Game Data:
- Review Date: June 13, 2021
- Release Date: March 4, 1994
- Platform: SNES
- Publisher: Acclaim
- Developer: Midway
- Genre: Sports
Anecdotes: Back in the 90s, it became an annual tradition to watch the Bulls, especially Michael Jordan, dominate the league. If there was a Bulls playoff game that night, we were watching it. The NBA was fun and entertaining. Jordan was always a “must watch.” However, when playing as the Bulls, Jordan is not an option here. One possible reason is because Jordan “retired” after the 1993 Finals and moved over to the White Sox to “challenge himself.” He only played in one game. It was the exhibition Crosstown Classic in 1994. He got two hits because he had the unfair advantage of playing the Cubs. He went back to basketball a year later and the Bulls that my family was glued to, including my grandmother, were back.
That all came to a sad, abrupt end in 1998. Those Bulls were broken up and the glory days still haven’t come back. The owners also locked out the players. The Bulls became unwatchable. The rest of the NBA followed suit, with declining ratings and other issues, such as boring games. It has not been able to duplicate what it had in the 90s, and I haven’t watched a game in 20 years.
This game is a huge exception to my disdain for licensed sports games. If I want to see NFL players play football, I’ll watch the NFL (and I do). I don’t need annual games with small gameplay changes and roster updates. I don’t need realistic fields as I can see them on TV. I prefer more fantasy and creative elements. It doesn’t take creativity to mimic a real life event. That’s why very few of those types of games are on my list.
Description: Selected players from every 1994 NBA team play in two on two matchups in a fantasy version of basketball.
Positives:
- Part of the fun of this game is that there are no fouls or violations. The only things that stop the flow of the game are the ends of the quarters. The clock stops whenever points are scored, but that really doesn’t break the flow of the game.
- There is an invisible barrier preventing the ball from ever going out of bounds. Again, this keeps the game moving and the action doesn’t stop on a bad pass or wild shot.
Negatives:
- There is very little to this game. It’s a nice quick play, but it won’t hold anyone’s attention for long.
Screenshots:
Final Opinion: This game was a hit back in the 90s and rightfully so. Like the NBA, though, it hasn’t aged well.
Grade: C