Last week, we ran with a slightly modified version of the famous game debate in the movie Billy Madison, and sure enough, we had plenty of people telling each other that they sucked. While the debate was neck-and-neck at first, it didn't take too long for a clear winner to break free and advance into the next round of this three-week Sega Genesis/SNES odd debate series. Here are the results:
- Donkey Kong Country (56 votes) -- Winner!
- Mortal Kombat II (24 votes) -- Fatality!
This week we have an even more odd matchup in store for us, as we argue over a sidescrolling platformer and an exaggerated sports game. Both games were addictively famous in their day, each with a wall of unique pros and very few cons. Don't forget, the point of these odd debates is not to just vote hastily with your gut and state the obvious. It instead forces us to be more analytical and evaluate what we truly enjoyed or disliked about a game without realizing it at the time.
Looking back many years ago, which game do you think is better, and why? Give it some serious thought, get some SNES and Genesis friends to share their opinions as well, and check back next week for the winner, who will compete against Donkey Kong Country in the finals.
Bonus Questions: What was your favorite level in Aladdin? Who were your favorite players in NBA Jam?
Contest:
10:51 PM on 09.16.2008
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NBA Jam.
BONUS: Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. Kemp beats the shit out of everyone while Payton sinks every 3
I pick NBA Jam. It was fun being able to play as Bill Clinton.
I can't. I won't! I will answer the bonus questions, though.
Favorite Aladdin level: tie between magic carpet ride out of the collapsing cave with the Genie's lamp (Rug Ride) and the very next level, Inside the Lamp
Favorite NBA Jam players: I'm from New York, so I always picked the Knicks -- Patrick Ewing and John Starks were quite the deadly combo. Also, Bill Clinton
DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE!
DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE!
DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE!
(Waits in awkward silence for backup chanting)
The Genesis/SNES era was one of the few times in my long life of gaming that I was ever into sports games, and that's largely attributed to games like NBA Jam and NFL All Stars (94-96) doing such a damn good job in their genre, that ever since then it has always felt like every game has no choice but to mimic their gameplay, and usually ends up doing it worse.
NBA Jam was pure fun, so the only question is how Aladdin stacks up against it.
Aladdin is like the perfect movie-to-game conversion formula, and I attribute that entirely to the masterminds Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who helped write this movie, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. With perfect pacing, action, character development, and a memorable plot, they made Aladdin good enough to be tied with Lion King and Toy Story and Wall-E for being my favorite Disney films of all time. And in this scenario, a solid movie formula equates directly into a solid game formula.
So they both rocked, but which was better? NBA Jam defined the way in which to make and utilize in-game hidden cheat codes. Likewise, the Aladdin Mickey Mouse bra on the clothesline ears secret was just as memorable. However, Aladdin had varying levels, while NBA Jam did not. It was great to see the mood and color themes and gameplay styles all change drastically from one level to the next, as you hopped from wall stone to wall stone, to exploring vast caves to riding a carpet through lava storms. But on the flip side, Aladdin got to be a really really hard game, while NBA Jam was just the right balance of difficulty.
And just when I'm about to give my vote to Aladdin, I remember that obviously NBA Jam was multiplayer, and Aladdin was not. Hmmmm. i think I'm going to have to give this one to Aladdin, since turning a sport into a game isn't nearly as hard as turning a whole movie plot into a game. I miss the days of Mario 64 and Aladdin when platformers didn't even have a single level that was disliked (okay, okay, tic-toc clock should suck my cock, but still...), and Aladdin had much more meat to its bones, without a single bad taste left in my mouth. So while both are equally as enjoyable, I'm giving this one to Aladdin for being the bigger meal.
VOTE: Aladdin!
Also, I forget all the player names in NBA Jam, but I remember noticing that the Miami Heat had the best stats. One of the dudes had a massive specific stat, and decent other stats, while his partner has above average for all stats. Me and my best friend growing up used to win the game with them all the time.
NBA Jam for me easily.
DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE!
DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE!
DON'T MAKE US CHOOSE!
best players Will Smith and Dj Jazzy Jeff of course
Bonus Questions:
What was your favorite level in Aladdin? All of them. Except the one with the giant lava waves.
