Review - NBA Courtside 2002
By Lee Capili
Buy it used at GameTZ!
June 9, 2002
Accessories Memory Card Players 1-4
Developer Left Field Productions Genre Sports
Publisher Nintendo ESRB E

NBA Courtside 2002 is the first basketball title to hit the GameCube. Developed by Left Field Productions, the same people who made two superb basketball games on the N64 (Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside and NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant,) I expected this game to be nothing less. But I was slightly disappointed as this game had its many ups and downs.

Sound
Let's start with me saying that the sound is pretty decent. The job they did with the Stadium announcer was really good. Sometimes he'll say, "If you are sitting on this row, this seat, you have won a special prize." Stuff like this makes you feel more in the game. Also, you will hear grunts from players and you will hear their sneakers squeak, as well. Commentators will even occasionally give player backgrounds. For example: "Iverson was the first overall pick in the '96 draft" and so on. These are all on the plus side. But overall, the sound is repetitive. There isn't much variety when it comes to player sounds and you'll get tired when you hear the same things from commentators too often.


Game play
The control scheme is very simple and beginners should have no problem learning how to play the game. A Button to jump (shoot, block, rebound, etc.) B to pass or steal. X and Y to do special dribbles (crossovers, behind the backs, etc.) The other buttons will be easy to learn, too.

The game modes are Quick Play, Arcade Play, NBA Season Play and Skills Mode. Quick Play is your basic exhibition game - choose your teams, customize the settings, and go play your game! Arcade Play is a 3 on 3 game where players can do some extreme dunks, blocks, and dribbles. NBA Season Play lets you play coach for one whole season. You can change the number of games you want to play in the year, how many rounds you want to be in the Playoffs, and you can do a fantasy draft. Skills Mode let's you practice your plays with a certain team and let's you play the 3 Point Contest.

But what I really do not like about the game play, though (and I really emphasize this!) is that the Defense is not good at all. Even on Hard Mode, you will not have a problem getting to the hoop. Offensive players can just whip by everybody. The centers and power forwards that are supposed to be guarding the hoop won't even help out when someone goes straight to the basket. It's like they just let the other team score. I mean this is game is like a dunk fest! Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but sometimes I feel the games are just like that.


Graphics
The graphics department is definitely the game's strongest point. The basketball courts look very much like the real ones. The crowd looks good. And don't let me get started on how realistic the players are. Just look at their faces! If you know your basketball players, you will recognize them very easily here. What I like the most, though, is the animations. The dribbling animations (especially in Arcade Mode) are amazing. And the dunk animations ... ohhh, they are sweet! Better than most games that I have seen. The graphics in this game may not be the best on the GameCube, but they are very good, nonetheless.

Replay ability
The Update Rosters option and the Create a Player mode will increase the game's replay ability. You can sign, release and trade your players to make one super team. The Create a Player mode is just plain fun. You can make your players have big or little ears, noses, whatever you want (well almost.) You give them a name, accessories like tattoos, armbands, you can make them good or bad in certain categories like shooting and rebounding, again you can do almost whatever you want. You can make a 5'4" player who can soar through the air and make Vince Carter look like a wimp. You can make super strong characters that will swat your shots to the "middle of next Tuesday." You can also make your regular, average looking players. It's all-good!

Replay Value could have been a lot higher though if the game had more "D" in it and if there was a Franchise Mode. But if you can handle the all the Offense, the Create a Player mode and the secret codes in the game should keep you playing for a while.


This game is just OK. Some things were just awesome and some flaws were easy to find at the same time. This game was not that bad, but surely this game could have been a lot better.