NBA Ballers: Phenom Review (no fat)

Game Description

It has been two years since Midway introduced gamers to the fabulous and blinged-out lifestyle of NBA ballers. Now they have returned with the sequel to the game, NBA Ballers: Phenom. While this version features a new story line and lots of new items and mini games, it feels and looks a lot like its predecessor.

NBA Ballers: Phenom Gameplay

Many modes are built into the game to give players a wide variety of gameplay. There is a new feature where players can brush up on their hoop skills before hitting the court in the story mode. Other modes include 1 vs. 1 and 2 vs. 2. Gamers can match up against 120 of their favorite NBA stars as well.

The main aspect of the game is the story mode. This is where gamers rise to fame either in the entertainment industry or the NBA. The storyline in Phenom takes the form of a rivalry between two court buds. Hot Sauce was a friend, until he backstabbed you, the gamer, out of some money and a major deal with some top men in the business. This leaves the gamer penny-less and single. Yes, Hot Sauce took your girlfriend too! The story starts, and gamers have one week until the NBA finals to claw their way to the top and show up Hot Sauce.

Gamers will create and customize their player before actually getting into the game. Here’s where gamers will detail their appearance. Then they will hit the streets with a sidekick that has a map of L.A and all of the hot tournaments that are about to start. Gamers can choose which tournaments they want to enter, depending on their skill levels. Each tournament has Entertainment Value and NBA value scores, which lead gamers in the path of Entertainment or NBA stardom. If gamers choose the Entertainment route Rap Artist Ludacris makes a guest appearance in the game. If gamers take the NBA route, Chauncey Billups makes a guest appearance. Either path that gamers take still results in a huge mansion with piles of money and cars. Go figure. And of course, you can also pick up some extra cash by completing mini games and challenges along the way.

While racking up all of that hard-earned cash gamers can purchase new clothes that can up their skills on the court, or buy food that can increase certain abilities that they possess. Cash also comes in handy to buy tickets for mini games that are available throughout the game as well as unlocking “Inside Stuff”.

As for things that are bound to frustrate, the loading times are horrendous, sometimes taking over thirty seconds to load. This was a problem in the original game as well. One would think that the developers would have resolved this by now, but apparently they haven’t noticed.

NBA Ballers: Phenom Graphics

NBA Baller is known for some glitches in the graphics department, and this game is no different. Some of the animations in the game are choppy, and some players on the court disappear and re-appear in another area. The faces of the players are quite detailed on the other hand, and the environments look exceptional to the eye.

NBA Ballers: Phenom Audio

Audio in Phenom is taken from the original as well. Sound effects such as the ball bouncing, and the sound of running feet all originate from the first game. If the gamer has surround sound they should crank it up because Phenom features over 35 tracks from major hip-hop recording artists such as Chingy and Nappy Roots. Word.

NBA Ballers: Phenom - Verdict

NBA Ballers: Phenom seems like an extension of the previous game with a new storyline and some added features. If you liked the first installment then you should try this one out. For the gamers that are looking for something new completely, then this isn’t it.

For $39.99, the game looks like a good buy for basketball enthusiasts.