Handheld basketball games have always felt awkward, simply because of the mini-screen and the even more mini players. While SCEA performed a valiant effort to provide a fun NBA title, NBA 09: The Inside provides only mild entertainment.

Basketball games have never been my genre of choice when browsing the used games section at my local game store. For some reason, I’ve never been able to enjoy basketball nearly as much as football, especially on a video game level. But recently, my hometown acquired its first ever full blown NBA basketball team, and my blood has begun to boil with excitement at the impending season.

When I received NBA 09: The Inside in the mail, I was concerned that the brand new Oklahoma City Thunder team would not be included. Upon further investigation, I discovered that my hometown’s team was indeed in the game, but the recently released logo and official name were not. While disappointed at this omission, I can understand the purpose. The official team name, colors, and logo were announced deep into the final stages of NBA 09: The Inside’s production.

With my fears eased slightly, I began sifting through the rather large number of options available within the main screen. Not only is the typical franchise mode available, but the player can also enjoy a number of arcade-style or regular mini games. A new mode, dubbed Elimiquest, is a twist on the also included Conquest mode. Updated rosters are also going to be made available for download throughout the season, and players will even be able to jump online and compete against NBA fans across the country.

I dove into the heart of NBA 09. I began a franchise, after creating a quick profile. The franchise is much more straightforward than I anticipated, with menus available to manage rosters, manage players, and check the schedule. After booting up a game, I had to pause and check my button controls. Unfortunately the information provided within the game only covered general offensive and defensive actions. I guessed at which button might make me jump for the ball, and guessed wrong. This lack of direction also becomes a short lived issue during free throws. The game provides no instruction on how to make those precious extra foul shots, and the lacking instruction is frustrating. Luckily there is a free throw mode that allows you to practice your shot without penalty of a loss.

I discovered quickly that the action on court can be quite difficult to follow. When your team has possession of the ball, an “X” icon will appear over the player’s head that is currently in your passing peripheral. Forcing the game to direct the ball towards the player you actually want to pass to can be quite a challenge at times. After actually passing the basketball, the only way I could ever be sure that my player maintained possession was by the reaction of the camera. If the camera maintained its angle, then my player successfully received the rock. If the camera suddenly spun 180 degrees, I knew that I’d been pick-pocketed.

Defensive controls proved to be just as challenging at times. The same “X” symbol appears over the player’s head that is closest to the ball. Unfortunately, on defense, I often times confused the “X”ed player as the player I already had selected. I would find myself attempting to force a player to move whom I had absolutely no control over. Once you actually take control of a given player, he stops moving immediately. This sudden stop action felt un-natural to me, as I expected the player to maintain course (think of the Madden football games, where the defensive player keeps running even after you select them, as long as you do not touch the analog).

Action on either side of the ball seemed quite difficult to control at times. If you attempted to move towards the basket and an opponent was blocking your way, the game basically acted as though a brick wall were forcing you to halt. Sometimes I found myself launching into mid-air from beyond the box after holding the shoot button.

Fortunately, taking a shot at the basket is based on a much more simple system. When electing to shoot, the player presses the circle button. A quick tap will cause the in--game character to pump fake at the bucket. Hold the button long enough for your player to go airborne and a color will surround the ball. If the color is red, the player is nearly guaranteed to miss. If the color reaches an orange hue, then the shot becomes makeable, but not a promise. Once the colored ring turns green, the shot is money in the bank. Free throws operate with the same color scheme, so taking shots becomes more about timing your button press than anything.

Graphically, NBA 09: The Inside did not impress too much. While the menus were attractive and easy to navigate, the character models were average at best. Occasionally, after a big play, the game would zoom in on a character’s face and perform a freeze-frame highlight. None of the players were very well constructed, and I doubt I could’ve placed them next to their real life ballers, if given the task. Sometimes the animations appeared awkward, and even the ball’s motion did not seem as fluid as it should’ve been.

From an audio standpoint, the game performed above par. As expected, catchy songs play during menu browsing, and are also accessible through the options section. Commentary is provided once again by Ian Eagle, with extra help from the likes of TNT’s Kenny Smith. During a game, this duo of notable voices creates an atmosphere akin to watching a real game on T.V. The commentary is a highlight of NBA 09, and the sound effects present during games are also a welcome contribution.

While the gameplay seems somewhat sloppy at times, the mini-games included are practically the highlight of NBA 09. The regular mini-games contain the new “Give & Go” game, which allows players to earn point multipliers by passing the ball before scoring. “Elimination” is a game where players on your team are removed from the court as they obtain a set amount of points. As players leave your side of the court, the remaining players will earn various power-ups.

A new addition to the series is the arcade mini-game section. These games are variations on games we’ve all played and loved at one point in time. “Alley-Oop” is a bowling style game where the player rolls a basketball down an alley. The goal is to hit certain pins and multipliers, while avoiding obstacles. If you love the classic “Breakout” games, then “Shootin’ Bricks” will definitely entertain you. A pinball mini-game is also available, with a number of different tables to play on.

Online competition is available through Ad Hoc connectivity for up to two PSP systems, as well as access to a nationwide online community of NBA fans via WiFi functionality. Fans of NBA basketball will surely enjoy the competitive nature that each has to offer the other in a vicious online game.

While the game should be a blast for NBA fans, NBA 09: The Inside could also get frustrating for perfection oriented competitors. Ball management is an issue at times, and player control can get choppy. Issues aside, NBA 09 is a viable addition to the series, and will quench any fan’s thirst for competitive basketball.

Gameplay: 6  
The actual franchise mode, which is the premiere feature of NBA 09, is average at best in terms of gameplay. The saving grace lies in the mini-games available, although mini-games can only entertain for a short period of time.   

Graphics: 6   
Character models are not easily recognizable, and at times the animations appear choppy. Ball movement lacks fluidity.

Sound: 7  
Commentary provided by professional voices deliver interesting banter during games. Sound effects are delivered as expected, but are nothing to brag about.

Difficulty: Medium
The player can dictate how difficult the opponent will be, and constantly trying to obtain higher scores in mini-games can always prove challenging.  

Concept: 6.5   
Basketball is no fresh concept, but some of the features delivered by SCEA are welcome. The mini-game reiterations are enjoyable, and definitely deter from your average sports expectations.

Multiplayer: 7   
Sports titles are always fun to take online and whoop up on people in, especially if you’re competing as your favorite NBA franchise.

Overall: 6  
While the mini-games are fresh and fun, they are not where your largest amount of time will want to be spent. NBA 09: The Inside justifiably provides an enjoyable experience, but many flaws still shine through.