Commodore Format
1st February 1993
Publisher: Zeppelin Games
Machine: Commodore 64/128
Published in Commodore Format #29
All American Basketball (Zeppelin Games)
Magic Johnson. Michael Air Jordan, Michael Jumping Jackson. Marmalade Jimmy Jam. Martin Dead Boddy. Kareem Abdul-Jubbar. Yep, we can only be talking basketball here. All American Basketball in fact. That's the name of the game (though it could do with a nickname).
Options include being able to choose the length of each half and the colour of your shirt (most important for the fashion conscious player). All-American Basketball is a one- or two-player game. In both you can take part in a single match or an entire tournament which pits you against the biggest and best teams in the US.
All-American Basketball is a sports sim to suit two standards of players - the not very good at all and the tactical geniuses. Playing against an amateur team is akin to having a one-on-one with a three-legged hamster. But thrashing it out with pro opponents is a different kettle of marine life altogether. They whizz around the court like very whizzy things, and unless you're a highly paid professional or very lucky (or perhaps skilful), you won't get a look in.
The control system's a bit weird, similar to a lot of footie games really. Hold the fire button down for a powerful lob and jab it for a close shot at the hoop. Not overly exciting but it works (like motorway contraflow systems), to an extent.
All-American Basketball isn't really a basketball game. It's a footie game with a couple of minor changes (mostly to the graphics). It ain't bad, but it doesn't really offer anything new. So unless you're fed up with green, or a team sports sim aficionado, strike it off the essential list.
Good Points
- Smooth scrolling.
- Good use of sound.
- A sports sim that isn't predominantly green.
Bad Points
- Limited range of moves - too few fancy shots on offer.
- Difficult-to-control where the ball is going.
- Basically a footie sim with different colours.