NBA 08 Featuring Block Party

Developers have said that the PSP’s power lies somewhere between the PSone and PS2. The system’s launch titles seemed to confirm this assessment. Most of them looked better than any PSone game available but weren't on par with the top PS2 releases.

The PSP version of NBA 08 won't change that belief. It could, however, make gamers' opinions of sports games lean in PSP's favor. While many of the 2007/2008 sports titles have sank on PS2, the PSP versions are getting better, showing that the system – which celebrates its third birthday in about six months – has more years of room to grow. NBA 08 is a prime example, containing the best controls of any PSP basketball game, multiple (and exclusive) mini-games, and a street-style mode where you battle for control of a team and its athletes.

Considering EA and 2K Sports' previous dominance of sports gaming, NBA 08 might be a little startling if this is your first time with the series. The game follows its PS2 predecessor by using a proprietary shot indicator – a small, circular image that appears over your player when you press the circle button. The indicator has three ranges of shot efficiency, each displayed with a different color. You alter its efficiency by holding the circle button.

Red, the first color, is the worst and most likely to appear. If you're being blocked, shoot too far from the net, shoot while jumping sideways, etc., the indicator is likely to stay red the entire time. Yellow, the second color, is more likely to land a basket than red but isn't overly effective. The final color, green, is the one you're shooting for. It's also the hardest to obtain. You may only have a split second to release the circle button while the indicator is green, making it very difficult to get a perfect shot.

But green doesn't guarantee the ball will go in, it merely increases your chance of scoring. These variables give the game a substantial advantage – and a substantial challenge – over its competitors. Impatient and/or unskilled players are likely to be very frustrated for the first few hours of play. But in the long run, the shot indicator in NBA 08 is definitely the way to go. It may be turned off, but then you're shooting without any guidelines for when the ball should be thrown.

On the Streets

NBA Jam was the arcade king of its era. NBA Street is the arcade king of today, albeit without an actual arcade to play it at. That would make NBA 08 the simulation king on the handheld scene, and this year it's taking a stab at the street formula of gaming with an updated Conquest mode. There are two basic differences that separate Conquest from standard NBA basketball: scoring and city commanding. Points are not earned, they are subtracted from the opposing team. By scoring, you deplete your opponent's score. Knock the score down to zero to win.

Just as you can select any team in the Season, Exhibition and other game modes, Conquest gives you access to the full NBA lineup. The goal is to challenge other teams within your division to take control of their players. If you challenge and lose, the winning team receives one of your players and vice versa. The game is randomized, so you never know for certain when you're going to be challenged.

The challenge, whether playing on the veteran setting or at a higher difficulty, is fairly robust. Don't expect to be overwhelmed unless you're struggling with the shot indicator – then you might as well throw in the towel. But you will have to work for your wins. These opponents are great at intercepting lazy passes, and are even better at blocking, which can prevent the shot indicator from turning green, all but guaranteeing that a point cannot be scored.

Finding a Niche

On PS2 and PS3, the NBA series has been focused on lengthy single- and multiplayer gameplay. Though the PSP can handle those kinds of experiences, most developers want their handheld games to be exciting at intervals of five minutes. To make this a reality with NBA 08, the developers added to last year's list of mini-games and carnival games. In addition to Dodge Ball, Horse, Skills Challenge, Own the Court, 3-Point Contest and HORSE, NBA 08 contains Shootin' Bricks, Fast Break and Elimination. Each deserves further explanation. The first is a great Arkanoid-inspired arcade game with 2.5D graphics (2D gameplay; 3D graphics). As you'd expect, players control a small rectangular platform that's used to bounce the ball around the room until all of the bricks have been eliminated.

Fast Break is a short game of 3-on-2: on offense you'll play against two defenders; on defense you'll play against three players. In Elimination mode, players win power-ups by eliminating their teammates. This is done by scoring six points with each player. The first team to eliminate four players wins.

Arkanoid, NBA 08-style.

There is also a great pinball mode that gives you three terrific pinball tables (more are supposed to be available for download at a later time). Each incorporates several elements of the sport: baskets, player outlines, two- and three-point shots, etc. Skee-ball and Chuck E. Cheese-style b-ball shooting games are featured as well.

These mini-games are almost as fun as the rest of the game, which may very well be the solution to the sports genre's biggest problem. Gamers and critics are continually unsatisfied by the minute changes from year to year. During those less innovative, in-between updates, if handheld developers add a plethora of distractions, the game could feel more complete. NBA 08 is complete on both sides of the spectrum, giving gamers everything they could want from a PSP baller.

Gameplay: 8.5
The series' latest PSP outing isn't just its best handheld sequel. It's also the series' best update on any platform. The gameplay variety is icing on an already irresistible, double-decker cake with layers of control depth and seamless gameplay.

Graphics: 8.5
Excellent player models, animations, camera work, reflections, presentation – the works. This is what a PSP sports game should always look like.

Sound: 8.0
A short but wonderful selection of rock music mixed with rap, techno, and surprisingly good commentary from Ian Eagle and Mark Jackson.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Easy mini-games – difficult Conquest and Season modes.

Concept: 7.9
The mini-games, old and new, enhance the overall experience of NBA 08 while Conquest adds a different kind of challenge to the large set of game modes.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Ad hoc and infrastructure multiplayer return for another great season. Multiplayer is also supported for some of the mini-games.

Overall: 8.5
NBA 08 is like a two-disc set: half is a simulation basketball game with a new street mode, the other half is a series of mini-games that could've been sold as a collection via the PlayStation Network. The b-ball gameplay is great – stellar controls, smooth frame rate, and an impressive array of animations. NBA 08's pinball and Arkanoid-style mini-games are tons of fun, and the rest are entertaining diversions that encourage players to return.