“Boom-shaka-laka!” Ankle breaking cross-over’s, stomach turning windmill dunks, over the top high flying aerobatics, these are the sights and sounds that we remember from our childhood as we put the “The Monster Jam!” down on our friends in NBA Jam for the Super Nintendo. For years NBA Jam fans have been begging for another opportunity to dunk in the faces of their friends and EA has obliged with NBA Jam for the Wii.

Going into E3 2010, with Zelda, 3DS, and Sonic aside, I was most excited to get my hands on NBA Jam for the Wii. For those of you who have been following the site for a while you may of noticed I am a huge sports fan. I love to watch and play almost any sport, video game or in real life; Madden, NBA Live, FIFA, NHL, MLB, even the over the top sports games like Blitz and of course NBA Jam. I will be up-front with you, NBA Jam does not disappoint. All the high flying over the type aerobatics are back alongside the pushing, shoving, and mighty blocks that all NBA Jam fans have grown up loving.

If you have never played NBA Jam before, skip this next paragraph, I am going to speak straight to the fans of old. For you new fans, all you need to know is this game is “On Fire” with its over the top fun. (Ok that was the last NBA Jam quote I’m going to throw in.) All right NBA Jam fans; NBA Jam Wii has all the pieces that we loved about NBA Jam of old. You already know about the dunks and crossover’s and sick behind the back passes, but your wondering how does it compare? Speaking from a man who logged many hours on the NBA Jam of old, it feels exactly the same, of course with updated graphics and Wii-mote controls. The thing that impressed me most was the physics of the bodies when they collided. When Raja Rondo runs into the Big Diesel, Shaq, you actually see Ronda take a few steps back. This is something that was lacking in the older version, (because lack of power) but adds a lot to this updated version of NBA Jam.

NBA Jam is a simple and fun way to spend the afternoon schooling your older brother, who always kicked your but in basketball in real life, or impressing your girlfriends with your teamwork (ok that is only a dream). NBA Jam has those playmaking, skill driven plays of old that separates the men from the boys. No, NBA Jam is not a hard game but you old Jammers understand where I am coming from with the level of skill and strategic planning that went into every play and pass that you made. Never fear new comers, the game is easy to pick up and play. Move the joystick around to move your player, press the A button to pass and swing the Wii-mote up and down to dunk and shoot. There are some more advance moves; crossover’s, spins, steals, shoves but I will save that for you to figure out.