Play Nba Courtside 2 - Featuring Kobe Bryant Online

NBA Courtside 2 arrived on the Nintendo 64 in 1999, a follow up to the original game published by Nintendo. It was part of that wave of late 90s basketball titles trying to carve out a space on the console, a time when 3D sports games were really finding their footing. You got to see Kobe Bryant on the cover, which was a pretty big deal back then.

You control one of five players on the court at a time, switching between them on defense and offense. The main goal is simple: outscore the other team by moving the ball, setting picks, and taking shots. A couple of things set it apart. The "Direct Passing" system let you lead a receiver by aiming your pass with the C buttons, which felt more deliberate than just throwing it to the nearest guy. There was also a focus on post play, using the analog stick to back down a defender before spinning for a hook shot or a dunk. The game had a faster pace than some sims of the era, but it wasn't easy; the computer defense would punish sloppy ball handling. It feels like a solid, physical game of basketball where you have to work for every basket.