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GBA Championship Basketball Two On Two |
Copyright/Publisher: Gamestar/Activision, Music By: Tommy Dunbar,
Release Year: 1986,
Genre: Basketball, Number Of Players: 1 or 2
Two on Two is the third basketball simulation to appear on the 64. Up to two players can play with
or against each other, or one player can play againt a computer team. Each team has two members, one
computer controlled and the other directly under the control of the player. If one player is
playing then the opposing team is completely computer controlled.
before a game can begin the players must go through a series of options. The first option gives
you the choice between havinh a game or practising shooting and dribbling. Then, the number of
players is decided and whether the game is a league or exhibition match. With that sorted out
the program asks you to input the names of the teams and 'manager' (the player) and which league
they come form (North, South, East or West).
Once the teams are chosen six elements of play, such as jumping and dribbling, are shown and the
player is asked to donate points to each element (from a pool of twenty four). It's up to the
player to sort out which is best, only practise will tell. Your team-mate can be chosen from a
list of then; each player on the list has a different characteristic, so it's a case of working
out which player is most suited to your playing style.
The game is played over four six minutes quarters on two 3D flick screens, each with a view
of one team's basket. When one screen is in operation the other remains inaccessible to any team
member until the attack fails or a basket is scored. When this happens all the players are put
under computer control and run to the opposite end of the pitch.
Your player runs around bouncing the ball directly under control of the joystick. When you
want him to shoot for goal keep your finger on the fire button and then let go when he has
jumped into the air. Passing is achieved by pressing the fire button twice very rapdily. Getting
the computer player to behave just how you want him to is another kettle of fish.
After an attack, whether it has been successful or not, you have the opportunity to select
which pattern of play the computer player will follow. If you are attacking perhaps you would
like him to run straight for the basket, or you might want him to hang back so you can make a
break for yourself. The same principle applies when you're defending and four different play
patterns are made available to both computer players.
The game continues over the four quarters until the final whistle blows, whereupon the winning
team is printed up on screen for all to see.
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Julian Rignall |
This would have been a good game if it wasn't for some annoying aspects. Sometimes the computer
player behaves irrationally, lobbing the ball back to you when you're in an awkward position, and
then there's the annoyance of lots of disk accessing. The game itself is fun, but doesn't stand
up well when compared next to something like International Basketball. Two on Two Basketball
is good, but vastly overpriced for what it offers.
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R.E. |
This is the sort of game I like to play after a hard day of zapping aliens and saving the
universe in general. Nice relaxing sound effects, smooth graphics, soothing use of colour - in
all it's rather jolly. It's a pity it is only on disk, because as it stands at the moment, what
with the price 'n' all, there won't be such a great market for it.
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Gary Penn |
This is a very playable basketball game and being able to play with a friend on the same
team is a superb idea which works well in practice - although it does lead to a few arguments
when a mistale is made! However, there is one big problem with Two on Two Basketball and that
is it wouldn't work at all on cassette, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to disk drive
owners as it isn't a very good example of a disk only game. If Two on Two was a single load
cassette game costing less then it would be worthy of attention. Why Activision are bothering
to release such a weak disk only game to a minority of buyers, but as it was such a strong disk
only product (which could not have been produced on cassette) it was - as far as I can see -
worthwhile. Two on Two Basketball, however, is not
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