Harlem Globetrotters turns the famous art of globetrotting into what is essentially a rhythm game, a surprisingly smart twist that seems to best accommodate the mobile platform. Unfortunately, the execution isn't as solid as the concept, and Globetrotters will meet neither your basketball nor your rhythm game needs.
The Harlem Globetrotters, one of the most famous sport franchises in the world, combine basketball and comedy into sport performances that usually involve the group decimating a lesser-qualified opponent with an arsenal of crazy moves you wouldn't see in a traditional basketball game. In this game, you play the part of a would-be Globetrotter trying to make the team. You use the four directional buttons to complete move combinations and rack up high scores. You're given an isometric view of the basketball court with your wannabe Globetrotter standing between the free throw and three-point lines, with four arrows on the ground around him. Small bubbles with similarly situated arrows will move toward those arrows on the ground, and the objective is to press the corresponding direction when the two arrows are aligned. This is very similar to the type of challenge presented in the Dance Dance Revolution games, although the necessary dexterity is required of your fingers instead of your feet. You'll get points for how accurately you match up the arrows, as well as bonuses for matching several arrows in a row.
During the challenge mode, currently enlisted Globetrotters will put you to the test with a series of six different point challenges before you can join their ranks. The difference between the levels is that the point requirement increases slightly between them and that the arrows move more frequently and quickly on the higher levels. However, the number of points you're awarded are increased for the higher levels, so they're not necessarily any more difficult than the beginning ones. As you correctly match up arrows, your character will execute fancy moves, until you've made six perfect matches. At that point, he'll run to the basket and dunk the ball. With both challenge and endurance modes, as well as the ability to upload worldwide high scores, there are a couple of different ways to get your globetrotting on.
The game's appearance is fairly good on the LG VX7000. The whole affair feels like it's steeped in the Globetrotters mythos, all the way down to the player likenesses that appear to taunt you or give you advice. The in-game sequences are a little less than spectacular, but since this is a rhythm game and not an actual basketball game, it's not too disruptive. The music, on the other hand, is not the cheerful refrain of "Sweet Georgia Brown." Instead, it's some scary bastardization that should be turned off immediately. The Globetrotters don't seem quite so spectacular without their classic refrain.
Unfortunately, when it boils down to it, Harlem Globetrotters' gameplay isn't nearly as interesting or entertaining as its subject material, even when the pace of the game picks up. It's too bad that Superscape couldn't have found more to do with its marriage of the license with the rhythm-game concept, which isn't a bad choice for mobile phones. Those seeking a mobile rhythm game should check out Taiko Drum Master instead. And even though Globetrotters is listed in the sports category of Verizon's Get It Now, mobile basketballers should move on down the line, too.
