ultimate goal for these polygon athletes. There's not much of a story to it, but history has proven that stories don't usually work well in sports games. I want to be a part of the excitement, not watch it.

Whether you get into the tour or not, the best part is the multiplayer. This is the only street baller I can think of that lets you compete with seven players (offline, via multi-tap). Basketball games can be hard as is when it's a one-on-one experience. In four-player games I often have a hard time deciding when I should pass to my teammate and when I should just take the shot myself. The opposite is also true, and that's why And 1 Streetball's multiplayer is a bit more strategic than the average arcade-style game. It's not more challenging than NBA Street – it's challenging in a different way.

There are technical issues like clipping, transparent player models (where they run right through each other), and lackluster graphics, but the only real downside to this game is that it's a rather generic experience. Not bad, but not particularly good either. There are better games in the same genre that do almost exactly the same thing. The multiplayer mode keeps And 1 Streetball on a time-killer level. If you have a multi-tap, this is the next game you'll want to rent.

Gameplay: 5.5
NBA Street with different moves and more ballers, minus the polished gameplay. The analog stick's heightened sensitivity is not as innovative as it is a refinement. Aside from that one element, AND 1 Streetball feels a bit clunky and, in single-player, excessively repetitive.

Graphics: 5.9
Six years ago this game would’ve looked great. Today it’s a bit out of style. Clunky player animations and poor background detail detract from the intricate details found in some of the players.

Sound: 6.5
Loads of rap music from an exclusive AND 1 Mixtape. I’m not really into the genre, but these tracks are better than the average over-played music video.

Difficulty: Medium
Have you mastered NBA Street yet? Those who have won’t find many hurdles in conquering AND 1 Streetball’s story mode. Multiplayer battles are much more challenging and rewarding, assuming your friends can stand up to your mad skills.

Concept: 6.0

Multiplayer: 6.5
A time-killer for you and your buds. Won’t knock your socks off, but it’s something new to master in the vein of NBA Street. Online is limited to two players, while the multi-tap peripheral lets you hit the court with seven others.

Overall: 6.0
Arcade sports fans haven’t had too many new titles to get excited about these days, especially those who want nothing more than an NBA Street-killer. AND 1 Streetball doesn’t fulfill that dream, however, there is some joy to be had within the multiplayer experience. Rent it, but be sure to return it on time – it’s worth $8 for a seven-day lease, but doesn’t have enough oomph to make it a must-buy at the full price.