Vs. Battle – NBA Jam

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presents a


by

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(Sega Genesis)

(SNES)

Genre	(Sports)
Players	(Single/Multiplayer)

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Tale Of The Tapes

NBA Jam is a 2 on 2 slam dunk centered basketball game which started its life in the arcade’s before making its way to home consoles. It has a similar playstyle and feel to another arcade basketball classic, Arch Rivals, however it improved the gameplay with the NBA license, shoes that go turbo and the ability to fly higher than humanly possible and mega dunk with authority! Each game consists of (default) 2 minute quarters with the obvious goal of outscoring your opponent through any offensive means possible however, slamming the ball through the hoop like a meteor after flipping in the air a hundred times looks way more stylish than anything else (even if it is still only worth 2 points just like a plain old jump shot).  

The console versions use rosters from the 1993-94 NBA season and all of the 27 teams in the game are represented by 2 of their best players such as John Stockton & Karl Malone on the Utah Jazz or Patrick Ewing & John Starks on the New York Knicks. With a fun trash talking announcer and up to 4-player support, NBA Jam is considered the godfather of arcade sports games and an absolute blast to play! Though released on a multitude of different platforms, we’re gonna take a look at the Genesis version and the SNES version and see who wins in a game of one-on-one. Now let’s tip-off and start the battle!

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The Battle

The rosters and modes are completely identical in both versions so we’ll have to compare the controls in this round to determine a winner. The general handles for both games feel good as the players move and respond nicely and the only differences that are found are in the controller’s themselves and how their buttons layout in relation to the game. It’s a really close call here since I like how the Genesis controller’s face buttons feel closer to the arcade experience but I have to give the slightest of edges to the SNES version since the shoulder buttons function perfectly to hold down for turbo freeing your face buttons (and your thumb) to focus solely on shooting and passing. 

Round 1 Analysis

Gameplay	PUSH
Controls

Round 1 winner

SNES version Extremely close call in the first round since I like how both controller’s bring something different but I prefer the SNES controller’s shoulder buttons and larger quantity of options for customizing.

 

An easy win for the SNES version in the sight and sound department as it tops the Genesis in every way. The colors and sprites are brighter on the Super Nintendo while the music and voice samples sound distinctively crisper and more accurate to its arcade big bro’. It’s interesting that the SNES version doesn’t have music in-game while the Genesis version does, but it’s not nearly enough and only serves to get the Genesis version a jab or two in on an otherwise dominant round from the house that Mario built.

Round 2 Analysis

Music/Sound
Graphics

Round 2 winner-

SNES version While round 1 was a much closer back-and-forth, round 2 was an easy win for the Super Nintendo as it simply looks better with a more vivid and clear graphical style while also supplying better menu music and voice samples.

Overall winner

SNES version It’s a clear-cut knockout victory for the SNES version as it has much better visuals and sounds while also providing a more adaptable controller that feels slightly more comfortable than the Genesis version. It’s strange that there’s no in-game music in the SNES version (especially since there is on the Genesis) but it’s not too big of a deal to me since it’s not that great anyways. Two of the specific differences that really put NBA Jam on the Super Nintendo over-the-top is the title theme is exponentially better (my favorite song in the game – sound bar above) and the famous BOOMSHAKALAKA announcer Tim Kitzrow, sounds way closer to the arcade version on the Super Nintendo while sounding more muffled on the Genesis. If presented the option between these awesome arcade ballers, utilize the SNES version for its brighter graphics, crisper sounds and deeper control-set as it’s the better choice through and through!

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