NBA Playgrounds
| NBA Playgrounds | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Saber Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Mad Dog Games |
| Platform(s) |
Microsoft Windows Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Xbox One |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
NBA Playgrounds is a basketball video game for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, that was released on May 9, 2017.[1]
Developed by Saber Interactive, and officially licensed by the National Basketball Association, the game is set up as an arcade-style basketball game akin to prior games such as the NBA Jam and NBA Street series.
Gameplay
Players fill up their roster of players by playing different modes to earn packs. Tournament mode is a mode where they play four games with challenges on each court. Once the tournament is completed they unlock the court and a gold pack. There is online mode and exhibition where players can play to upgrade the players from bronze to silver and gold. Players also get a pack for leveling up their offline level and their online level.(Offline play requires an internet connection on PS4)[2].
Development
NBA Playgrounds includes a roster of both active and former NBA stars; both local and online multiplayer modes are included in the game (Although local mode requires an internet connection to function on PS4)[2]. The game has a digital-only distribution.
The online feature was not ready at launch day for the Nintendo Switch version due to technical issues, but the developer initially promised it would be ready in a few days.[3] Despite that, two weeks have passed before the developer was questioned on Twitter about the online status of the Nintendo Switch version without getting a definitive answer.[4] However, the developer later told Nintendo Switch players to expect a "huge announcement" on June 1.[5] Ultimately, the developer announced anyone who purchases NBA Playgrounds on the Nintendo Switch prior to implementing the online feature will receive a complimentary copy of the upcoming beat 'em up title Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn as compensation for their continued patience, re-iterating the online feature is coming soon.[6] Online features finally arrived on the Nintendo Switch with the next update in the following month, which also added extra free content including 15 new NBA stars on all platforms.[7] Additional free content is expected later in the summer.[8]
Reception
| Reception | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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NBA Playgrounds received a largely mixed critical reception, earning a 6/10 from GameSpot[13] and a 7.4/10 from IGN.[14]
Nintendo Life gave the title a 7/10, praising the online and local multiplayer gameplay, but criticizing the slow pace of the single-player mode and poor odds of getting new player card packs, in spite of the fact the game is continually patched. They recommend the game on the Nintendo Switch only because it is the only basketball title available thus far for the platform at the time.[15]
By July 2017, the game sold 500,000 units across all platforms.[8]
References
- ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (April 6, 2017). "If you miss NBA Jam and NBA Street, take a look at NBA Playgrounds". The Verge. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
- 1 2 "Official NBA Playgrounds Forums". Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (May 4, 2017). "NBA Playgrounds Features Full Online Play on Switch, A Few Days After Launch". Nintendo Life. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
- ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (May 22, 2017). "There's Still No Date for the All-Important NBA Playgrounds Update on Switch eShop". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (May 27, 2017). "NBA Playgrounds Developer Promises a 'Huge Announcement' on 1st June". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (June 2, 2017). "NBA Playgrounds Switch Early Adopters to Get Free Copy of Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (July 10, 2017). "The Nintendo Switch Update for NBA Playgrounds is Now Live". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- 1 2 Vogel, Mitch (July 25, 2017). "More Free Content Is on the Way to NBA Playgrounds". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "NBA Playgrounds for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "NBA Playgrounds for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "NBA Playgrounds for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ "NBA Playgrounds for Nintendo Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- 1 2 Hester, Blake (May 11, 2017). "A shoot and a miss". GameSpot. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- 1 2 Becotte, Chase (May 9, 2017). "NBA Playgrounds Review". IGN. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- 1 2 Bowling, Steve (July 28, 2017). "Review: NBA Playgrounds". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 29, 2017.