Original: Arcade · 1993
NBA Jam's home ports brought Midway's outlandish two-on-two basketball game to virtually every platform of the mid-1990s, with the 16-bit console versions successfully preserving the game's frenetic energy and hidden character codes that made it a cultural phenomenon.
NBA Jam was one of the highest-grossing arcade games of 1993 and 1994, and the home ports by Acclaim were among the fastest and most faithful console conversions of the era. The SNES and Genesis versions both captured the core gameplay and the vast majority of the hidden player codes — including the ability to play as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and various team mascots — making both 16-bit ports feel close to the arcade experience. The most notable difference between the two versions was audio: the SNES version had slightly better voice audio reproduction, while the Genesis version had a marginal edge in some graphical comparisons depending on the television used. The Game Boy version was a commendable portable reduction, though the small screen and limited palette made it difficult to track the ball during fast play.
The SNES port was considered by many reviewers as marginally the better 16-bit version, with slightly cleaner voice samples reproducing the announcer commentary that was central to the game's appeal. All hidden codes and unlockable characters from the arcade were preserved.
The Genesis version was equally capable, with some reviewers preferring its colour reproduction for the court graphics. Both 16-bit versions were considered excellent ports; the differences were minor enough that the choice between them usually came down to which console the player already owned.
The Game Boy version successfully conveyed the two-on-two format and preserved the most popular hidden codes, but the small screen made tracking the ball at high speed difficult. It was a solid portable option for its time and one of the stronger sports games on the platform.
The Game Gear version benefited from the backlit colour screen compared to the original Game Boy, giving it better visibility during fast play. It was otherwise comparable to the Game Boy version in content and gameplay.