April 13, 2017 by Paul Curtin
Inspired by classic arcade basketball games like NBA Jam, Street, and Hangtime, developer Saber Interactive is bringing back the beloved 2-on-2 over-the-top concept with some modern updates.
NBA Playgrounds looks to play very similar to NBA Jam but with a player progression card-collecting system. In its first trailer, players such as John Wall and LeBron James are shown being unlocked by opening card packs with “Epic” and “Legendary” rarities assigned to them. Other NBA legends such as Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson are also teased as part of the 200 player roster.
Both singleplayer and online multiplayer modes will allow gamers to level up players and unlock new moves through the game’s progression system. With XP going towards leveling up being earned by a “lottery system” that rewards great plays with unique awards.
Gamers who grew up in an age of arcade sports games should be excited for NBA Playgrounds‘ launch this May for $19.99 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
