I wouldn't say exactly that NBA Hangtime is an divisive entry in the NBA Jam series but it's a bit of a strange game at least for myself. I was very hyped for the game, staring at it in the preview section of video game magazines and being galvanized by its new features and updated graphics. I don't remember ever seeing it in any of my local arcades so I had to settle with a home port. At the time I still only had a Genesis and was eager to play the game once it came out. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by the port. Purchasing the official strategy guide by Brady Games and seeing all of the notable NBA players that weren't included in my version added to the frustration. The game ultimately was a sour endnote to what I then thought was the NBA Jam trilogy.
However, if you look up this game online you will see a lot of people who cherished this game very dearly. Of course nearly all of them are chiefly talking about the ports released for the fifth generation of consoles. I eventually bought a Nintendo 64, the first console I paid for with my own money, but even though I spent countless hours playing it, especially when it came to multiplayer, I never though about playing or renting NBA Hangtime.
Now that I got my sour grapes backstory out of the way, let's talk about the game itself, starting off with the elephant in the room: the controversy over the name. Strap yourself in because it's a bit of a doozy and we have to address it before moving forward. First and foremost, the name NBA Jam is technically owned by the NBA. Midway created the series and Acclaim popularized it even more with the home ports but both of them needed a license from the NBA in order to use the name.
Some time after the release of NBA Jam TE, the NBA's licensing director of the electronic toys and games department asked Midway about their future plans with the series. According to Midway's side of the story, they apparently responded by saying that they wanted to do something "new" and "innovative". This loose language of their future plans allowed the director to legally go to Acclaim, who they had previously worked at, and quickly ask them. The company was committed to continue the franchise and thus Acclaim acquired the NBA Jam name, much to the shock and horror of the Midway staff.
As for the director's side of the story, Midway's own licensing group explicitly told them that they weren't going to continue the franchise. The company raised no complaints when Acclaim was set to acquire the license and only did so when it was too late. Because of this deception/management failure, Midway had to strike a separate licensing deal with NBA and call their new game NBA Hangtime.
All of that information comes from NBA Jam by Reyan Ali, published by Boss Fight Books. It's an absolutely great nonfiction novel about the history of Midway and the making of the original game and subsequent sequels.
Even with a different moniker, Hangtime retains the same core gameplay of the NBA Jam series. The new additions it brought to the court literally include the ability to do spin moves, double slam dunks, and something that was long requested, ally oops. The presentation was much improved, the soundtrack was revamped and you could play on alternate courts via secret codes.
Another long requested feature made it's way to this entry: "Create a Player". This was very groundbreaking at the time for an arcade game to have. By spending a separate amount of money from the initial "coin in", you could create your own basketball player and save it to the cabinet. You could edit the player as you saw fit, from their name, to their head design (from famous players to women to monsters), to their stats. You had to be quick about it though because you only had about two minutes with the feature.
After every completed match, the player is given a random trivia question. For the arcade version, correctly answering them allowed the player to qualify for a contest and potentially win some prizes. However, to further help the replay value of the console versions, this was changed so that correctly answering them would allow you to earn more edit points to add to the stats of your created character.
NBA Hangtime hit arcades on April 16, 1996. The Genesis and Super Nintendo received the first set of home ports at the end of the year. Around this same time, Midway changed up their strategy, releasing an updated arcade version called NBA Maximum Hangtime. On January 17, 1997, the second and last set of ports came to the Playstation and Nintendo 64. There is also a PC port but like with the previous game, it is hard to find info on it.
With Acclaim gone, the home ports had to be handled by different teams. While Midway themselves handled the Playstation and Nintendo 64 ports, the Genesis and SNES ports were done by Funcom. Though playable, these earlier ports are noticeable dark and muddy, suffer from poor music and don't have the same fun and energy as the arcade or later ports. Hence my issues as a kid with the game.
The arcade version featured rosters from the 1995-96 season. Maximum Hangtime and all of the ports had updated rosters matching the 1996-97 season. And yet again, despite making a magnetic return to the sport at this time, Michael Jordan isn't in the game.
Hangtime is like the pro wrestler Big E; having three players to a team isn't enough, they need five. I honestly think this is the best number of players to have for a Jam game. You have the two best players on the team front and center then you're given three others to offer you some balance to the matches while also giving a nice spotlight to the team's underrated members.
The Genesis and SNES ports have virtually identical rosters. But for some strange reason, Walt Williams and Tim Hardaway of the Miami Heat switch spots between the two versions.
The Genesis and SNES only receive two console exclusive players: Mark Price on the Golden State Warriors and Sedale Threatt on the Los Angeles Lakers.
