| 84 |
Next Level Gaming
The one thing that brings the game down in score is the still lanky graphics engine.
|
| 80 |
Game Informer
While a perennnial bronze medal winner on PS2, this year's ShootOut has officially got game. [Dec 2003, p.150]
|
| 75 |
Play Magazine
The one area that has improved tenfold is the visuals. Running at a smooth 60 fps, the players and arenas never looked better. [Nov 2003, p.104]
|
| 74 |
Operation Sports
For those looking for a basketball game with a deep career mode, sim-like gameplay, and online play, Shootout 2004 would be a good choice. One thing’s for sure; the positives outweigh the negatives in this game.
|
| 72 |
GameZone
Voice recognition, individual career mode, and create a dunk put NBA Shootout on the right path. Improving the player and referee AI will take the journey further.
|
| 70 |
Armchair Empire
989 Sports keeps improving their franchise each year, but unfortunately it’s too little to catch up to the competition.
|
| 69 |
IGN
Granted, ShootOut has plenty of entertainment for gamers faithful enough to stick with the franchise for another year, but when placed against a PS2 sports division that keeps the type of company that it does, it just doesn't hold up in the long run.
|
| 61 |
Gamers' Temple
Doesn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs. If you want a real champion head over to Sega or EA.
|
| 60 |
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Subject to much refinement, and while it still can't compete with the competition, 989 Sports has created a surprisingly solid all-around basketball game. [Dec 2003, p.183]
|
| 60 |
PSM Magazine
Better, but it still can't compete with "NBA Live" and "ESPN Basketball." [Holiday 2003, p.44]
|
| 60 |
GMR Magazine
Like its football counterpart, ShootOut simply doesn't compete against the might of "NBA Live" or "ESPN Basketball." [Jan 2004, p.82]
|
| 60 |
GameSpy
May have the most interesting lineup of bonus features of all the video b-ball releases, but its sub-par gameplay keeps it from hanging on the same court as EA Sports' or Sega's game.
|
| 58 |
GamingWorld X
Unless you’re someone looking for a great online infrastructure, there isn’t anything that allows me to say you have to play this game. People like to build a team and watch them flourish, but with Shootout 2004, you can’t do that.
|
| 50 |
Gaming Age
It easily hold ground with EA and Sega, but offering the same options, with dated looks and sounds may turn off most fickle gamer.
|
| 45 |
Gamezilla!
Although the online features may give some reason to standout, the gameplay and graphics fall flat keeping it from once again putting any heat on its competitors.
|
| 43 |
GameSpot
A host of problems can be found in almost all facets of the game, so there simply aren't any good reasons to buy it, especially with better alternatives already available.
|
| 42 |
Game Revolution
The one area in which Shootout actually trumps the others is online play. 989 has built a robust, efficient online matching and stat-tracking system, making it easy to find other ballers and get a match up and running. The stat-tracking and ease of setting up tournaments are impressive.
|
| 40 |
G4 TV
It looks fairly good, but it doesn't play nearly as well as "NBA Live 2004" or "ESPN NBA Basketball."
|
| 30 |
Cheat Code Central
I had to look twice to see if perhaps this copy of the game was actually a PSX game accidentally packaged in a PS2 wrapper. Frankly, this game plays so poorly I'm surprised that it's not on a cartridge.
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