Who were your favorite players in NBA Jam? Gotta go with the Bad Boys, Isaiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer.
VOTE: NBA Jam!
Fave JAM character = Bill Clinton. Hell yes.
Fave Aladdin level = The first one... I played it the most XD But also the carpet ride level. As much of a pain as it was, it was also awesome.
But it helped...
That being said, NBA Jam for the win.
I like basketball, but seriously, Aladdin's a classic.
and my favorite child is nba jam. i still love you, aladin.
and my favorite child is nba jam. i still love you, aladdin.
Therefore I must go with NBA Jam. I used to play the crap out of it with my neighbor.
Bonus Question:
Who were your favorite players in NBA Jam?
I always liked the Super Sonics for some reason. I would pick the Jazz sometimes as well. Malone + Stockton ftw.
"NBA Jam, mainly because it has lead to a beer pong rule around these parts stating that if you get 2 shots in a row, you're "heating up", and 3 in a row means you're "ON FIRE!!!", meaning you shoot until you miss. Won many a game with that rule."
hahahahahaha, i lol'd. i hear yuh, man.
HE'S ON FIRE!!!
ok now really, enough said.
Bonus: Larry "GrandMaMa" Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets.
fav nba jam character? Clinton
Bonus Q: it'd have to be a toss up between the escape from forbidden cave lavel (with the boulders) and the carpet ride level straight after. it was so fucking intense, i loved it. the boulder closing in ever so quickly and to jump at the last second before falling into to lava, and surviving, gives me a rush i get to this day. music just perfected the suspense.
Weren't we just talking about how kickass Aladin was for the genesis 2 weeks ago when punchout got robbed?
Any way, I didn't take place in last weeks debate because I never really played mortal kombat (always thought street fighter was the better game). This week is similar, in that much like DKC I played an ungodly amount of aladin as a child (although never was able to beat the last level), and never really played NBA jam much due to my disdain for most sports games. Regardless, I'm going to try and come at this in a strictly analytical way instead of what game I enjoyed most as a child (as it seems many do on these debates unfortunately...). I really wan't to give this to Aladin, but I think as a complete package NBA Jam really just runs away with it.
Aladin was a great game that actually did the movie justice, having great visuals for the time, good gameplay, and music from the movie. But since I have owned it, I have never once beaten the game, the last few levels are brutal.If you don't believe me fire it up and cheat to the end. This combined with the low replay factor is what in my opinion really give it to NBA Jam. Between all the hidden characters, basic stat tracking, and a multiplayer mode, NBA jam just offers more fun to be had overall. Aladin may provide a superior single player experience, but NBA Jam delivers the goods when we compare the amount of time you can enjoyably sink into the two titles. So despite my general apathy towards most sports games, I think I would much rather play NBA Jam with a good friend on the genesis then Aladin by myself.
I gotta say that not many American sports games really make a dent in the UK market but NBA Jam? NBA Jam!!?? Man, everybody loved that game....
favourite character? Mmm, LA Lakers. I used to love them and have a cap of theirs (even though I never watched the sport) because I loved the purple and yellow thing they had going. Magic Johnson was the man on that game (he's the only guy I knew). Also, Larry Bird. There is some kind of Irish connection in there.
Gotta be Aladdin though. Just. Mainly because of the swinging thing that Prince Of Persia and many others have used over the years. favourite character? That monkey and Jasmine.... Jasmine hot. I just remember apples, apples n more apples.
Vote: Aladdin.
My favorite level: the one where you're in the Genie's Lamp. That shit be trippin'.
nba jam it is.
Aladdin was a good game though, but it doesn't beat Jam!
ill have to go with NBA Jam simply because I didn't like the Genesis version of Aladdin, but the SNES version was amazing...
NBA Jam just got more playtime.... barely...
Bonus:
Aladdin - magic carpet ride was intense
NBA Jam - *announcer voice* "The Chicago Bulls wiiiinnnn the game!!!"
can't use billy clint in aladdin.
nba jam ftw.
boomshakalaka!
bonus: al gore and bill clinton. occasionally Mark Turmell.