NBA The Run Review

In the early 2000s, there was one sports game that almost everyone had heard of: the NBA Street series. With its incredibly fast, stylish gameplay and simple controls, it was a title that nearly anyone could pick up and play, making it impossible not to be drawn to it. In short, it was "the" basketball series to play during its time, and after its final release in 2007, it left a gaping hole in the world of video games.

That hole has finally been filled. 

Though it is flying under a new banner, NBA The Run is the spiritual successor to NBA Street series, and it is now available for modern hardware. Developed by Play by Play, the title brings players back to the classic 3-versus-3 streetball gameplay, with a few of its own twists thrown in. Featuring both iconic NBA stars and streetball courts from around the world, NBA The Run aims to be the perfect return for longtime fans and a great jumping-in point for newcomers alike.

But the real question is, does it manage to capture the magic of the originals, or is it simply a shallow imitation? Well, that is honestly going to depend on what you are looking for.

Returning to the Courts:

As mentioned before, NBA The Run is in fact a game that is fully focused on 3v3 streetball. This means each team only has three players, and the matches themselves are actually extremely short. To begin, players are either put on the "shirts" or "skins" side of the court, the ball is placed in the middle, and after a short countdown, it is a race to be the first to grab it. Whichever team picks it up is the one that obviously starts with the ball, and now the goal is to get it through the other team's net to score points. Long shots are worth more points, while dunking is easier but not as worthwhile, and, depending on the ruleset, whatever team has the most points by the end wins. Of course, there are more technical rules that come into play as well, but basically anyone who is familiar with basketball at all should already have an understanding of how it is played. However, NBA The Run does take things a bit further.

The game itself actually has some randomness applied to its courts, which alters the game's rules and requirements. While one game might be the classic "21" style of play, the next go-around might impose the countdown rule, which limits how long you can hold onto the ball. This means players always need to adapt their strategy, with two rounds rarely ever being the same.

Controlling Your Player:

When it comes to actually playing the game and controlling your players, there are a variety of options available and a stamina system to manage.

As expected, all players have the ability to freely move anywhere on the court, pass the ball when needed, shoot when there is an opening, and dunk when in close range of the net. However, a wide range of offensive and defensive maneuvers also come into play and are essential if you want any hope of winning. Diving at the ball and possibly face-planting, jumping up in the air to block, and even attempting to hit the ball out of another player's hands are all viable options for retrieving it. Using any such move will drain your player's energy. Sprinting will also cause the bar to lower, meaning you should think wisely and consider your placement on the court before running. Meanwhile, those on the defensive can expend some of their stamina to protect the ball as well. In cases where two players are going head-to-head, it becomes a timing-based battle of both individuals using their stamina in an attempt to either hold onto or reclaim the ball, and this is where the true challenge comes in. 

You need to think fast, keep track of your teammates' positioning, and ultimately make the right call. Do you keep defending, or do you pass it? If you make the pass, will it be intercepted, or is it a better idea to simply take the shot? You don't have time to linger on such thoughts, especially considering how quickly these matches can end—we're talking five minutes at most here—and the wrong call can easily cost you the game.

Besides all of the standard control options, NBA The Run wouldn't be complete without its stylish moves, which in this case mostly have to be unlocked. Players are free to equip different styles for each basic action and can pull them off by holding specific button combinations. It takes a bit of time to actually learn and remember which combinations of trigger buttons will pull off what you are looking for, but as the hours go on, it does eventually become second nature. Sadly, it takes quite a bit of work to unlock such moves, but once you do, it allows you to show off just how much time you've invested into the game. In a way, it is similar to practicing in real life—you can't expect to pull off such feats the first time you step onto a court... right?

The Game Modes:

Unfortunately, this is what might lose a lot of players, and because of that, it is very important that everyone even considering NBA The Run knows what they are in for. While the gameplay is solid, and honestly easy to lose track of time playing, not everyone will like knowing this is an online-exclusive game without any campaign or single-player challenges to work through. Yes, you can play against AI, but the option is hidden behind the game's "Friend Match" mode, which is primarily meant for friends to form teams and play together.

