NBA Playgrounds Reviews
NBA Playgrounds is an average arcade game that's best enjoyed in local multiplayer with friends. Otherwise, there's not much to offer compared to the competition.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
NBA Playgrounds is a conflicted game, it tries to cater to two different audiences at once, but in doing so weakens the overall experience and therefore appeals to neither. It did succeed in making me want to play an NBA game; just not this one.
If you want a good couch co op game that you can have a couple of quick games with it’s perfect.
While it may not have the finesse of other NBA licensed games, it manages to be a structurally solid pick-up and play street basketball game with a lot of licensed players to choose from.
NBA Playgrounds is a fine arcade baller that wears its inspirations clearly on its sleeveless sleeves and helps that it boasts a representative NBA roster for fun mix-and-match court battles.
If you dig arcade basketball then NBA Playgrounds is a great addition to the genre.
As a spiritual successor to NBA Jam, NBA Playgrounds really does a great job of recreating that zany arcade feeling of streetball two versus two action. As a huge fan of the genre who recalls dropping a lot of quarters into the NBA Jam arcade cabinet when I was younger, I am the target audience for this title. The slick visuals and over-the-top action are a lot of fun, but some inconsistencies in the gameplay and a lack of depth limit this to title to a status of fun filler of must-play hoops action.
I'm sure the developers went into NBA Playgrounds with the most noble of intentions, but this game is not the NBA I remembered. This game is one that young me would never have considered to be worth my allowance.
With proper support 'NBA Playgrounds' could become a great series in the future. It's just not quite there in this, its rookie season.
NBA Playgrounds feels like an experiment to bring the arcade basketball style back into action. It might have an enjoyable gameplay system that is casual friendly but it lacks in content and gameplay modes, not to mention it is simply not fun to play against the dull A.I controlled opponents.
My one gripe with the game is that every now and then, the controls would feel off. I'd be playing and doing great, and then the opposing team would steal the ball and my player was way out there off screen and wouldn't run fast enough to defend. The blocking is also another issue since it didn't trigger properly even after I followed the instructions perfectly. Hopefully the game is patched soon to improve these two things.
NBA Playgrounds goes all in on the arcade style, the charisma and the fame power of the NBA stars, and it almost hits the jackpot. Some minor problems prevent the game from reaching its full potential, but if there's a sequel planned, there's a solid groundwork to begin with.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
NBA Playgrounds is the definition of a game that's a mixed bag.
The smattering of flaws aside, NBA Playgrounds manages to be a fun multiplayer street hoops experience that is at least partially successful in recapturing the charm of NBA Jam. Player decks and lottery pick meter are subtle but effective elements to help give the game a bit of its own character.
The best analogy for NBA Playgrounds is that it's like a leaky ship. The exterior, with its charm and aesthetically pleasing look, hides an interior rife with small missteps and annoyances.
With the latest update, NBA Playgrounds becomes an enjoyable arcade-style basketball game that is not as arcade-heavy as most of us thought it would be, but that is definitely a much, much better game than it was at launch. With the first massive patch out of the way, the game is probably going to get more patches for the rest of the year to add more players, more courts to play in, and hopefully, even more, improvements to the game's performance and resolution. If you want a basketball game to play at home or on the go, then you can certainly give this one a go.
NBA Playgrounds plays well to the strengths of the Nintendo Switch, providing a fun multiplayer basketball game, with authentic players and commentary. Difficulty spikes in solo play are too steep to ignore, though, and the current absence of online play greatly diminishes long-term viability. A great game is here, but not yet at the surface.
NBA Playgrounds has potential, but it just leaves too much in the locker room to be considered anything more than unpolished. At least there's no micro-transactions in this one.
In summary, NBA Playgrounds is a really fun and quirky title. The lack of online play at launch is a big omission and although the game lacks replayability, the arcade aesthetics, easy to use controls and whirlwind gameplay make this game extremely enjoyable in short bursts. I found the game better on handheld rather than playing off a TV, due to its ‘on the move' vibe, and in that respect, it's undoubtedly a nice game to just unwind with and enjoy for what it is.
NBA Playgrounds is not the new NBA Jam replacement. It adds just enough complication to the basic mechanics so it isn't a game that anyone can pick up and play without experiencing one or two matches. The game is fun once you get used to the quirks, and even if the roster unlocking process isn't optimal, it ensures you'll have a reason to keep coming back. For arcade sports fans, NBA Playgrounds is worth a look.