NBA Jam

From Sega Retro

n/a

NBAJam title.png

NBA Jam
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega CD, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Arena (US/EU), Acclaim (JP)
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS
Genre: Sports

















Number of players: 1-2/1-4
Release Date RRP Code

NBA Jam (ＮＢＡ ジャム) is the first in a series of basketball games which carry the NBA license. Unlike the later NBA Live or NBA 2K series, the NBA Jam series is known for being more "arcade style", with faster gameplay and fewer players on screen, along with highly exaggerated dunks. The first game was released in 1993 in arcades and then ported (among other consoles) to the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear and Sega Mega CD. A Sega Master System version was also planned at one stage, but was cancelled.

Later, a sequel to NBA Jam named NBA Jam Tournament Edition was released on Sega consoles.

Gameplay

The game puts two players per team on the basketball court. There are no fouls and most restrictive rules are not used with the exception of goal tending, which is not allowed, and the shot clock. Three buttons are used and their use varies depending on if on offense or defense. One button will activate turbo, another will shoot/dunk when on offense or block on defense, another will pass on offense or steal/shove on defense. Making three shots in a row leads to the player being "on fire" which gives the player unlimited turbo, no goaltending, and increase shooting ability.

Unlike later games it is not possible to swap players at halftime.

Physical Scans

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
85 №30, p110/111
89 №29, p72/73
89 №17, p60/61/62
91 №52, p34/35
91 №30, p44/45
Sega Mega Drive
 89
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[1]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
84
[2]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
91
[3]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
65
[4]
Console Mania (IT) PAL
94
[5]
Consoles + (FR)
85
[6]
Cool Gamer (RU)
40
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
89
[8]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
90
[9]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
97
[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
76
[11]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[12]
Freak (IL)
93
[13]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[14]
Gamers (DE)
87
[15]
GamesMaster (UK)
92
[16]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[17]
Hyper (AU)
95
[18]
Joker (SI)
91
[19]
Joypad (FR) PAL
89
[20]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
81
[21]
Mega (UK) PAL
91
[22]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
82
[23]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
85
[24]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
80
[25]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
94
[26]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
86
[27]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
89
[28]
Player One (FR)
95
[29]
Play Time (DE)
91
[30]
Power Unlimited (NL)
95
[31]
Secret Service (PL)
85
[32]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
94
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[34]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
91
[35]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
90
[36]
Svet Kompjutera (YU)
81
[37]
Sega Opisaniy i sekretov (RU)
65
[38]
Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video! (FR)
95
[39]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
81
[40]
Todo Sega (ES)
90
[41]
Tricks (RU)
81
[42]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
91
[43]
Video Games (DE) PAL
83
[44]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[45]
Sega Mega Drive
 84
Based on
45 reviews

NBA Jam

Mega Drive, US
NBAJam MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Nbajam md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
NBAJam MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, JP
NBAJam MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU (Sega Sport)
NBAJam MD AU Box SegaSport.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR

Mega Drive, SE (rental)
NBAJam MD SE Box Rental.jpg
Cover

Mega CD Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
87 №62, p82
86 №38, p48/49
Sega Mega-CD
 87
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
87
[46]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
93
[47]
Gamers (DE) PAL
87
[48]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
85
[49]
Mega (UK) PAL
80
[50]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
85
[51]
Mega Fun (DE)
85
[52]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
84
[53]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[54]
Player One (FR)
80
[55]
Play Time (DE) PAL
85
[56]
Sega Power (UK)
87
[57]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
86
[58]
Sega Pro (UK)
86
[59]
Video Games (DE) PAL
83
[60]
VideoGames (US)
80
[61]
Sega Mega-CD
 83
Based on
16 reviews

NBA Jam

Mega CD, US
NBAJam MCD US Box Back.jpgNBAJam MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
NBAJam MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega CD, EU
NBAJam MCD EU Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngNBAJam MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Mega CD, JP
NBAJam MCD JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngNBAJam MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
NBAJam MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc

