Space Jam (Game)

Space Jam

GAME » on November 1996

PC (Platform)PlayStation (Platform)Saturn (Platform)

Based on the 1996 sports-comedy film of the same name, which ties the classic Looney Tunes to the real-life antics of NBA superstars, Space Jam pits players in a NBA Jam-esque basketball match between the Tune Squad and the Monstars.

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Overview

Space Jam, also known as Warner Bros. Space Jam, is a comedic over-the-top basketball game developed by Sculptured Software and published by Acclaim for the Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and DOS PCs in North America on November-December 1996, with a Japanese release of the PS1/Saturn versions on February 28, 1997 and a European release of the PS1/Saturn versions on March 1997. A spiritual successor to the studio's earlier Looney Tunes (Franchise)-themed basketball game (Looney Tunes B-Ball), Space Jam is a tie-in with the 1996 sports-comedy film of the same name. It depicts the film's climactic basketball game between the Tune Squad (members of the Looney Tunes, aided by real-life basketball player Michael Jordan (Character)) and the Monstars (five small aliens, known as the "Nerdlucks", who steal the essence of other real-life basketball players to grant them immense strength, bulk, and talent). Like Looney Tunes B-Ball, the game shares many similarities with the NBA Jam (Franchise) series of over-the-top basketball games and features a cartoon art and animation style. It can be played in either 3-on-3 or 2-on-2, and can be played with a full human player count through multi-taps (with two of them required for a full six-man game). A pinball game from Sega based on the film was also created at the time. While no other games were made based on the film, its sequel later received its own game adaptation.

Gameplay

Much of the gameplay is similar to the NBA Jam (Franchise) and NBA Hangtime (Game) series, with fast-paced basketball action and minimal rules. Games can be played in either 3-on-3 or 2-on-2, at quarters between one and five minutes, and players have access to four button commands: Shoot/Jump, Pass/Steal, Turbo, and Switch Player Control. Like NBA Jam, holding Turbo while pressing Pass/Steal causes an offensive shove. Each basketball player has their own special slam dunk, which are special animations.

Intergalactic Tournament

Along with a standard exhibition game, Space Jam features a bonus campaign mode where the Tune Squad have to win five games in a row against the Monstars, with a special restriction: prior to the campaign, the Tune Squad must designate one member as their team captain (who cannot be substituted at all), with their teammates only able to be substituted out between games. Michael Jordan (Character) cannot be selected for either.

Sub-Levels

Optional to the game are "Sublevels", which are optional mini-games that grant a stat boost for the winning team.

Daffy's Quacked Caper - Played before the match starts, but only in exhibition matches and if a player is playing as the Toons. Daffy must run around MJ's trophy room, picking up part of MJ's uniform while avoiding the Nerdluck Bupkus (Character), his squeaky toy traps, Charles the watchdog (which is a digitized actor of a real dog). It is unknown what scoring in this game affects, though it is assumed that it affects MJ's stats.
Half Time Locker Room Rumpus / Essence Locker Room - Played at halftime, with the first played when a player is playing as the Toons, and the second when a player is playing as the Monstars. Both Bugs and the Nerdluck Bupkus must run around the locker room, searching for their objective while avoiding the other player (and their traps). Bugs must find MJ's enhanced water bottles in lockers in the first, while Bupkus must act as a mist and steal the "essence" of a basketball player running around the room in the second game. Scoring in the first game boosts the Toons' Turbo, while scoring in the second game boost the Monstars' Turbo.
Space Race - Can be played after the first or third quarter. A top-down one-on-one racing game similar to the Micro Machines (Franchise) series, with Speedy Gonzales (Character) piloting a rocket for the Toons and Blanko (Character) piloting a rocket-powered car for the Monstars. Each team earns points by being so far ahead that the opponent. The winner gets a Speed boost.
Shoot Out! - Can be played after the first or third quarter. A half-court game where Yosemite Sam (Character) (for the Toons) and Monstar Bang (Character) (for the Monstars) each have their own ball and must score points by making baskets based on where they are on the court (from 2 to 20), with a roaming hot spot for double points. The winner gets a Shooting boost.
Hall of Hijinx - Can be played after the first or third quarter. A game where Lola Bunny (Character) (for the Toons) and Monstar Bupkus (for the Monstars) take possession of balls and throw them at roaming targets (similar to a shooting gallery), with some targets having special effects. The winner gets a Rebounds boost.

Roster

Tune Squad / Toons

Michael Jordan, who is not only the tallest on the team, but has the best over-all stats in the game, is unavailable in the Intergalactic Tournament mode.

Name	Speed	Shooting	Rebounds
Michael Jordan (Character)	★★★	★★★	★★★
Bugs Bunny (Character)	★★★	★★★	★★
Daffy Duck (Character)	★★	★★	★
Lola Bunny (Character)	★★★	★★★	★
Tasmanian Devil	★★★	★★★	★★
Foghorn Leghorn (Character)	★	★★	★★★
Pepe Le Pew (Character)	★★	★★	★
Sylvester (Character)	★★★	★★	★★
Wile E. Coyote	★★	★★	★★★
Porky Pig (Character)	★★	★★	★
Elmer Fudd (Character)	★★	★★	★★
Yosemite Sam (Character)	★★	★★★	★

Monstars

Despite their middling stats, the Monstars are still very tall and very bulky, making them tough in both offense and defense.

Name	Speed	Shooting	Rebounds
Nawt (Character)	★★★	★★	★
Bupkus (Character)	★	★	★★★
Pound (Character)	★	★	★★
Blanko (Character)	★	★	★★★
Bang (Character)	★	★★	★★★

NPC's

Marvin the Martian as the referee.
Hubie and Bertie as sportscasters.
Witch Hazel (Character) and Granny as cheerleaders.
Tweety Bird (Character) and Road Runner (Character) sometimes appear with Sylvester and Wile E. Coyote.
Mr. Swackhammer, along with several classic Looney Tunes characters (such as Gossamer (Character)) are shown as spectators.

Trivia

Friend of Giant Bomb, Dave Lang, programmed some of the mini games and menus for the Saturn version while working at Acclaim in the mid 90's.
The game also has sponsored advertisements for the fast food chain McDonald's.

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