I'm not a sports geek. But even though I can't quote statistics from the 1967 World Series, I have had moments when I've tuned into the sports world. One of those was the 1983 college hoops national championship, in which the scrappy North Carolina State Wolfpack pulled off a stunning upset of the Houston Cougars. Despite Houston's defeat, something about the way Cougar guard Clyde Drexler moved captivated me. More so than Michael Jordan, Clyde "The Glide" Drexler had the moves I marveled at during his brilliant ensuing NBA career.
What does this have to do with NBA Ballers: Phenom, you ask? Well, if you've ever wanted to "play" a favorite baller, this is your game. The first thing I did after loading Phenom was scroll through its rosters to find Clyde. He was there ... but as a "locked" player. I'd have to score some points to gain access to his celebrated moves. Even though I wanted to unleash Clyde's backboard prowess ASAP, then, the game's "main event" awaited my attention.
In addition to Phenom's aptly titled "Bring Your Game" mode, where NBA legends such as Drexler face off against others, the hoops contest also invites players to "Live the Dream." This story mode gives hardwood hopefuls a shot at "legendary" status, virtually speaking, in an urban roundball tournament.
Two Lanes to the Hoop
Phenom's "Live the Dream" narrative put me in the sneakers of a wannabe hoopster full of talent but short on opportunity—until now. Los Angeles is the scene of an amateur basketball tournament, the winner of which scores a customized "crib," a shot at the NBA and lucrative endorsements. On courts throughout the city, I'd have to prove my mettle.
Building my character was the first order of business. Every aspect of his look, from shoes to shorts, hairstyles to jerseys, is customizable (including corporately themed clothing and tattoos—two options I could have done without). After outfitting my player, I distributed points to different basketball skills, such as three-point shooting, stealing, etc. I had a lot of fun designing my baller: His blue mohawk let everyone know he meant business—in a weird, Dennis Rodman kind of way.
On the court, other streetball hopefuls awaited, including my chief nemesis: a shooter named Hot Sauce. Alley-oops, jukes, dunks and blocks were the name of my streetball game, and I earned style points for jazzy moves en route to the hole. I found offensive maneuvers easier than defensive ones at first. Once I got going, though, blocking shots definitely became just as enjoyable as monster jams. Tournament victories yielded credits to purchase skill and wardrobe upgrades. And when my character wasn't playing ball, Los Angeles awaited his exploration. Mini-games (such as an NBA trivia kiosk) and tasks (putting up posters for a Ludacris concert) meant additional credits.
After dribbling through various L.A. tournaments in story mode, I returned to "Bring Your Game" to set up more NBA dream match-ups. This mode gave me the chance to pit pro players against one another in three ways: one-on-one, one-on-one-on-one or two-on-two. Wondering whether Yao Ming could take Wilt Chamberlain? Pete Maravich vs. Kobe Bryant vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Or how about Drexler and Shaq against Chauncey Billups and Julius Erving? It was time to find out how superstars from different eras stacked up.
Minor Fouls Don't Bench This Game
NBA Ballers: Phenom sports an E (for everyone) rating. Except for a couple minor "fouls," that audience assessment is accurate. One trouble spot involves a car wash put on by L.A. Lakers cheerleaders in tight, one-piece outfits. Compared to how women are depicted in many video games these days, their attire is relatively conservative and not terribly revealing—but still worth noting. Similarly, one of the basketball venues includes several background spectators in bikinis. Slightly more problematic is that in story mode, your character must hurl his basketball against objects in the environment (walls, street-vendor carts—even porta-potties!) to reveal diamonds he collects to earn credits. Nothing is damaged, but this feature smacked unnecessarily of vandalism.
On the other side of the court—and somewhat surprising given the game's shameless plugs for troublesome rapper Ludacris, Phenom includes a hip-hop soundtrack (also provided on a separate CD) that's surprisingly free of offensive lyrics. Most songs (with titles such as "Take It to the Hoop" and "I'm a Baller Baby") focus directly on basketball—something I was only too happy to do. Now if I could just play a little bit longer to unlock The Glide...
