Basketball Classics
| Basketball Classics | |
|---|---|
 Basketball Classics Steam Header. | |
| Developer(s) | Namo Gamo |
| Publisher(s) | Namo Gamo |
| Platform(s) | Windows (Steam) |
| Release date(s) | December 18th, 2019 |
| System requirements | Minimum:
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Basketball Classics is a basketball video game developed and published by Namo Gamo. It was initially released via Early Access on Steam on March 17th, 2018, with v1.0 being released on December 18th, 2019.
Contents
Gameplay & Design[edit]
Basketball Classics features 5-on-5 action, and is a throwback to the 8-bit era of basketball video games in terms of gameplay and visual style. It's comparable to classic titles such as Double Dribble, but features modern enhancements such as a shot meter, timeouts, and playcalling. There are no fouls, but backcourt violations are called. Simplified three button controls underscore the retro approach.
After inbounding the ball, plays are called by moving along an arrow on the court, indicating the play that will be called. Players can also advance beyond halfcourt without calling a play, as well as call plays coming out of a timeout.
Attempting a dunk near the rim begins one of four different cutscenes, three of which are interactive. The first cutscene shows the player completing a wide open dunk. The second cutscene features the dunker and a defender, with each player having a set number of moves - determined by a player's ratings - to either perform tricks before slamming it home, or get the block by matching the position of the ball at the end of the cutscene. The third cutscene is the same except without the defender, simply allowing the dunker to perform different tricks. The fourth cutscene is a chasedown block scenario, where the dunker must mash the shoot button to complete the dunk, while the defender does the same in an attempt to get the chasedown swat.
There are no real teams or players in Basketball Classics, however the rosters are based on historical NBA seasons. With the addition of roster editing, it's possible to rename teams and players. Special teams are unlocked through the Story mode, including the NLSC THRILLHO Pro-Am squad, complete with a custom court.
Modes[edit]
Basketball Classics offers three main modes of play:
- Quick Play
- Season
- Story
Quick Play is a traditional exhibition mode, featuring one-off games. Season play includes stat-tracking and a postseason. Story mode involves unlocking players and special teams via a series of increasingly difficult challenges. There is also a roster editor for customising the game.
Reception[edit]
Basketball Classics has been very well-received by the basketball gaming community, with a "Very Positive" score on Steam.
Links[edit]
