NBA Jam 2004 E3 2003 Preshow Report

It's been nearly 10 years since the arcade debut of NBA Jam, the revolutionary basketball title that introduced an exaggerated, over-the-top style of basketball that had never been seen before. Numerous sequels were released in the years following, but few, if any, of them managed to attain the same level of fanfare that the original enjoyed. Now Acclaim is rolling out NBA Jam 2004, a completely redesigned update to the classic game that aims to bring the series back into the limelight.

Though NBA Jam 2004 has been designed from scratch, it will still implement many of the popular trademark features of the original, including high-flying dunks, on fire and big head modes, a lenient rule set that allows fouling, hotspots, and commentator Tim Kitzrow, the original voice of NBA Jam. The game will feature all 29 of the current NBA franchises, as well as a host of hidden old-school players and several surprise hidden characters. Rather than the original Jam's two-on-two style of gameplay, or the five-on-five style of later entries in the series, NBA Jam 2004 will feature a three-on-three game. Other new features being added to the series include an all new create-a-player mode, a Jam store, which will allow you to purchase attribute upgrades as well as other special items, exclusive DVD bonus footage, and the ability to journey through the NBA's past decades between the 1950s and the 1990s, with era-specific music, uniforms, hairstyles, commentary, and moves. NBA Jam 2004 will also feature a beefed-up graphical engine that boasts more than 700 new motion-captured animations, including real-life signature moves from current NBA superstars and legendary players.

NBA Jam 2004 is currently set for release in October 2003.