Future Basketball

Future Basketball

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	1990
Founder	Hewson Consultants
Products	Future Basketball

Future Basketball is a basketball video game with a futuristic theme, developed by Hewson Consultants and launched for the Amiga and Atari ST platforms in 1990. In 1991, Hudson Soft adapted the game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) under the title Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball, marking the SNES's inaugural basketball release. The game prominently features Bill Laimbeer, who was then a member of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA, recognized for his aggressive and physical style of play.

Set in the year 2031, the storyline positions Laimbeer as the commissioner of a basketball league where traditional rules are abolished, referees have been dismissed, and the use of weapons during play is permitted.

Gameplay

The game presents an overhead perspective of the basketball court. Unlike conventional basketball rules, players are allowed to physically check opponents without incurring fouls. The court occasionally contains explosive devices such as bombs that players can interact with.

A full season comprises 14 matches without any playoff rounds. Promotion is awarded to the top two teams within each league, while the two lowest-ranked teams face relegation. In cases where teams are tied, their initial season standings determine their final positions. Competitors begin their journey in the Third Division with the objective of ascending to the Super League, where elite teams vie for championship honors.

Amiga, Atari ST

Future Basketball was often unfavorably contrasted with Speedball. According to CU Amiga, its scrolling lacked smoothness, which complicated tracking gameplay action. Meanwhile, Zzap!64 observed that although it bore visual similarities to Speedball, it failed to deliver engaging gameplay, highlighting uninspired throw-ins and less thrilling scoring sequences.

SNES

Bret Alan Weiss from Allgame assigned a one-star rating to the SNES edition, criticizing its subpar graphics, audio quality, and control scheme that diminished its overall appeal. On the other hand, Jeff Marchiafava of Game Informer provided a more favorable perspective by including it among notable "Weirdest Celebrity-Based Video Games." Despite this, Time Extension listed Combat Basketball as one of the poorest titles available on the SNES system.

External links

• Future Basketball at the Hall of Light