NBA Hangtime
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | None |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | NBA Hangtime, NBA Jam series |
NBA Hangtime is a basketball arcade title developed and launched by Midway in 1996. Versions for home consoles were made available on the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Super NES, Sega Genesis, and Microsoft Windows platforms.
This game marked the third basketball installment created by the original team responsible for the NBA Jam series. The title was altered because the NBA Jam trademark had been acquired by Acclaim Entertainment, which published the home editions. That same year, Acclaim released their own basketball game, NBA Jam Extreme. Hangtime introduced several new features such as character creation, the ability to perform alley oops, and double dunks. To prolong its presence in arcades, a software upgrade called NBA Maximum Hangtime was issued. Its follow-up, NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC, arrived in 1999.
The soundtrack includes the theme song "Whatcha Gonna Do?", produced by rapper M-Doc from Indasoul Entertainment.
Gameplay
The gameplay mechanics are largely based on Midway’s NBA Jam series but incorporate significant enhancements. Players can use the "Create Player" option to design a customized athlete, adjusting attributes like height, weight, power, shooting, and defense with a limited pool of points that grow as games are won.
Rules from NBA Jam: Tournament Edition remain intact, featuring two-on-two matches, statistical tracking, permissible pushing, and the iconic "on fire" mode. New maneuvers added include spin moves, alley oops, and double slam dunks—where one player passes the ball mid-dunk to a teammate. Executing alley-oops or double dunks activates "team fire," causing both players to enter an energized state.
Each roster consists of five players. The arcade edition uses rosters from the 1995–96 NBA season, while home versions reflect the 1996–97 lineups. Gamers select from all 29 NBA franchises for four quarters of three minutes each, with three-minute overtimes if necessary. By creating an ID and PIN, progress can be saved as players advance through teams—from the Vancouver Grizzlies to the then-championship-contending Chicago Bulls. After conquering all teams, secret characters become available.
A novel three-digit "combination lock" code system on the Match Up screen allows players to modify visual or gameplay elements, reminiscent of codes used in Mortal Kombat 3.
Both arcade and console versions include an NBA trivia segment after every match. In arcades, correct answers originally entered players into prize drawings; in home editions, they award additional attribute points for created players.
Home versions
Midway published home editions for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Super NES. The Genesis and Super NES ports were developed by Funcom, while High Voltage Software handled the Microsoft Windows version and worked on a planned but unreleased Sega Saturn edition. A version intended for Game.com was announced but ultimately cancelled.
Notably, Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal is absent from all Hangtime releases due to exclusive licensing for NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC.
In 2020, Tastemakers LLC’s Arcade1Up brand issued a 3/4 scale arcade cabinet featuring Hangtime alongside NBA Jam and NBA Jam: Tournament Edition. This faithful emulation was developed by Code Mystics, although some players were omitted because of licensing restrictions.
Reception
Computer and Video Games described Hangtime as the authentic and deserving follow-up to NBA Jam TE, commending enhancements in graphics, the addition of new moves and features, as well as the create-a-player option. A reviewer from Next Generation emphasized the Create a Player mode and arcade memory function but assigned it a modest rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
The home console versions garnered mixed reactions. While some critics pointed out the scarcity of new elements compared to NBA Jam, opinions diverged regarding its overall significance. The Nintendo 64 edition received acclaim from GamePro for its extensive player roster, hidden secrets, fluid visuals, multiplayer capabilities, and create-a-player feature. Although the Genesis and Super NES editions were faulted for inferior sound quality, they were still recommended. IGN’s Doug Perry praised the create-a-player mode and described the N64 version as an enjoyable, arcade-faithful adaptation despite underutilizing the system’s full potential.
In contrast, GameSpot offered unfavorable reviews, highlighting minor updates and a lack of innovation. A critic from Next Generation shared similar sentiments, criticizing the Nintendo 64 version’s inefficient use of hardware and favoring the Super NES iteration of NBA Jam. Reviewers at Electronic Gaming Monthly expressed divided opinions: one pointed out minimal new content aside from roster updates; another considered it a step forward compared to previous 16-bit basketball titles.
The PlayStation release was criticized for lengthy load times and performance slowdowns, with most reviewers preferring the Nintendo 64 version instead. The PC adaptation was praised for its faithful representation but noted for its absence of online multiplayer functionality.
In 1997, Electronic Gaming Monthly ranked NBA Hangtime as the fifth greatest arcade game ever made.
Maximum Hangtime
Released in late 1996, NBA Maximum Hangtime is an arcade update featuring rosters from the 1996-1997 NBA season. While gameplay largely remains consistent with previous versions, this edition introduces a hidden "hot spot" on the court unique to each player that enhances shooting precision. Additionally, it includes new secret codes and unlockable players.