NBA Street

This article is about the first game in the NBA Street video game series. For information on the rest of the series, see NBA Street (series).
NBA Street

North America cover art
Developer(s) EA Canada
Publisher(s) EA Sports BIG
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
GameCube
Release date(s)

PlayStation 2

  • NA: June 18, 2001
  • EU: June 18, 2001
  • JP: August 23, 2001

GameCube

  • NA: February 17, 2002
  • JP: March 22, 2002
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

NBA Street is a basketball video game developed by EA Canada and was released in 2001 for the PlayStation 2 and in 2002 for the GameCube. It combines the talent and big names of the National Basketball Association with the attitude and atmosphere of streetball. NBA Street is the first game in the NBA Street series and was followed by NBA Street Vol. 2, NBA Street V3, NBA Street Homecourt and NBA Street Online.

Gameplay

NBA Street consists of three-on-three basketball games. Aside from the basic structure of basketball, players try to collect trick points, which are scored through the use of almost every basketball game maneuver such as faking out defenders, shot blocking, diving for the ball, and dunking. If a team fills a special meter through flashy and effective gameplay, they get to perform a Gamebreaker, which is a special shot that not only adds to their score, but it subtracts an amount from their opponents' score.

Single player options included a user-created player touring famous American locations, picking up teammates from NBA rosters along the way.

The gameplay could be considered an "arcade" style of basketball in that it is not a true simulation, similar to the NBA Jam series. For instance, in-game players are able to jump high enough to grab three-point shots mid-arc (goaltending is permitted and is often used as a defensive strategy). Games are scored not by traditional standards, as two-point field goals are worth one point, while made shots behind the 3-point line are worth two. Instead of a time limit, the first team to score 21 points are deemed the winner. However, the winner must win by 2.

Cast and characters

29 NBA teams are playable, with rosters from around 2000 and 2001. However, only 5 players are available from each team. Michael Jordan, who announced his comeback from his second retirement with the Washington Wizards a few months after the PlayStation 2 release, is available on both the Gamecube and PlayStation 2 versions. He was however removed as the "Final Challenge" in the Gamecube version as he now played for the Washington Wizards in the game. Instead, the City Circuit ended once a player beat the Street Legend "Stretch".

The game introduced several recurring characters called Street Legends, fictional basketball players who served as the series' bosses, each masterful in a particular aspect of basketball and representing a specific area of the United States. Their personalities and appearances were loosely inspired by real players, such as Stretch, the "cover athlete" who resembled Julius Erving in looks and abilities.

The Street Legends are, in order, Biggs, Bonafide, Drake, DJ, Takashi, and Stretch.

Commentator Joe "The Show" Jackson is voiced by Bob Elliott.

Rosters

Team rosters from the 2000–2001 season, accurate as of March 5, 2001. (The GameCube version of the game has updated rosters from the 2001–02 season).

Despite the PlayStation 2 version of the game having rosters from the 2000–2001 season, the Mavericks and Pistons already have new logos and uniforms which debut next season in 2001–02.

Street courts

Street Legends Courts

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2
AllGameN/A[1]
EGM8.17/10[2]8.5/10[3]
Famitsu30/40[4]31/40[5]
Game Informer9.25/10[6]9.25/10[7]
GamePro[8][9]
Game RevolutionN/AB+[10]
GameSpot8.8/10[11]9.3/10[12]
GameSpy90%[13]91%[14]
GameZone8/10[15]N/A
IGN8.6/10[16]9.3/10[17]
Nintendo Power4.5/5[18]N/A
OPM (US)N/A[19]
X-PlayN/A[20]
BBC SportN/A90%[21]
MaximN/A8/10[22]
Aggregate score
Metacritic88/100[23]89/100[24]

The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[24][23] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40 for the PS2 version,[5] and 30 out of 40 for the GameCube version.[4]

With the success of the NBA Street series, EA Sports BIG expanded to the format to football with NFL Street and soccer with FIFA Street.

References

  1. Barnes, J.C. "NBA Street (PS2) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  2. EGM staff (May 2002). "NBA Street (GC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (154): 112.
  3. EGM staff (September 2001). "NBA Street (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly: 141.
  4. 1 2 "ニンテンドーゲームキューブ - NBAストリート". Famitsu. 915: 102. June 30, 2006.
  5. 1 2 "プレイステーション2 - NBA STREET". Famitsu. 915: 89. June 30, 2006.
  6. "NBA Street (GC)". Game Informer (109): 84. May 2002.
  7. Leeper, Justin (August 2001). "NBA Street (PS2)". Game Informer (100). Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  8. Air Hendrix (February 19, 2002). "NBA Street Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  9. Air Hendrix (June 20, 2001). "NBA Street Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  10. Dr. Moo (June 2001). "NBA Street Review (PS2)". Game Revolution. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  11. Varanini, Giancarlo (February 27, 2002). "NBA Street Review (GC)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  12. Gerstmann, Jeff (June 20, 2001). "NBA Street Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  13. Sabine, Mike (April 26, 2002). "NBA Street (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on January 12, 2005. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  14. Kocher, Dave (July 5, 2001). "NBA Street (PS2)". SportPlanet. Archived from the original on December 28, 2004. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  15. Bedigian, Louis (May 5, 2002). "NBA Street - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  16. Mirabella III, Fran (February 25, 2002). "NBA Street (GCN)". IGN. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  17. Zdyrko, David (June 19, 2001). "NBA Street (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  18. "NBA Street". Nintendo Power. 154: 133. March 2002.
  19. "NBA Street". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. August 2001.
  20. Weigel, Ray (July 5, 2001). "TechTV Vault: NBA Street (PS2) Review". X-Play. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  21. Gibbon, David (July 13, 2001). "Let's Play...NBA Street (PS2)". BBC Sport. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  22. Boyce, Ryan (June 12, 2001). "NBA Street (PS2)". Maxim. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "NBA Street for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  24. 1 2 "NBA Street for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
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