NBA Jam 2004 returns!

Acclaim has trumpeted the latest addition to the NBA Jam series at a press event in the US. The word for stat aficionados is that there'll be more than 300 players and all 29 current NBA sides. In addition to the current playing staff, NBA Jam 2004 will also include 60 of the sport's greats in a special "legends tournament". Playing through said tourney unlocks each NBA legend for use in the rest of the game.

But bonus materials, stats and officialdom aren't the traits I remember NBA Jam for, and Acclaim seems to understand. Like EA's competing NBA Street (which was resurrected recently and suddenly, after a rather feeble outing on PS2 and an aborted Cube version, to compete with Acclaim), Jam 2004 will be a game of three-on-three with lots of signature moves, gravity and physics defying dunks and all the showmanship and fast pace that built the classic Jams into such an enjoyable series.

As confirmed in the publisher's first schedule of 2003, NBA Jam 2004 is due out later this year on PS2, Xbox and Cube. However, if EA can endear NBA Street to the public with Volume 2 (which we're already playing in the office), then Acclaim could be, well, in a bit of a jam.