Maximum Hangtime and the Playstation/Nintendo 64 ports have one big advantage over the previous versions: The three get to bask in the glory that was the 1996 NBA Draft. Instead of doing another Rookies team, the new NBA players are assigned to their proper teams. The big highlights include Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, and Marcus Camby.
Until the PSX/N64 versions rectified it, it's really strange that this game broke the tradition of the Utah Jazz, having John Stockton as player one instead of Karl Malone. Same goes with Sean Elliott over David Robinson for the Spurs.
I honestly can't explain why Allan Houston is cut from the New York Knicks in the PSX/N64 ports in favor of a returning Charles Oakley.
For a third time in a row, Kenny Smith is unplayable in the console versions.
Rockets fans must hate NBA Hangtime to a degree. Their team gets gutted by the time of the PSX/N64 ports.
The Timberwolves also suffer across the versions. Additionally, having Cherokee Parks placed first before Kevin Garnett is completely laughable. I can't take Parks serious at all, largely because his name makes me think of "Cherokee Jack" from Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Vernon Maxwell continues his downward spiral, appearing only in Maximum Hangtime with the Spurs, only to then be immediately replaced by Chuck Person again.
Now onto the teams. To reiterate, I have listed all of the NBA teams that are in the game by their team name, rather than by their city or by what conference they are in. I then list the players in the order that they are sorted in the game. We're now getting into the thick of the issue with the player order of teams. At least nine teams suffer from pointless order swapping, either from the fourth to the fifth console generation or from Maximum Hangtime to the PSX/N64 ports.
As for the rosters for the PC port: It's really hard finding much information on this version. Some of the teams have the the same roster as the Genesis/SNES ports, such as the SuperSonics. However, I do know that it does feature some roster differences, such as how the second player on the Knicks is "Wallace" (either Buck or Herb).
76ers
Arcade
Jerry Stackhouse
Derrick Coleman
Clarence Weatherspoon
Trevor Ruffin
Vernon Maxwell
Genesis/SNES
Jerry Stackhouse
Derrick Coleman
Clarence Weatherspoon
Don MacLean
Rex Walters
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Allen Iverson
Jerry Stackhouse
Derrick Coleman
Clarence Weatherspoon
PSX/N64
Jerry Stackhouse
Allen Iverson
Derrick Coleman
Clarence Weatherspoon
Don MacLean
Bucks
Arcade
Vin Baker
Glenn Robinson
Shawn Respert
Benoit Benjamin
Sherman Douglas
Genesis/SNES
Vin Baker
Glenn Robinson
Shawn Respert
Andrew Lang
Sherman Douglas
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Vin Baker
Ray Allen
Andrew Lang
Glenn Robinson
Shawn Respert
PSX/N64
Glenn Robinson
Vin Baker
Ray Allen
Shawn Respert
Andrew Lang
Bullets
Arcade
Juwan Howard
Chris Webber
Calbert Cheaney
Robert Pack
Gheorghe Muresan
Genesis/SNES
Juwan Howard
Chris Webber
Calbert Cheaney
Rod Strickland
Gheorghe Muresan
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Rod Strickland
Chris Webber
Juwan Howard
Gheorghe Muresan
Calbert Cheaney
PSX/N64
Chris Webber
Juwan Howard
Calbert Cheaney
Rod Strickland
Gheorghe Muresan
Bulls
Arcade/Genesis/SNES/Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)/PSX/N64
Scottie Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Toni Kukoc
Luc Longley
Steve Kerr
Cavaliers
Arcade/Genesis/SNES/Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)/PSX/N64
Tyrone Hill
Chris Mills
Bobby Phills
Terrell Brandon
Danny Ferry
Celtics
Arcade
Dee Brown
Dana Barros
Eric Montross
Dino Radja
Rick Fox
Genesis/SNES
Dee Brown
Dana Barros
Greg Minor
Dino Radja
Rick Fox
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Dee Brown
Steve Hamer
