I the early 90s, it was NBA Jam. Midway’s arcade and later home classic was untouchable, and does a remarkable job of still being playable today. The same cannot be said for NBA Street, in this or any incarnation.
Homecourt does one thing right: Its aesthetics are wonderful. With personal reflections from the NBA players themselves, Homecourt presents small, sometimes rundown playgrounds as a place where many started their passion. Told through their eyes, the courts become something more than concrete and cheaply constructed metal backboards. They have a story, a deeper meaning, and in many cases inspiration for a future NBA lineup.
Of course, all of this is contradictory to a game in which few players are actually on the court. Street is a series, exactly like its Jam predecessor, that is played far above the rim. All of the deep, thoughtful flashbacks seem rather pointless in a title that tries its hardest to destroy anything resembling basketball's fundamentals.
Buried in aggravating color filters, the otherwise sharp graphics and animations bring small hope that this edition of the series could be the breakout it desperately needs. Once into game play, nothing has been altered. It’s a pointless game of street basketball, even from the view of an over-the-top arcade romp.
Homecourt adds an extra trick button, mercifully dumping the right analog stick movement of Volume 3. As with prior releases, this means nothing. After four different installments, no one has yet given these tricks a point or a purpose. A quick run through the various animation routines for every trick leaves the game with no substance and seemingly no care for why these moves are actually in the game.
Defense is pointless in a game like this, so the need for jukes, crossovers, or whatever goofy ball handling skill the developers have crafted is useless. It’s far easier to run by your opponent and go for a quick dunk than it is to waste time showing off. Homecourt does nothing to make performing these tricks fun or feel interactive. You hit a button combination and a canned animation routine plays out. Why bother going around a defender with trick moves when they can barely defend in the first place?
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