Reviews

GBA Championship Basketball: Two-On-Two

James Trunzo

Requirements: Apple IIgs (reviewed here), 512K required; Commodore 64; Amiga; Atari ST; Apple II; IBM PC, XT, AT, and true compatibles with 256K and CGA card.

Remember the way One-on-One burst onto the scene when Electronic Arts released its basketball arcade simulation, featuring Larry Bird and Julius Erving? Even today, years after its release, One-on-One remains a popular diversion and graphic pleasure. Activision's newest release doubles the pleasure and the fun by adding one (player, that is) to each side and getting GBA Championship Basketball: Two-on-Two.

Two-on-Two is a delightful game whether you're playing or just watching. It can be played with either keyboard or joystick and can be played in any number of ways: one player against the computer, two players against a computer team, or two players against each other. Additionally, the game allows the player to practice (and engage in delightful games of Around the World and Horse), play an exhibition game, or start a full season by competing in a 24-team, four-division tournament that climaxes with the GBA Championship game.

How Good Are You?

After making initial choices from the graphic chalkboard that serves as a menu, players create their on-court persona by adjusting their ratings on the Scouting Report screen. Here, qualities are grouped in sets of two, and you can allot eight points to each pair: inside and outside shooting, dribbling and quickness, and stealing and jumping. If you set your inside shooting ability at 5, then your outside shot must be set at 3. These initial ratings determine the type of player you are on the court.

One other choice is made at the Scouting Report screen, that being the race of your player. Incidentally, the fact that you can vary your player type brings with it a tremendous variety in game play. In one game, you can be the slick, ball-hawking guard with the great outside shot; in another game, you can be the strong rebounding front-court man with a deadly short hook and slam dunk.

Magic Or Larry?

After selecting your own qualities, your next major choice is that of a partner with whom to play. Ten superstar teammates are available, and all ten are patterned after famous NBA players. For example, select Kareem Ugrin, and you get a partner with a great inside shot who can also hit the boards. Select Oscar Dunbar, and your partner will score inside and out and pass brilliantly but seldom be a force under the boards. Then there's Larry Berg, Magic Lyndon, and others to provide you with more enjoyment and variety.

But choosing a teammate isn't to be taken lightly; he should complement the type of player you've created for yourself. For example, if you're strong on the boards with a good inside shot, you might pick a partner who can score from the outside and play strong defense.

The Tip-Off

The real fun begins when the roar of the crowd goes up, the buzzer sounds to begin the game, and the dribbling of the ball echoes throughout the arena.

Offensively, you can choose from one of five play patterns; defensively, you can set up in one of four different ways. Select your play and be on your toes because this is as close as you can get to the intensity of two-on-two basketball without sweating.

The animation is superb. Players and their moves are sharply defined, and there is no problem discerning when a player is making his move. Be quick though. Your opponent can anticipate your passes and pick them off or time your jump and block your shot. All the nuances of basketball are faithfully reproduced in Two-on-Two. You must position yourself for rebounds, time the release of your shots, and pass quickly to the open player if you expect to compete with the computer.