NBA Street Vol. 2

NBA Street Vol. 2 quickly became not only one of the best basketball games of its era, but arguably one of the best overall sports games for fans of the genre. Released originally in 2003, NBA Street Volume 2 quickly made a name for itself shocking fans with its gameplay, presenting a near perfectly rounded game, adding new elements and updating graphics since the first games release. The game itself is considered an innovation of the entire genre, adding customization, user-control features that let the basketball superfan enjoy the sport from not only its inception-era, but with players and styles from decades past. NBA Street Vol. 2 is one of EA’s finest additions to it’s well-versed lineup of games. With a wide array of game-breaking moves and customized character traits/skills, this game pulls fans in for hours of exciting matches and refuses to let them go.

Action & Gameplay

Leading off from what made the first game great, NBA Street Vol. 2 immerses you in the perfect world of basketball for fans of all kinds. Prefer the more challenging professional modes?

Great, you will be challenged by some of the game’s greatest to ever play. Prefer a more arcade-like experience, where you get to try out new moves and styles never seen before? Perfect, the various amount of different game modes lets you decide where you’ll spend your time, so it’s really up to the player.

The addition of these exciting game modes breaks the mold of traditional sports games such as the earlier editions of NBA 2K, as well as allowing you to train your skills and learn new move sets and combos. While you may be a seasoned basketball veteran, this game challenges you to leave your comfort zone and learn a whole new set of skills to defeat the NBA as well as its Legends teams which you square off with in certain modes.

Graphics & Sound

Soundtracks don’t exactly make or break a game, but in NBA Street Vol. 2 the soundtrack is considered one of its strongest features. Music from the time period the game was created in paired with some of the greats keeps your adrenaline going no matter which game mode you play. The graphics are also on the forefront of this game and the entire genre, providing fast transitions and exciting action scenes during the game. The colours used provide and almost exclusive, indie style format which excites players of all ages, keeping the gameplay itself running smooth and looking awesome while doing so.

When this game came out in 2003 it was ground-breaking within the sports-game genre. This game opened the door for so many styles and modes which we love in these games today, paired with a player experience unmatchable in its time.

Pros:

• Various game modes and playing styles allows players a new experience each time they pick up the controller.
• Difficulty levels paired with different challenges throughout the game attracts both skilled players looking for a challenge as well as casual players looking for a more relaxed gaming experience.

Cons:

• While finding problems with this game is difficult, there are some functions with the online features that caused players frustration during gameplay.

It’s tempting to try for the biggest, phattest moves all the time, but a clever player will take advantage of your misplaced zeal and beat you to 21 faster than you can say “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.” These tips will steer you right. Listen up.

Offense

To squeeze the last drop of talent from your boys, study the players’ ratings and make sure you’re putting them in the right situation. Don’t try slamming over Shaquille O’Neal with Steve Nash, and don't bust out tricky dribbles with Yao Ming. Simple enough. When you’ve got the hang of these fundamentals and you're ready to elevate your game, try the following pimped-out strategies.

Get to the basket. When you’re rushing the lane looking to make something happen, there’s nothing worse than seeing seven feet of defender in your way (unless it’s not seeing the seven feet of defender in your way). When it looks like your dunk will be skunked, make a mid-air transition to a layup. Start a dunk, and when the defender goes up for the block, tap Shoot again. Your player will dipsie-do and gently loft the ball home for two.

Handle the situation. Take on the big men with your team’s top handler. Trick into their bodies to knock ’em down. Big guys don’t usually have a high Handles or Steals ratings, so they won’t be picking your pocket. Once you leave them in the dirt, you’ll have a clear path to the hoop and possibly an alley-oop opportunity. Use the pump fake. Tap Shoot quickly to perform a pump. If they don’t bite, pass. Even better, hit two Turbos and Pass to perform an Off da Heezay, bouncing the ball off your opponent’s dome. Use a combination of pump fakes and passes to move the ball around and keep the defense off-balance.

Work the whole court. Draw the opposing team’s best defender away from the hoop by swinging the ball to the weak side of the court. Setting picks is another good way to deal with lane congestion. Mix up your timing. Try running past a defender and then doubling back with a trick. This can throw the defender off and earn you some easy Trick Points.

If you’re facing someone who's really good at Trick Counters, get used to interrupting your moves. Tap Pass during the animation to cancel your trick in order to stifle the steal.

Don’t get too fancy in the lane. Even if you knock one defender down, there’s probably another nearby ready to counter your scoring attempt.

Control the ball. When rebounding, you’ll have an advantage if you box out. Wedge your player between an opponent and the hoop before you go up. This way, you have a better chance of sticking your missed shot. (Tap Shoot and hold Turbo for the tip-slam.) At the jump ball, don’t mash buttons. Stay calm and tap Shoot once before the ball reaches its peak. Practice your timing.

Defense

Even when you’re trailing, don’t lose heart. If there’s any game in which a come-from-behind victory is possible, it’s this one. Tightening up your D can make all the difference because it will lower your opponent’s morale. Use these handy techniques to rein in a gloating winner and get back in the game.

Own the goal. In streetball, blocking every shot is fair and square—they don’t call goaltending. Be sure you have a tall player near the rim at all times, as super blocking is a sure way to frustrate any opponent. To deny a shot with authority, hit Shoot/Rebound while holding Turbo and jumping into the ball’s path. It sounds easy, but to block consistently, you’ll have to keep a watchful eye on your turbo meter and court position.

Don’t fall for pump fakes. If an open player manages a three-point shot, you should have time to block it. Most shots will be dunks or short-range attempts that you can reject or alter. Falling for pump fakes adds to the other team’s Gamebreaker meter. Don’t be a chump.

