For N64 owners looking for a serious hoops simulation, this season has yet to show any clear winners. NBA Live 2000 is horrid and the jury is still out on NBA Jam 2000. Courtside 2 isn't terrible and does sport some truly interesting features like personal player development, but I can only marginally recommend the game as it is with all its flaws. In fact, if you don't mind slightly dated graphics, I would actually suggest (if you haven't already) playing the first Courtside which is less buggy and more playable.
As for fans who like their basketball action fast and loose, don't be fooled by Courtside's supposed 'arcade' mode. Like the one in NBA Live 2000, the 'arcade' mode in Courtside 2 is unconvincing and uninspired as computer AI will not react differently to the lack of rules and dominating it should be no problem. I'd stick with NBA Showtime for this type of shtick instead.
Then again, if system loyalty is not a factor, and money no object, then those of you who consider yourselves hardcore basketball mavens, go pick up a Dreamcast and NBA 2K. It's my pick for this year's best game of video b-ball.
Chi Kong Lui
Somewhere between all the gaming, Chi some how managed to finish high school and get into the New York Institute of Technology. At the same time, Chi also interned at Virtual Frontiers, an Internet software consultancy where he learned the ways of HTML. Soon after acquiring his BFA, Chi went on to become the lead Web designer of the Anti-Defamation League. During his tenure there, Chi was instrumental in redesigning and relaunching the non-profit organization's Web site.
Today, Chi is the webmaster of the American Red Cross in Greater New York and somehow managed to work through the tragic events of September 11th without losing his sanity. Chi considers GameCritics.com his life's work and continues to be amazed that the web site is still standing after the recent dotcom fallout. It is his dream that GameCritics.com will accomplish two things: 1) Redefine the grammar of videogames much the same way French film critic Andre Bazin did for the art of cinema and 2) bring game criticism to the forefront of mainstream culture much the same way Siskel & Ebert did for film criticism.
Latest posts by Chi Kong Lui (see all)
- Fraud Alert: Pete Smith, Content Producer - September 9, 2014
- Observations from PAX East 2012: What’s old is new again - April 12, 2012
- Observations from PAX East 2012: Are video game gimmicks finally maturing? - April 11, 2012