Game Gear Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
81 №30, p118
84 №29, p74
76 №18, p84/85
89 №52, p60/61
88 №31, p68/69
Sega Game Gear
 84
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
53
[62]
Consoles + (FR) PAL
81
[63]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
82
[64]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
87
[9]
Digitiser (UK)
89
[65]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[66]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
75
[67]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[68]
Joypad (FR) PAL
84
[69]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
77
[70]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
81
[71]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
76
[72]
Player One (FR) PAL
75
[73]
Play Time (DE)
82
[30]
Power Unlimited (NL)
95
[74]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
89
[75]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[76]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
85
[77]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
66
[78]
Todo Sega (ES) PAL
82
[79]
Video Games (DE) PAL
84
[80]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[45]
Sega Game Gear
 79
Based on
22 reviews

NBA Jam

Game Gear, US
NBAJam GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, EU
NBAJam GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, JP
NBAJam GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover



NBA Jam and related games for Sega systems
Arch Rivals (1992) | NBA Jam (1994) | NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1994) | College Slam (1996) | NBA Hang Time (1996) | NBA Jam Extreme (1996) | NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC (1999) | NBA Hoopz (2001)
  1. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 150
  2. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 27
  3. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73
  4. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1994" (JP; 1994-04-08), page 18
  5. ↑ Console Mania, "Febbraio 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 90
  6. ↑ Consoles +, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 110
  7. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 146
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-15), page 76
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Computer & Video Games, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 112
  10. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "February 1994" (US; 1994-01-20), page 90
  11. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 38
  12. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 345
  13. ↑ Freak, "3/94" (IL; 1994-xx-xx), page 1
  14. ↑ GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  15. ↑ Gamers, "Mai/Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-06), page 36
  16. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 3, episode 22" (1994-02-01, 24:00) (+8:16)
  17. ↑ Hippon Super, "May 1994" (JP; 1994-04-03), page 52
  18. ↑ Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 30
  19. ↑ Joker, "Junij 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 24
  20. ↑ Joypad, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 72
  21. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-xx-xx), page 56
  22. ↑ Mega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 20
  23. ↑ Mega Action, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 20
  24. ↑ Mega Fun, "04/94" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 108
  25. ↑ Mega Play, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 49
  26. ↑ Mega Power, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 60
  27. ↑ MegaTech, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-20), page 24
  28. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 60
  29. ↑ Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 48
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Play Time, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-06), page 132
  31. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 2, Februari 1994" (NL; 1994-01-26), page 52
  32. ↑ Secret Service, "Styczeń 1996" (PL; 1996-01-xx), page 28
  33. ↑ Sega Magazine, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-15), page 94
  34. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-03), page 34
  35. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 44
  36. ↑ Sega Zone, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-27), page 32
  37. ↑ Svet Kompjutera, "Mart 1996" (YU; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
  38. ↑ Sega Opisaniy i sekretov, "14000 Opisaniy i sekretov" (RU; 2003-03-11), page 126
  39. ↑ Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video!, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-05-16), page 36
  40. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  41. ↑ Todo Sega, "Marzo 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 46
  42. ↑ Tricks, "4/95" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 30
  43. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 126
  44. ↑ Video Games, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-27), page 94
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 58
  46. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 1 January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 80
  47. ↑ GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 64
  48. ↑ Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 52
  49. ↑ MAN!AC, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 60
  50. ↑ Mega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-30), page 60
  51. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 78
  52. ↑ Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 40
  53. ↑ Mega Power, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 24
  54. ↑ Next Generation, "February 1995" (US; 1995-01-24), page 99
  55. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1995" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 118
  56. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 107
  57. ↑ Sega Power, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-17), page 82
  58. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-06), page 48
  59. ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-08), page 48
  60. ↑ Video Games, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-18), page 98
  61. ↑ VideoGames, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
  62. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1994" (JP; 1994-04-08), page 21
  63. ↑ Consoles +, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 118
  64. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-15), page 80
  65. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-02-03)
  66. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  67. ↑ GamePro, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 41
  68. ↑ Hippon Super, "May 1994" (JP; 1994-04-03), page 51
  69. ↑ Joypad, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 74
  70. ↑ Mega Fun, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-20), page 117
  71. ↑ Mega Play, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 48
  72. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-02-28), page 84
  73. ↑ Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 109
  74. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 5, Mei 1994" (NL; 1994-04-27), page 49
  75. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-03), page 60
  76. ↑ Sega Pro, "Easter 1994" (UK; 1994-03-24), page 68
  77. ↑ Sega Zone, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 64
  78. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
  79. ↑ Todo Sega, "Mayo 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 50
  80. ↑ Video Games, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-27), page 112
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