That being said, the game modes are as follows:

KnockOut Squads -

KnockOut Squads is the main gameplay mode for NBA The Run, and it puts you on a team with two other players. In this mode, squads face off against others in a tournament-style format where losing will put an end to your run. The better you perform within each match, the more cash you are rewarded with in the end, and the faster your rank will increase. Becoming the champion will net you the most bang for your buck, but you are always making progress even if you lose right off the bat. This mode is fast and fun, and it is where the vast majority of players will likely spend their time, but it requires true teamwork—which can be difficult with the lack of communication options in the game. Thankfully, the title also supports crossplay between all platforms, so finding full squads to play with, or against, isn't a problem. At least at the time of this review.

KnockOut Solos -

KnockOut Solos is exactly the same as Squads, but with one key difference—you control the entire team. When in possession of the ball, that particular player will be the one under your direct control, and while on defense, you can simply toggle between all three with the press of a button. This is a pretty standard setup for sports titles that many will be familiar with, but in some ways, it can be a bit more difficult than simply having a full team of real humans. While the AI generally does a great job of positioning itself, it will still make dumb mistakes, and swapping between each player can be jarring if you are not completely focused—especially considering how fast-paced the game is.

KnockOut Friends -

As already mentioned, KnockOut Friends is the final game mode. This lets you invite and team up with up to 48 other players to organize your own tournaments, or even duke it out against the AI. While not a true offline mode, this is NBA The Run's "Free Play" option that lets you get away from the pressure of online play, or simply play the game how you want to. Many players might overlook this option if they do not have friends who own the game, but those curious about the third option might eventually discover its full utility.

Shooting Around -

Outside of the three main game modes, there is an additional practice mode. However, this is only useful for learning the basic controls; because it limits you to controlling a single player without opponents, you cannot use it to practice your offensive or defensive strategy. Hopefully, additional options will be added in the future, but at the time of this initial review, the mode is very barebones.

Customization and Progression:

The final aspect of NBA The Run comes from its customization and progression system. Players are freely able to choose from their favorite NBA players at the start of the game; however, not all content is available right from the get-go. A shop exists which contains additional players, outfits, dunks, taunts, badges, and banners to customize your profile, and specific ranks are required to purchase most of them. Once these unlockables have been bought, players can customize their roster and profile to suit their own style, but it will be a long journey to obtain it all. 

At launch, there are currently 50 ranks to advance through, with additional rewards at each milestone, but more are likely to come in the near future. Even then, it will likely take dozens or even over one hundred hours to reach the end as is, with progression being tied directly to how well you play and how many wins you have accrued. It is definitely a system that helps you feel like you are always making progress, but it will also be a grind. The best thing to do, however, is to forget about it and simply have fun with the game—don't let it become a chore.

Should you play it?

Before even considering purchasing NBA The Run, players need to ask themselves what they'd like to get out of it. If you're someone looking for a game that offers tons of single-player content and challenges to overcome, then this one might not be for you, as it contains none of that. This is a title that fully focuses on playing streetball against others online, with only the alternative option for AI-controlled opponents. It puts its fun gameplay front and center, which is where it completely excels. While it is a shame that there are not more game modes, there's no denying just how fun the game truly is to play, and it is pretty easy to lose track of time once you dive in. I can't even count how many times I told myself I would just play "one more game," only to then realize I had "lost" my entire day. That alone is a testament to how addictive these short-burst matches truly are, but that doesn't mean it'll magically click for everyone.

Putting aside my gripes due to the lack of game modes, there are a handful of other minor issues that one can't help but notice. While every match has an announcer commenting on the game, there is surprisingly a lack of musical tracks to go along with it. There are no licensed songs here either, so players expecting to hear their favorites play in the background will be disappointed—or will have to settle for using their own playlists. Additionally, the animations and movements can feel a bit off at times, coming off a bit more cartoony than intended. It doesn't impact the gameplay, however, as the game's fast pace is actually what contributes to the experience, with the game snapping players into place when needed. Also, while I did say players shouldn't worry about progression and simply enjoy the game, there is no denying that ranking up is slower than one would expect. Speed does depend on how well you do, but even with winning matches and being chosen as the MVP, it takes quite a bit of time.

Overall, NBA The Run is an extremely addicting return to 3v3 streetball. With its easy-to-use controls and stylish gameplay, it is a perfect title to just pick up and play when the mood catches you. It's a bit of a letdown that there are no true single-player offerings, but that is easy to forgive when you're having such a blast. 

VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided