Freestyle Street Basketball (PC) Preview
Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 08.25.2006
An online street basketball and MMORPG hybird? I am so there!
Freestyle Street Basketball looks to be one of the most innovative online titles out there. Part MMORPG and part basketball game, this unique looking title is sure to catch a lot of attention once it comes out.
Freestyle Street Basketball was originally released in Korea and is just being ported over to the US by Sierra Entertainment. Sierra will have the game available for purchase in stores and trough digital download distribution in the first quarter of next year.
Very unique look indeed
But what exactly is the game like? The cel-shaded graphics and simple environments mean that you wont need a super PC to run this game at optimal performance. Sierra hopes to turn FSB into the ultimate casual game, complete with simple controls that use the arrow keys and four other keyboard buttons to control your character. That's right, shots, blocks and ankle-breaking moves are a button away!
You begin by creating a virtual streetballer and from there on, you play like in any other online RPG game. By winning games and according to your performance, you will level up and gain points to increase your statistics and money to buy items like shoes and clothing, that work like armor and weapons do in an MMORPG. You can get stat bonuses out of them, like +2 speed or +2 ball handling. The dedicated matchmaker will make sure that you get a competitive game of basketball by finding players with similar levels to yours. If you want, you can actually play someone way above you and get gargantuan stat increases if you manage to win the game. Also some items are level specific to stop a newbie from borrowing his friend's items and schooling the other noobs.
Man I am slow...maybe I just need to buy those +2 Speed sneakers...
Like I said, the game is very simple to pick up and play, but like all good MMORPG's, it has a ton of depth. Moving without the ball is important to get good baskets and so is a good shot selection and plenty of teamwork. Since the game plays 2 on 2 and 3 on 3 matches, teamwork is essential.
A game that looks and plays way different than anything out there and with an unique look to boot, Freestyle Street Basketball looks like it has awesome potential and could become the new king of the virtual blacktop when it is released in early 2007.
