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Classic Street with hi-def looks – Metro US

Classic Street with hi-def looks

Take on the best in NBA Street Homecourt’s head-to-head, old-school street ball action.

NBA Street Homecourt

Publisher: EA Sports Big

Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Rating: E — Everyone

Game type: Sports

**** 1/2 (out of 5)

• What’s the premise?

Oh baby, it’s time to get your tricks on and take it to the rack against the NBA’s best in some old-school street ball. Go three-on-three with your favourite team or mix it up with hometown trios from hoops hotbeds like Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore.

• This game is most similar to…?

This one’s classic Street, but with hi-def looks.

• Can I let my kid/kid brother play it?

Sure, as long as he can handle getting schooled by the master.

• One player or more?

The Street franchise continues to be the pinnacle of trash talking head-to-head action.

• The (not-so) secret to success is…?

There’s winning and there’s winning with style. If you want to shoot the outside ‘J’ all day then stick to the YMCA. In Street ball it’s all about looking good, so try out some multi-button combos and see what happens.

• What’s missing?

Only four players per team seems fine, but there are a few teams, the Phoenix Suns for example, where it’d be nice to have more choices.

• And in the end?

It’s about time this sweet hoops franchise came to the next-gen systems, and it was totally worth the wait.

Motorstorm

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Rating: T — Teen

Game type: Racing

****

• What’s the premise?

Welcome to Monument Valley, home to the annual Motorstorm racing festival. Your task is not just to win, but to survive both the deadly environment and the hostile competitors as you roar around the courses on smoking-hot vehicles like ATVs, motorcycles, pickup trucks, big rigs and more.

• This game is most similar to…?

ATV Off-Road Fury blended with Twisted Metal.

• Can I let my kid/kid brother play it?

The violent part of the game could dissuade some parents from letting their little ones from getting into it, but it’s not so bad I’d take it to that extreme.

• One player or more?

The most glaring omission from what is otherwise a spectacular game is the lack of a split-screen multiplayer mode. You can go online and take on 11 other racers. .

• The (not-so) secret to success is…?

One of the sexiest features of Motorstorm is the crashes — but try not to fall in love with them. The super-slow-mo destruction of your ride as you go hurdling through the air looks fantastic, but can break up your rhythm when you’re gunning for top spot.

• What’s missing?

Only the split-screen mode.

• And in the end?

Only Resistance: Fall Of Man is more of a must-have for PlayStation 3 owners than Motorstorm.

jonathan.kuehlein@metronews.ca