NBA Hangtime

Did You Know?

• A software update known as NBA Maximum Hangtime was released for arcades later in the life cycle, featuring 1996-1997 NBA rosters and a hidden hot spot on the court for each player.
• The sequel, NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC, was released in 1999.
• High Voltage Software was working on a Sega Saturn version, but it was never released.

Gameplay

The gameplay largely follows the NBA Jam template, with several additions. A prominent new feature is the Create Player mode, allowing players to design a custom basketball player by allocating limited attribute points to height, weight, power, shooting, and defense. Winning games earns additional attribute points, making created players more powerful. The game retains two-on-two matchups, statistics tracking, legal pushing, and the on-fire mode from NBA Jam: Tournament Edition. New moves include spin moves, alley oops, and double slam dunks, where one team member passes mid-dunk to the other. These can trigger team fire mode, igniting both players. Each team has five roster members; the arcade version uses 1995–96 NBA rosters, while home versions use 1996–97 rosters. Players can select any of the 29 NBA teams and play four three-minute quarters with three-minute overtimes. The game tracks beaten teams via a player-created ID and PIN, and players can load their custom player. Starting with the Vancouver Grizzlies, players face all teams, ending with the Chicago Bulls (Michael Jordan is absent due to Midway not pursuing his image rights). After defeating all 29 teams, secret characters appear. A three-digit combination lock feature, similar to Mortal Kombat 3's Kombat Kodes, lets players enter codes on the Match Up screen to alter appearance or gameplay. An NBA trivia quiz appears after each game; correct answers in home versions grant attribute points for created players.

Home versions

Midway released home versions for PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Super NES. Funcom developed the Genesis and Super NES versions. Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal is not licensed in either version, as he was cleared for NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC. In 2020, Arcade1Up released a 3/4 scale arcade cabinet including Hangtime alongside NBA Jam and NBA Jam: Tournament Edition, developed by Code Mystics as a faithful emulation with some players omitted due to licensing issues.

Reception

Computer and Video Games called Hangtime the real and worthy successor to NBA Jam TE, praising the graphics improvements, new features, moves, and the create-a-player mode. A Next Generation reviewer found it had all the playable qualities of NBA Jam plus perks, scoring it 3 out of 5 stars. Home ports received mixed reviews. Most critics noted the game did not offer enough new features over NBA Jam, though opinions varied on the significance. GamePro, reviewing the Nintendo 64 version, said Jam-style hoops was nothing new but Hangtime had enough flash and freshness, citing player selection, secrets, smooth graphics, multiplayer, and create-a-player. They rated the Genesis version lower in every category except control, noting weaker sound effects and announcer voice, but still recommended it. The Super NES version was also found to have inferior graphics and sound but remained enjoyable. Doug Perry of IGN praised the create-a-player feature as one of the coolest elements, calling the port a fun arcade-perfect port. Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot was far more negative, writing that the game only featured minor changes and that players had seen it all before. A Next Generation reviewer agreed, stating that if one had played NBA Jam, they had played most of Hangtime, and criticized poor use of the Nintendo 64's capabilities with 2D graphics and low frame rate, even suggesting the Super NES version of NBA Jam looked equally good and played better.