Watch the clock. Pay attention to the shot clock. Look for rushed scoring attempts as time ebbs away. When five seconds remain, tighten the defensive screws. At three or less, be up on your man and ready to catch the shot right off his fingertips.

Always play tenacious D. Don’t give up on the play. It’s difficult, but we've seen a bailer come from behind the play and block the shot. Great recoveries are what it’s all about. Challenge every shot.

Simply having a player in your opponent’s face as he shoots significantly reduces the shot’s scoring chance. Try to have at least one player in your lineup with a top Blocks rating and another with a high Steals rating. This way, you’ll put pressure on the offense anywhere on the court.

NBA Street Vol. 2 builds upon the breakthrough success of the original Street by enhancing every possible facet of the game, starting with its infectious personality. Vol. 2 is buzzing with cultural B-ball significance, from its funky art-style to its fresh beats; it clearly taps into the unique, genuine spirit of street ball. And it respectfully borrows from every generation since James Naismith invented basketball, cleverly putting old-school legends like Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain on the same asphalt as new schoolers Allen Iverson and Shaquille O'Neal.

The gameplay's been improved as well--we can't get enough of the four-player support, defensive counters to stop special moves, and passes off the backboard (and occasionally our opponent's skulls). Also, the crucial Game-breaker bonus (where you can gain extra points while subtracting from your opponent's score) now doubly screws your rival with twice the point-stealing power. If you're not happy with the default regulations, though, investigate My Rules, an option to tailor the game to your liking. If you're ballin' with a beginner, spot them 10 points. In a hurry? Play to 11, instead of 21. Don't like Gamebreakers? Turn them off. The only part of the game they forgot to beef up was the difficulty in the single-player contests--it's woefully easy, so be sure to bump it up before hitting the streets.

There are times when the old adage, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,'? seems to apply particularly well to video-game sequels. Like many of their other celebrated sports titles, EA Sports has indeed adopted that same philosophy with the latest installment in their 'Big'? series of sports games. NBA Street Vol. 2. Devoid of anything in the way of major enhancements, NBA Street Vol. 2 features subtle improvements in game play and graphics. The end result is a rim-rocker that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play. Nonetheless, it may not be for everyone.

Street 2 is not a simulation by any means nor does it try to be. Instead, the arcade-heavy, three-on-three b-baller features exaggerated shots, blocks, passes and other assorted moves that'll get your heart pumpin' in a hurry. A quick glance at some of the over-the-top ball handling moves, such as Back 2 Papa and Off the Heezay, as well as advanced dunks, such as The Honey Dip, Dunkalicious, and The Hammer, suggest this is no ordinary game of hoops. But their prevalence in the game is not just for looks. The key to winning games lies in your ability to pull off tricks and combos to not only score points, but with the new gamebreaker meter, you'll also be able to take points 'away'? from your opponents (no, I'm not kidding!). While Street 2 features several modes of play which utilize all of your favorite NBA teams and players, the most fun to be had is with the Be a Legend Mode. Here, you create a 'no-name'? player and take on all comers, progressing through a series of different challenges in a variety of different locations. The game offers reasonably tight controls and depending on the mode, supports from one to four players.

If you had the luxury of making a side-by-side comparison with last year's version, you'd notice player models that are somewhat cleaner and more vibrant in color. On the whole, animations seem to be of slightly better quality, but quite frankly, I'm not sure if that's really the case or if all the new moves just make it appear that way. Likewise, the different locations and courtyards seem to sport a little more detail and just have a better overall look to them. The sound effects in the game are more or less analogous to last year's game with ambient sneaker squeaks, rim-clangs, and player-chatter echoing from one end of the court to the other. The high-octane commentary, along with the accompanying hip-hop music, round out the audio package quite nicely.

There's a lot to like about NBA Street Vol. 2. No question, once you get started it becomes quite addicting. For arcade mavens, it's a no-brainer, buy it now. However, I can't help but think that for hardcore sim fans the over-the-top antics may be just a bit too much. For you folks, I suggest grabbing three of your friends and giving it a rent.

NBA Street Vol. 2 is an arcade basketball game by EA Sports, where the player will become a street basketball savant and will throw three-point shots to sneak to victory.

The point of the game

Six basketball players divided into two teams fight on half of a basketball court. They try not to break the rules and shoot as many balls as possible into the opponent's ring.

Gameplay

The player will make a spectacle for the amusement of the audience:

• Tricks with the ball
• Crazy dunks
• Powerful combos

The choice of characters to play is huge - about one hundred and fifty:

• World-famous old ball game legends
• Fictional players
• Today's pros

The player has many tricks at his disposal to outsmart his opponent. Perform unreal feats! You can pass the ball over the opponent's head and even kick the ball to another player. Real-life basketball players know what dunks and layups are - they're available in NBA Street Vol. 2. Performing difficult tricks during the game is difficult, you have to learn to master the buttons and press combinations in time. Change the control to suit you can not. Unfortunately, there is also no way to set the buttons differently.

The player gets points not only for hitting the ring but also for spectacular moves. If the player makes good combos, the GameBreaker counter gradually fills up. Next comes the opportunity to place a difficult block shot, which will bring the player closer to the coveted victory.

Modes:

• Street School - Training, where you can get used to the controls and basic tricks. The goal of some exercises is very vague and you will have to experiment to successfully finish a round
• Pick Up Game - basic game mode, where the player chooses a team and an opponent to quickly start a battle on the basketball court. Many details can be changed during the match: customize the rules or disable GameBreakers
• Multiplayer is indescribable fun where up to four real people can participate