Dana Barros
Dino Radja
Rick Fox
PSX/N64
Dee Brown
Dana Barros
Greg Minor
Dino Radja
Antoine Walker
Clippers
Arcade/Genesis/SNES/Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Loy Vaught
Rodney Rogers
Lamond Murray
Pooh Richardson
Brent Barry
PSX/N64
Brent Barry
Malik Sealy
Lorenzen Wright
Pooh Richardson
Rodney Rogers
Grizzlies
Arcade
Greg Anthony
Blue Edwards
Byron Scott
Bryant Reeves
Eric Murdock
Genesis/SNES
Greg Anthony
Blue Edwards
Lee Mayberry
Bryant Reeves
Anthony Peeler
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Greg Anthony
Blue Edwards
Bryant Reeves
PSX/N64
Bryant Reeves
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Anthony Peeler
Greg Anthony
Lee Mayberry
Hawks
Arcade
Stacey Augmon
Mookie Blaylock
Steve Smith
Christian Laettner
Ken Norman
Genesis/SNES/PSX/N64
Dikembe Mutombo
Mookie Blaylock
Steve Smith
Christian Laettner
Ken Norman
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Mookie Blaylock
Dikembe Mutombo
Steve Smith
Christian Laettner
Ken Norman
Heat
Arcade
Alonzo Mourning
Walt Williams
Rex Chapman
Tim Hardaway
Sasha Danilovic
Genesis
Alonzo Mourning
Walt Williams
Kurt Thomas
Tim Hardaway
Sasha Danilovic
SNES
Alonzo Mourning
Tim Hardaway
Kurt Thomas
Walt Williams
Sasha Danilovic
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Alonzo Mourning
Tim Hardaway
Sasha Danilovic
PSX/N64
Alonzo Mourning
Tim Hardaway
Dan Majerle
Kurt Thomas
Sasha Danilovic
Hornets
Arcade
Kenny Anderson
Larry Johnson
Glen Rice
George Zidek
Dell Curry
Genesis/SNES/PSX/N64
Vlade Divac
Anthony Mason
Glen Rice
George Zidek
Dell Curry
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Glen Rice
Anthony Mason
Vlade Divac
George Zidek
Dell Curry
Jazz
Arcade/Genesis/SNES
John Stockton
Karl Malone
Jeff Hornacek
David Benoit
Chris Morris
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
John Stockton
Karl Malone
Jeff Hornacek
Chris Morris
PSX/N64
Karl Malone
John Stockton
Jeff Hornacek
Chris Morris
Greg Ostertag
Kings
Arcade
Billy Owens
Mitch Richmond
Brian Grant
Sarunas Marciulionis
Tyus Edney
Genesis/SNES
Billy Owens
Mitch Richmond
Brian Grant
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Tyus Edney
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Billy Owens
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Mitch Richmond
Brian Grant
Tyus Edney
PSX/N64
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Mitch Richmond
Corliss Williamson
Tyus Edney
Billy Owens
Knicks
Arcade
Patrick Ewing
Anthony Mason
Derek Harper
Charles Oakley
John Starks
Genesis/SNES
Patrick Ewing
Allan Houston
Larry Johnson
Charles Oakley
John Starks
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Patrick Ewing
John Wallace
Larry Johnson
John Starks
Allan Houston
PSX/N64
Patrick Ewing
Larry Johnson
John Starks
Charles Oakley
John Wallace
Lakers
Arcade
Nick Van Exel
Vlade Divac
Cedric Ceballos
Elden Campbell
Eddie Jones
Genesis/SNES
Nick Van Exel
Sedale Threatt
Cedric Ceballos
Elden Campbell
Eddie Jones
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Nick Van Exel
Cedric Ceballos
Byron Scott
Elden Campbell
Eddie Jones
PSX/N64
Nick Van Exel
Cedric Ceballos
Eddie Jones
Elden Campbell
Kobe Bryant
Magic
Arcade/Genesis/SNES
Penny Hardaway
Horace Grant
Nick Anderson
Dennis Scott
Jon Koncak
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Penny Hardaway
Rony Seikaly
Horace Grant
Nick Anderson
Dennis Scott
PSX/N64
Penny Hardaway
Horace Grant
Nick Anderson
Dennis Scott
Rony Seikaly
Mavericks
Arcade
Jim Jackson
Jason Kidd
Jamal Mashburn
Popeye Jones
George McCloud
Genesis/SNES
Jim Jackson
Jason Kidd
Jamal Mashburn
Eric Montross
George McCloud
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Jason Kidd
Derek Harper
Jim Jackson
Eric Montross
Jamal Mashburn
PSX/N64
Jason Kidd
Jim Jackson
Jamal Mashburn
Eric Montross
Stacey King
Nets
Arcade/Genesis/SNES
Kendall Gill
Shawn Bradley
Armon Gilliam
Ed O’Bannon
