RETRO REMAKE LOVE: NBA JAM ON FIRE EDITION

Has there been a more fun sports game than NBA Jam? Being a huge basketball fan since my childhood years, NBA Jam was always on my radar as one of the best sports games I've ever played. It was a welcome break from the constant pursuit of realism that the NBA Live series was all about. Sometimes I just didn't have time for salary caps, trade deadlines and 48 minute games... sometimes I just wanted to pick up a controller and see how many windmill dunks I could do in one quarter.

Hitting 3 shots in succession and igniting your player was the main goal of any Jam session. Easier said than done, when street tactics like shoving was allowed. The game had a massive impact culturally, popularising the phrase "HE'S ON FIRE", and making Midway a ton of cash in the arcades in 1993.

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The game has benefited hugely from the HD remake treatment. The players are amusingly rendered with heads slightly too big for their bodies, making them slightly resemble bobbleheads. The power ups are there, as well as a deep campaign mode and online play too. Classic players can be unlocked, but still no Jordan or Barkley  though. Come on guys, why would you not want to be included in the most legendary hoops series of all time?? There are plenty more unlockables and cheats to keep players interested for a long time.

But for me, the best thing - BY FAR - about this remake, is the commentary. It's not often a videogame makes me laugh, but NBA Jam OFE does it consistently. I've been playing this game , on and off, for months, and still hear funny quips by the commentator that I've not heard before. Here are some of my faves:

"Like my wife's top drawer, nothing but nylon!"

"Uncool dude, you shot blocked me!"

"And the leprechaun was sitting on the rim for that one"

After the end of the third quarter: "And that's the game!!... [long pause]  No it's not; that's four quarters!" [The next quarter starts]  "Well, it looks like we'll be playing FIVE quarters of basketball tonight!"

"The rim should have an airbag for accidents like that"

"All your dunk are belong to us"

NBA Jam - don't ever change :-)

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