The new NBA Jam is coming to 360/PS3... sort of.

[Korly]

NBA Jam Confirmed For 360, PS3 (But There's A Nasty Catch)

The new NBA Jam was supposedly a Wii exclusive, but now they've confirmed (most of) it for PS3/360. If you buy NBA Elite 11 new (for $60 I guess) you can download a version of NBA Jam with Play Now, Classic Campaign, and 4 player online. The Remix Tour (which sounds awesome) is still exclusive to Wii.

Boss Battles with NBA Legends and Celebrities: Probably one of the most exciting aspects of NBA Jam I’ve seen thus far were the 1v1 boss battles against NBA Legends. The Remix Tour will have certain level tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, etc.) that lead up to this boss battle and I had the opportunity to play against Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Naturally, I chose the much controversial Miami Heat player Lebron James.

Like most boss battles, this boss can only be beat by taking advantage of a certain exploit or weakness, usually related to the boss’ special move or pattern. Punch-Out! especially comes to mind. Magic Johnson is known to be a great passer during his career, and his “cheap” special move had the NBA Hall of Famer passing alley-oops to himself in mid-air, where he would teleport high in the air to complete the dunk.

The only way to beat him was to perfectly go for a block at the time when Magic would go for the dunk in this sequence. And it was ultra-satisfying flicking the Wii-mote back and forth trying to time it perfectly. In the end, I came back from a 14-0 lead from Magic to beat him 22-20 with a Lebron James signature dunk.

Backboard Smash: Getting its roots from its olden NBA Jam days, this new kind of gameplay style pits a 2v2 matchup with the simple goal of trying to break the other team’s backboard. Three pointers, short jumpers and layups will lower the “enemy lifebar” meter. But nothing will hurt your opponents’ backboard more than showstopper dunks and being “on fire”. It becomes an endless frenzy of trying to block each other’s dunks, while the backboard slowly starts to shatter, eventually catch on fire until its life meter is depleted. It’s a fast-paced type of game that will test the streakiness of players. Remember, Street Fighter 2’s car-breaking minigame? Here’s its sports equivalent.

So, I don't think I want to pay $60 for a nerfed version of the Wii game.

[Korly]

A pretty good cover story on NBA Jam from 1up.

[MechDeus]

So $10 this time next year, going by traditional sports games depreciation. I can wait.

[Bacon McShig]

Yeah this isn't going to stick, EA knows they can make plenty of money with a separate XBLA/PSN release. Like Call of Duty Classic, it'll be there a few months after. You'll probably be able to buy the Remix mode as DLC eventually, too.

Also, if you think Remix mode is more of a dealbreaker than online play, get your head checked.

[Korly]

Remix mode is what makes it more than just the old game with new rosters/graphics.

[kingoffighters]

I am in.

[Bacon McShig]

Remix mode is what makes it more than just the old game with new rosters/graphics.

And who wouldn't be okay with the old game with new rosters/graphics, plus online play?

[MechDeus]

Coons.

Also: Hookers.

[Bacon McShig]

I'm not sure either of those groups would show much interest in the comparatively upstanding role models of the NBA's past.

[MechDeus]

This is why we shouldn't listen to them, and instead revel in the glory of our awesome childhood games. Remix tour sounds neat, but I'd be lying if I said I planned on ever using it. NBA Jam is about getting three friends over, inputting stupid codes, and then playing like morons on the court.

Also: NFL Blitz. I want the original on XBLA.