Saber Interactive·Released May 8, 2017·Single player
"Classic NBA arcade action is back! Take your “A” game to the playground and beat the best in high-flying 2-on-2 basketball action. Practice your skills offline, play with up to three others, or take your talents online to posterize your opponents with acrobatic jams and ridiculous displays of skill."
NBA Playgrounds stifles any above-the-rim action promised by placing condition after condition on the gameplay
NBA Playgrounds may not revolutionize arcade basketball, but it’s a welcome newcomer.
NBA Playgrounds matches NBA Jam's irreverent take on basketball, but it doesn't do enough to stand out on its own.
NBA Playgrounds is a good modern take on the old-school arcade basketball game genre. It brings enough new ideas to the court to keep things feeling fresh, but at heart, it still retains the charm and accessibility that made NBA Jam such a beloved franchise. There are a few kicks with the shooting mechanics and rebounding is less than ideal, but the gameplay is strong enough in other areas to ensure it's still an overall slam dunk.
Wouldn't an all-new NBA Jam be a lovely thing? Let's briefly put aside the fact we had a perfectly serviceable revival …
Is this a worthy successor to NBA Jam and NBA Street?
NBA Playgrounds is a flawed game, but a fun one. Single player modes are playable but can feel like a bit of a slog for all but the most hardcore fans. Multiplayer fares much better, delivering an enjoyable local multiplayer experience that we're hopeful can be recreated well online. If you're thinking of picking this one up, then, we recommend you do your homework and proceed with caution; perhaps wait until the online multiplayer is live, too.
