On the court, the actual gameplay wasn't too bad, either. The passing and shooting controls work smoothly, once you get the hang of them, and you won't be called on most fouls (which is actually a relief given the small screen). Additionally, blocking shots or making three-point shots can actually stun opposing players, giving you a brief advantage. On the flip side, the developers tell us that computer-controlled players will be a little smarter than last year's.
There's also a huge focus on minigames in 07; the dodgeball game from NBA 06 returns, and it's joined by a full-on Carnival mode, which tosses in new additions such as skeeball and pinball. When we saw the game, the developers seemed especially proud of Pop-A-Shot, which lets players tackle an arcade-style hoops machine with an NBA pro at varying levels of difficulty. There's a point to these as well, as winning minigames will unlock new jerseys, movies and even teams.
Exhibition and pickup games will round out the package, along with an All-Star Weekend mode that features dunk contests, skills challenges and an all-star game. The final product will also feature game-sharing, letting you challenge friends with just one copy of the game.
Due in late September, NBA 07 looks great, with unusually smooth graphics and animation for a PSP game. 07 promises more elaborate visuals as well, with detailed stadiums, Jumbotron displays and an overall presentation courtesy of TNT Sports.
To see it for yourself, just hit the Movies tab above (just bear in mind that the announcer voices will be changed before release).
