Yao Ming is about to take to the courts for some two-on-two basketball. There's only one problem: He's horribly drunk. The Asian Sensation moves at a lethargic pace; thrown off-balance by his alcoholic haze, he smashes the backboard on every dunk, causing game delays. At least the game makes a terrifying "bleep" noise when the backboard is shattered to bits.
If you've played Sorrent's Fox Sports Basketball, you already know what mediocrity is in store for you. Yao packs the same engine and the same "high frills, no thrills" philosophy. Yao performs a no-look, turnaround J on virtually every shot, and his face is nearly photo-realistic. However, the game's horribly jerky control and simplistic gameplay make it an inferior sports experience.
In Yao Ming Basketball, you can play "with Yao" (and a partner) or "against Yao" (again, with a partner). Absent is the online support that Sorrent has been touting of late. When you have possession, you can choose to pass the ball, move slowly to the right or left, shoot, or pump fake. If you successfully pass the ball, your viewpoint will be advanced to your partner's position on the court. This game design choice seems to be Sorrent's trademark, present in almost all of its sports games. While it might make sense for football, this multitiered approach is redundant and disruptive in a basketball setting.
Unless simply having Yao on your phone is enough to satisfy you, avoid this game. Its engine was mediocre a year ago, and the jerky, uneven gameplay is even less impressive today.