Kevin Edwards
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Kendall Gill
Kerry Kittles
Robert Pack
Shawn Bradley
Ed O’Bannon
Kevin Edwards
PSX/N64
Shawn Bradley
Kendall Gill
Ed O’Bannon
Kerry Kittles
Kevin Edwards
Nuggets
Arcade
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
Dikembe Mutombo
Antonio McDyess
Jalen Rose
Dale Ellis
Genesis/SNES
Mark Jackson
Sarunas Marciulionis
Antonio McDyess
Bryant Stith
Dale Ellis
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Antonio McDyess
Sarunas Marciulionis
Mark Jackson
Dale Ellis
PSX/N64
Mark Jackson
Sarunas Marciulionis
Antonio McDyess
Dale Ellis
Bryant Stith
Pacers
Arcade
Reggie Miller
Dale Davis
Rik Smits
Derek McKey
Mark Jackson
Genesis/SNES/PSX/N64
Reggie Miller
Dale Davis
Rik Smits
Derek McKey
Jalen Rose
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Reggie Miller
Eric Dampier
Jalen Rose
Rik Smits
Dale Davis
Pistons
Arcade
Joe Dumars
Grant Hill
Terry Mills
Otis Thorpe
Allan Houston
Genesis/SNES
Joe Dumars
Grant Hill
Terry Mills
Otis Thorpe
Stacey Augmon
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Grant Hill
Joe Dumars
Otis Thorpe
Stacey Augmon
PSX/N64
Grant Hill
Stacey Augmon
Joe Dumars
Terry Mills
Otis Thorpe
Raptors
Arcade
Carlos Rogers
Damon Stoudamire
Alvin Robertson
Oliver Miller
Tracey Murray
Genesis/SNES
Carlos Rogers
Damon Stoudamire
Alvin Robertson
Popeye Jones
Sharone Wright
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Carlos Rogers
Marcus Camby
Damon Stoudamire
Popeye Jones
Walt Williams
PSX/N64
Damon Stoudamire
Marcus Camby
Sharone Wright
Popeye Jones
Carlos Rogers
Rockets
Arcade
Hakeem Olajuwon
Clyde Drexler
Robert Horry
Sam Cassell
Kenny Smith
Genesis/SNES
Hakeem Olajuwon
Clyde Drexler
Robert Horry
Sam Cassell
Mario Elie
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Hakeem Olajuwon
Othella Harrington
Clyde Drexler
Kevin Willis
PSX/N64
Hakeem Olajuwon
Clyde Drexler
Mario Elie
Brent Price
Sam Mack
Spurs
Arcade/Genesis/SNES
Sean Elliott
David Robinson
Avery Johnson
Chuck Person
Vinny Del Negro
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Sean Elliott
David Robinson
Vernon Maxwell
Avery Johnson
Vinny Del Negro
PSX/N64
David Robinson
Sean Elliott
Avery Johnson
Chuck Person
Vinny Del Negro
Suns
Arcade/Genesis/SNES
Kevin Johnson
Wayman Tisdale
Danny Manning
Wesley Person
Michael Finley
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Kevin Johnson
Wayman Tisdale
Danny Manning
Robert Horry
Sam Cassell
PSX/N64
Kevin Johnson
Michael Finley
Wayman Tisdale
Danny Manning
Sam Cassell
SuperSonics
Arcade/Genesis/SNES/Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Shawn Kemp
Gary Payton
Detlef Schrempf
Hersey Hawkins
Sherell Ford
PSX/N64
Shawn Kemp
Detlef Schrempf
Gary Payton
Hersey Hawkins
Sherell Ford
Timberwolves
Arcade
Isaiah Rider
Andrew Lang
Spud Webb
Tom Gugliotta
Kevin Garnett
Genesis/SNES
Cherokee Parks
Terry Porter
James Robinson
Tom Gugliotta
Kevin Garnett
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Tom Gugliotta
Stephon Marbury
Kevin Garnett
PSX/N64
Cherokee Parks
Kevin Garnett
Terry Porter
Tom Gugliotta
Stephon Marbury
Trail Blazers
Arcade
Rod Strickland
Cliff Robinson
Arvydas Sabonis
Buck Williams
Randolph Childress
Genesis/SNES
Isaiah Rider
Cliff Robinson
Arvydas Sabonis
Kenny Anderson
Randolph Childress
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Cliff Robinson
Isaiah Rider
Arvydas Sabonis
Kenny Anderson
Randolph Childress
PSX/N64
Cliff Robinson
Isaiah Rider
Kenny Anderson
Arvydas Sabonis
Rasheed Wallace
Warriors
Arcade
Kevin Willis
Latrell Sprewell
Rony Seikaly
Joe Smith
Chris Mullin
Genesis/SNES
Mark Price
Latrell Sprewell
Rony Seikaly
Joe Smith
Chris Mullin
Arcade (Maximum Hangtime)
Latrell Sprewell
Jon Koncak
Joe Smith
Chris Mullin
PSX/N64
Joe Smith
Latrell Sprewell
B.J. Armstrong
Chris Mullin
Jon Koncak
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