NBA Hangtime

NBA Hangtime: Experience the Classic Basketball Arcade Action

Introduction to NBA Hangtime

NBA Hangtime is a 1996 basketball arcade game developed and published by Midway. As the spiritual successor to the NBA Jam series, it brought fast-paced, over-the-top hoops action to arcades and home consoles. The game was released for Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Super NES, Sega Genesis, and PC, each with its own quirks and charm.

Developer Insights

Midway created NBA Hangtime after losing the NBA Jam naming rights to Acclaim. The game introduced new features like character creation, injury systems, and the ability to swap players at halftime. These innovations aimed to freshen up the classic 2v2 basketball formula while maintaining the arcade feel fans loved.

Core Gameplay and Features

NBA Hangtime centers around high-energy 2v2 matches with simple yet addictive controls. Players can dunk, pass, and block, with turbo boosts for extra flair. The character creation mode allowed customization of players, adding a personal touch. The game also featured alley oops, double dunks, and special effects like fireball dunks, enhancing its arcade appeal.

Community Feedback on NBA Hangtime

Reviews were mixed, with praise for the N64 version's smooth gameplay and create-a-player feature. However, critics noted it didn't innovate much over NBA Jam. Despite this, the game remains a beloved classic, especially for its nostalgic value and fun multiplayer mode. The arcade version was even ranked as one of the best by Electronic Gaming Monthly in 1997.

NBA Hangtime is a must-play for fans of classic basketball games, offering a blend of simplicity and excitement that defined the '90s gaming era.