Freestyle Street Basketball, a massively multiplayer online basketball game, is a casual sports game fused with role playing elements. The game has three classes: Center, Forward or Guard. Arrow keys move the character around, while the WASD keys perform essential functions like passing, blocking and shooting. Once players get the basics nailed down, they compete against others in 1-on-1, 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 matches. Therefore, the game really doesn't quite live up to its "massively-multiplayer" stature, but features plenty of fast-paced action.
By competing online, players level up their characters and earn points and online currency called "bills." Points go toward unlocking new moves and skills, like passing while running, while bills purchase items such as clothing, accessories and tattoos. The right clothing can make the player, since many of them can be endowed with stats boosters, like better running speed or passing. Even the right tattoos offer very useful benefits. Points need to be earned through competition, but certain skills and items cannot be used until the character has reached an appropriate level. Bills can be earned through winning, playing some of the minigame tutorials or purchased outright with real money.
Besides a very basic practice mode, where players run around and practice their shooting and the minigames, Freestyle Street Basketball doesn't offer much solo play. The entire game centers on online competition, meaning that when few people have logged in, there's less of a change in the way of getting a quick game. Luckily, it gets balanced out with very small matches. Jumping into a game randomly brings players together and quickly get a game going. Alternatively, players can form teams and compete against other established teams.
Things go pretty fast once a match gets started. Even with the simple controls, players need to remember what each key does. Beginners may button mash, and things get even more hectic working with a randomly assembled team, but the game feels less casual as players rise up the ranks, earning better moves and gear. It becomes a challenge to keep up, and gamers cannot practice their moves without playing competitively. Freestyle's practice mode doesn't help players overcome their weaknesses. Dribbling the ball around and practicing shots doesn't do anything to help the character. However, the game doesn't offer any modes to help with passing, stealing or blocking, except for some minigames that must be played in succession. So in order to get to the minigame for stealing, players must play through and win all the blocking minigames.
Supporting a maximum resolution of 800x600, the game works on just about any computer. The cel-shaded graphics look decent, but the grainy visual quality and jagged edges make the game look old. Furthermore, Freestyle is limited in character types, so until players get more diverse clothing at higher levels, everyone looks alike, making it hard to tell teammates apart from the competition.
Players can download the trial game client and play for free until they reach level 15. Purchasing the full game enables users to attain the maximum level (45), grants them some complimentary points and bills and allows access to the advanced "Pro" level challenges. Having the full version also lets players trade items and purchase additional character slots and bills. It can be hard to imagine how many character slots one would actually need, since the game only has three classes and not that many physical attribute customization options, but the option is available.
Freestyle Street Basketball's low cost makes it an appealing option for people who crave easy, fast-paced competition. In addition, it lacks the complex controls found in more expensive sports games, and costs just $19.99. Definitely hit the court and jump into a game (or 10).
Final Score: 7 (out of 10)
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