EA's showboating successor to Midway's NBA Jam series has finally moved onto greener pastures, or at least grittier concrete, for its rookie debut on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It's been two years since the last NBA Street game, and the time off has obviously been kind to the series. While a significant visual upgrade was expected, the pace, flow, and "feel" of the three-on-three action is the best the franchise has seen to date. Homecourt doesn't tinker too much with the arcade-style play mechanics, but the thoughtful control tweaks and the new 3D engine help breathe new life into what could have easily become a winded series.

King of the Court

Next-gen hoops fans won't be shocked to learn that Homecourt features well-detailed players, but it's each athlete's smooth moves that immediately impresses, from low crossover dribbles and backboard-bending slams to goofy kick passes and jump-off dunks, a variant on the alley-oop that involves using a teammate's back or shoulders as a springboard for some impressive hang time. Despite its over-the-top theatrics, Homecourt's visuals are more realistic than in previous games, with stars and street courts looking almost photo-real in their appearance. The combination of 3D background elements, dynamic lighting, and razor-sharp detail on HDTVs makes Homecourt as much a pleasure to watch as it is to play.

It's Tricky

Of course, the premise will be familiar to anyone who has enjoyed earlier titles in the flamboyant series. No matter which game variant you choose, the goal is to reach a certain number of points before your rivals. The manner in which this is accomplished is what makes the game so addictive, with the ability to modify basic shots, passes, and dunks at will. New to Homecourt is the "trick remixer" system, allowing players to perform situational moves while dribbling, backpedaling, standing, and so forth, by pressing one of two face buttons. Timing is an important part of the controls, with the speed or difficulty of certain moves influenced by whether you hold down or tap a button at the right moment. Double dunks are now possible, for example, by holding down the dunk button and releasing it just as the ball nears the rim -- wait too long and you'll come crashing to the ground as the ball clangs off the basket.

Breaking the Rules

The gamebreaker system, something that most players either love or hate about the Street series, has also improved. Maxing out the trick meter now causes the center of the court to glow. Tapping a button while standing in the light activates the gamebreaker, which kicks off Herbie Hancock's classic song "Rockit" as you breakdance across the court and try to score before the shot clock expires. The more outlandish moves you pull off, the more points you'll receive if you make the shot. Yet a gamebreaker is not an instant "I win" move. Players on defense can perform timing-based counter moves on offensive tricks and create turnovers, stealing the gamebreaker for themselves by slamming the ball through their basket. This risk vs. reward element makes the gamebreaker mechanic surprisingly fair and enjoyable to both teams involved.

Character Flaws

Unfortunately, the goodwill the developers created with the new engine is nearly lost by the lack of meaningful game modes and customization options. The character creator is appallingly simplistic, with players only able to choose from a pre-made guard, center, or forward rather than starting from scratch. Modifying a custom character's appearance first involves picking two NBA stars and then morphing the default face to pick up specific features or traits from all three "donors." Yes, it's as weird as it sounds. You can't edit or change an athlete's hairstyle, size, weight, eye color, and so forth, nor can you create jersey numbers or outfit players with sunglasses, hats, and other fun elements as seen in games like the Tiger Woods PGA series.

Light on its Feet

The customization woes spill over to the "homecourt challenge" mode, a scaled down version of the career-like campaign found in previous NBA Street games. You can't design your home court like you could in NBA Street Vol. 3, unlock NBA legends like Larry Bird or Dr. J, play against real-life streetball stars, or purchase new moves, dunks, or abilities. Created player progression is now automatic, so leveling is a simple matter of playing games -- you can't even assign points to specific attributes. The rest of the play modes are variants on the pick-up game, with the gamebreaker battle, trick battle, back-to-basics, and custom game modes differing only in how you score points. Where is the dunk contest? Where are the mini-games? Sadly, all are casualties of the new game engine, but there is at least online support, even if it "only" supports single matches instead of full-fledged tournaments.

Home Sweet Homecourt?

NBA Street Homecourt is cake without the frosting, or for those who hate cake, Baywatch without Pam Anderson. It is enjoyable, but at the same time, hard to fully appreciate when comparing it to the earlier versions. Homecourt's core gameplay is excellent on both sides of the ball, with the high-octane offense balanced by goaltending and shoving without reprieve on defense. The physics model has improved considerably, and the controls require a degree of technique instead of blindly mashing buttons. The lack of in-depth modes or customization features should be a warning sign for solo players, but as a party game, this Street's appealing arcade-style action opens up new avenues for fun.

Article by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video produced by: Paul Bonnano