NBA Showtime: NBA On NBC - Overview

Overview

The game features gameplay similar to its predecessors NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime. Rather than typical 5 on 5 action, this game features 2 on 2 play with the ability to pick two players from any NBA team's starting line-up for the first half and can choose again for the second. The game introduces personal fouls for each shove on another player; after a certain number of fouls the opposing team gets a free throw. The game retains the series standard "on fire" feature. After a player makes three consecutive shots he becomes "on fire", which allows him to easily make shots from almost anywhere, as well as goaltend without penalty and push opponents without being charged a foul. Play otherwise is similar to NBA rules. The arcade version accommodates up to four players, as do the home versions produced for the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast.

The players featured in the game include many of the most popular players of the particular year and era of the NBA season. But, like the previous games in the arcade-style basketball series—many players were left out and each team has a limited amount of players per position to choose from.

As with the previous NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime games, the game contains many secret characters. The arcade version features the Universal Monsters Frankenstein's monster, Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man and Creature from the Black Lagoon as secret characters. Midway Games staff also as playable characters are Mark Turmell, Beth Smukowski, Alex Gilliam, Chris Skrundz, Larry Wotman, Brian LeBaron, Dan Thompson, Dave Grossman, Jim Tianis, Eugene Geer, Andy Eloff, Rob Gatson, Jon Hey, Jim Gentile, Mark Guidarelli, Tim Bryant, Jeff Johnson, Jennifer Hedrick, Sal DiVita, Matt Gilmore, Mike Lynch, Paul Martin, Jason Skiles, John Root, Paulo Garcia and Tim Moran.

The game-time commentary is particularly varied and colorful for basketball games of that period, featuring such phrases as "The dejection of the rejection!" "He just flat-out leveled him!" as well as "With the silky smooth move!" and "Look Ma, no rim!"

The original announcer from NBA Jam, Tim Kitzrow, returned, after Midway used the Bulls radio announcer Neil Funk in NBA Hangtime. Jon Hey produced all the sound, music and script save for the NBC basketball theme Roundball Rock by John Tesh. At the time, the music was influenced by 2Pac and Dr. Dre's California Love and Master P's Make 'Em Say Uhh! and previous NBA Themes written by Jon Hey for NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime.