Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

  • Summary: NBA JAM: On Fire Edition will feature exciting new gameplay enhancements, including ground-breaking artificial intelligence that will change the way gamers play NBA JAM.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Dec 8, 2011
    90
    It's so enjoyable that we'd be hard pressed to recommend a better casual sports game for just about anyone. [Issue#79, p.103]
  2. Nov 7, 2011
    86
    An arcade retro basketball game with dynamic AI, an intense 2 on 2 gameplay and players from the past. I love it.
  3. Oct 16, 2011
    85
    I expected some goofy fun from NBA Jam: OFE and got a thoroughly well-developed, competitive game that's both faithful to the Jam legacy and has legs to last.
  4. Nov 22, 2011
    85
    NBA Jam: OFE is so much better than it's predecessor. Seeing how well this game is constructed, we don't even know why the first game was ever launched. This game is pure fun, especially with friends. A great substitute for when there's no basketball on TV.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. 10
    This game is just what I remember from the good old sega genesis days. The good old fun with even more great stuff. And at the right price. The over the top basketball experience with even more crazy frazes from Boom shaka laka guy. Expand
  2. This is everything I want out of a quirky, arcade-style basketball game and more. Setting the bar last year with their first release of an NBA Jam game in almost 15 years, the team at EA score big with this new update from last year's already solid title. Tim Kitzrow is back to make me laugh so hard at his commentary I have to occasionally stop and pause the game until I recover from laughing at his one-liners. Also returning, as the title suggests, are the most recent NBA rosters and players from today and from years past, returning as "Legends", who will play with a slew of wacky unlockable teams that are sure to keep you busy well until the NBA season will end (despite the lingering blackout...). New this year are improved graphics, with smoother animations and even sweeter visual effects (being on fire, new trick & dunk moves) that blow last year out of the water. Also updated are a few game changers: on top of being "on fire" by scoring 3 baskets in a row, Team Fire now sets you and your teammate "on fire" when you successfully complete 3 alley-oops in a row without letting the opposing team score. There's now also "Razzle Dazzle" moves implemented in the game, which take trick moves, shots and shoves and add a little flare to them in-game, such as rolling the ball on your shoulders or shooting the ball granny-style (which is absolutely gut-busting seeing for the first time). Campaign has now been renamed and redone, being named "Road Trip", in which you must beat each team in the NBA, with Bronze, Silver and Gold medals to win for each team depending on how many times you play that team. Being able to choose a team that fits your needs for each game you play is a step in a good direction from last year, which only allowed you to play as one team for every franchise file you saved, which tended to get boring. The last major addition is Jam Central, which contains a store to buy players and customizations for your game card, challenges to help you level up and use points in the store, and friend leaderboards. There are so many ways to level up in this game, it'll be hard to be stuck not knowing how to level up next.
    Feeling like you're a part of the player with and without the ball in a basketball game is essential, and it seems as though EA has learned a thing or two from last year. Despite the AI still being a bit on the soft side for more hardcore fans, there's plenty here to go around for everyone. For those who love being able to play basketball, but aren't interested in the learning curve that NBA 2K12 may have on new players, NBA Jam OFE has one of those "easy to learn, hard to master" attributes, which appeal to newcomers and experts alike, and for $15 on PSN and Xbox Live alike, the price is a hell of a lot better than what it was at a year ago, and so much more has been put in this year. If you liked the experience last year with NBA Jam, you owe it to yourself to at least try OFE as a trial, but if you're like me, you won't need to even try it. This is an impulse buy, and a needed one at that for a much more reasonable price.
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  3. There wasn't a time during this game when playing co-op online with my cousin that we didn't have fun (We played as the utah jazz bear and I was rumble the bison from the OKC thunder.) this is one of those silly arcade sports games that most of us love, they're no rule fun and anarchy that make us laugh and bring us back to a time when everything wasn't about shooting someone in the face or sitting in a box because you tripped someone (NHL).

    If you're looking for a game with a lot of content built in or just a game to keep you and your kids entertained you can't go wrong with this game, it's easy to pick up and there's lots of unlockables.

    OR if you're in a rush they have a "Cheat" pack on the marketplace that gives you almost everything plus some in game money but don't get it the wrong way it doesn't unlock everything it just gives you a lot of cool stuff right off the bat.
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  4. I played NBA Hangtime back in the day, which was basically Jam, but more in depth and I'm loving this game. It's super fun just like it used to be, but man, someone of the world mode challenges are hard. Like the dunking game vs Shaq and Howard. This game is a 9 for what it is. Simple and fun Expand

See all 6 User Reviews