NBA 06 Hands-On

Unlike SCEA Sports Studio's PlayStation 2 game of the same name, the PSP version of NBA 06 will not feature a plot-heavy story mode complete with shifting loyalties, on- and off-the-court drama, or dialogue aplenty. Instead, the developers of NBA 06 for the PSP are endeavoring to provide a basketball experience tailored to the handheld gamer--one that will provide pick-up-and-play excitement and solid basketball mechanics. We checked out a work-in-progress build of the PSP version of NBA 06 when the producers dropped by to show us what they've been working on since our last look at the game.

When NBA 06 launches in October, it will actually be the second basketball game for Sony's handheld from the development team in 2005. The first game, simply titled NBA, was released as a launch title back when the PSP was introduced. The development team has taken one of the best aspects of that game, the minigames, and expanded it for the next go-round. In addition to the returning minigames, such as the skill challenge and three-point contest, NBA 06 for the PSP will feature two new minigames. The first is horse, the classic hoops variation that will pit players against one another in a shot-for-shot contest. A small icon will be placed on the court to show you exactly where you will need to make your attempt from (assuming your opponent has already made his shot). By pressing the directional pad, you can choose one of a number of different shots--up for a banked shot, right for a hook shot, down for a jump shot, or left for a layup.

The second addition to the minigame list is less conventional to say the least--dodgeball. This is full-on four-on-four dodgeball, and you'll be able to play this schoolyard standard with any team in the NBA. Passing and throwing at opponents will be controlled using the X and circle buttons respectively. And yeah, you can even take aim at an opponent's head by pressing the square button. Both dodgeball and horse will be playable wirelessly, and all the minigames in NBA 06 for the PSP will feature a ladder system that will increase the difficulty as you progress up the ladder.

One of the best reasons for progressing up the minigame ladder will be unlocking some of the many trading cards found in the game. Thanks to a licensing agreement between Sony and Upper Deck, these won't just be generic cards to unlock and forget about--true card nuts will notice specific Upper Deck designs such as the Signature and Gold Signature editions. Unlocking cards won't be reserved for minigames, however; you'll also be able to unlock cards in the core five-on-five games in NBA 06 by pulling off special moves in-game. You'll be able to earn up to five cards per game but will be able to take only one of them with you to add to your collection once the game is over. As you progress further in the game (or move higher up the ladder), you can earn better cards, and considering you can trade cards with your PSP-owning buddies via ad hoc mode, you'll want to make sure your collection is tricked out as much as possible.

When it comes to gameplay on the court, two of the most obvious things we noticed in the game were a slight change to the color-coded shot system and the introduction of the speed burst button. Shooting in the PSP game operates via a "hold and release" system this time around, just like the PS2 version of the game. The speed burst, which defaults to a shoulder button, is especially noticeable when using speedy point guards such as Tony Parker or Steve Nash. The work done on animations in the PS2 game is paying off in the handheld version as well, as we noticed small touches like players squeezing in between players to avoid picks. The fact that the game runs at a surprisingly smooth 60 frames per second sure doesn't hurt either.

With multiplayer support in both ad hoc mode and infrastructure mode, NBA 06 for the PSP is looking to once again provide a blend of quick action and consistent challenge for hoops fans on the go. We look forward to spending some extended time with the game as we get closer to its October release, and we'll be sure to report our findings when we do.