Play NBA Showtime - NBA on NBC Online

Summary

NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC takes the arcade feel of the classic Jam series and pushes it into a fully 3‑D world. The game runs on Midway’s Vegas hardware, cranking out a million polygons per second at a smooth 60 fps, which lets the player models and real‑team uniforms look surprisingly crisp for a 1999 title. The on‑fire mechanic returns, but now a hot streak also grants you the ability to goaltend without penalty and shove opponents without racking up fouls – a twist that feels fresh when you’re juggling the new personal‑foul system.

You pick any two starters from a team’s roster for each half, keeping the classic 2‑on‑2 action that made the series a staple in the arcade. Hidden gems pepper the line‑up: the Universal Monsters like Frankenstein’s monster and the Wolf Man (arcade‑only), a handful of Midway staff, twelve NBA mascots, and legends such as Isiah Thomas and, in later revisions, Dennis Rodman. Even Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal finally make the roster, clearing a licensing snag that haunted earlier Jam entries.

The soundscape blends Tim Kitzrow’s iconic announcing with a soundtrack that nods to late‑90s hip‑hop – think “California Love” vibes – while still honoring John Tesh’s “Roundball Rock.” The PlayStation port landed with mixed reviews, earning a modest 3/5 from Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, but the arcade version remains a nostalgic showcase of NBA flair wrapped in NBC’s broadcast style.