Kobe Bryant 2 - NBA Courtside 2 ft Kobe Bryant - Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/pure2000stuff/Kobe_Bryant

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NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant

Flashier than a photo shoot and more fly than a kite, Kobe takes no shorts in Courtside 2.

Kobe's game keeps getting tighter, and Left Field Productions has followed suit with the Y2K edition of Kobe's Courtside series. Whether you're into arcade action or simulation strategies, Courtside 2 is right on the money.

Ankle-Breaking Drives

Either Kobe is making an ill-advised fashion statement, or this photo was taken during one of his motion capture sessions. Kobe agreed to perform a couple of his signature slams, but only after Left Field promised to make him the only player able to pull them off.

Kobe Bryant is one of the most flamboyant players in the NBA. His explosive offensive style is so unique it could probably be trademarked. The development team at Left Field is good, but it's not good enough to capture Kobe's moves without an extensive motion capture session.

With the help of Seattle Supersonic Jelani McCoy, Kobe Bryant provided all of the motion captured moves for Courtside 2. Awesome cross-overs and creative dribbles are guaranteed to make you feel something, whether it's the pleasure of blowing by an opponent or the humiliation of being taken to the hole yourself. You'll recognize the signature slams of the league's superstars, but Kobe's own moves are without a doubt the most impressive in the Pak.

Iced Down Graphics

Courtside's visual package matches the slick style of the gameplay. Left Field has beefed up the graphics for Courtside 2, using 200 polygons-per-head to ensure that you recognize every player on the court. Kobe takes it to the rim in hi-res mode even without the Expansion Pak, and while you're schooling your friends in slow motion, be sure to check out the animated facial expressions which change throughout the game.

During gameplay, a speedy framerate results in a buttery-smooth game, even if you opt to pump up the game speed. Inconsistent player-to-player collision detection is evident during ultra-slow instant replays, but the overall visual impact of the game is extremely polished.

High Caliber Competition

Wanna play garbage man? You'll have to push and shove your way into position to haul down the boards.
The words "advanced artificial intelligence" seem to pass the lips of almost all developers making sports games, but Left Field genuinely increased the brain power of your opposition. CPU-controlled players behave more like real NBA players, by actually capitalizing on the strengths and weaknesses of your team.

Defensive players try to block your lay-ups and dunks, but only if they've established proper defensive positioning. You'll still get breakaway dunks, but generally you have to earn your points in the paint. A quick jolt from the Rumble Pak lets you know when a defensive player isn't going to let you get to the basket. If the pros are too tough to handle, an adjustable difficulty scale can make the competition less intense.

As Comprehensive as You Wanna Be

What a flop! Even though NBA officials are trying to make the game less physical, fans crave contact. Luckily Courtside 2 gives you the power to completely customize when the refs will blow the whistle
NBA Courtside 2 has enough options and features to go dunk-to-dunk with any b-ball game on the market. For a detailed list of the features and options available in Courtside 2, check out Nintendo Sports' basketball comparison. Courtside 2 allows up to four players to hit the hardwood simultaneously, either two-on-two or three-on-one. Other play modes include:

Quick Play
Season Play
Arcade Play
3-Point Contest
Practice
Season Play

Multiple camera options give you more angles than a protractor factory
Season Play allows players to participate in the draft, work on their game during the preseason, plus a full Season Mode complete with trades and the ability to manipulate rosters. Practice Mode is a great way to perfect picks and to practice throwing lead passes to the hoop. This no-pressure feature is also a prime opportunity to check out the signature moves of each player.

Players can call for eight different offensive plays on the fly, and choose which player will receive the ball before a pass is made.
On offense, hold the R Button to back down your defender. When you get close to the hoop, press the A Button to execute a quick turn-around jumper
On the other side of the ball, defensive match-ups and aggression levels can be assigned to each player.

Left Field has done an excellent job in recreating the scientific style of NBA play, with natural play control and a wide variety of moves for advanced players to master. If you're not comfortable with the freedom of controlling your team's every move, a rookie control option is available which greatly simplifies the button assignments.

Career Player

A Career Player feature gives gamers the opportunity to create their own custom players and follow their careers from rookie season to retirement. The custom players begin with minimal stats, but their skills slowly improve based on how they perform during the game. If a player passes frequently, for example, his passing stats will improve throughout the season. Check the table on the right for a full list of the statistics maintained for Career Players.

Arcade Play

Arcade Play appeals to players who prefer extreme b-ball, with sky-high dunks from the 3-point line and bullet passes that leave trails of smoke. Sonic Boom dunks actually knock the competition on their backs, and special bonus point hot spots add more excitement to the match up.

Anybody can dribble behind the back, but what about behind the head?
With solid graphics, a wide variety of options and fluid gameplay, Courtside 2 impresses me greatly. Arcade fans and simulation freaks alike can both enjoy this game, which proves worthy of the superstar that graces its box.

This is undoubtedly the greatest all-around basketball ever to grace the Nintendo systems. Although its graphics dont compare to those of NBA2K for Sega Dreamcast, every other element of the game is much better - from game-play to different game modes to camera controls. This is a must have game for b-ball fans and a must play for anyone who enjoys having fun.

mw834@hotmail.com

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Page Updated Wed Mar 1, 2000 6:40pm EST