Harlem Globetrotters
System: NES
Release Date: March 1991
Developer: Softie
Publisher: GameTek
Genre: Sports
Everyone’s favorite boys in red, white, and blue are on the court in Harlem Globetrotters! It’s the never ending battle between the Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. You can choose which of the teams to play as. Though I don’t know why you would want to be the Generals…
The A Button is your pass on offense or steal on defense. The B Button is your shot on offense or block on defense. I couldn’t once get the block to work, but the computer was able to block me all the time. These guys are no Meadowlark Lemon, but they’ve got some game. As long as you’re controlling the Harlem Globetrotters, pressing the Select Button performs a trick pass. The Start Button does one of many trick shots.
The computer scores 90% of their shots, which is ridiculous. Your teammates do nothing to help you on defense and everyone moves the same speed, so if they get past you, they’re gonna score. You need to get right up next to them and mash the A Button to steal the ball. The catch up AI is awful. There were several times that I put up a dozen points or more on a run, and several more times the computer did that to me.
After losing as the Globetrotters, I took over the mantle of the Washington Generals under the assumption that their shooting has to be amazing. I was wrong. They just don’t get to enjoy the trick shot or trick pass that the Trotters do. The fact that the developers couldn’t throw in Sweet Georgia Brown is blasphemy. At least the referees take some abuse.
Graphics: 1.0
There are two character models. There’s also tons of flickering and slowdown.
Sound: 1.0
The sounds are pretty bad and there’s little music to enjoy. Again, no Sweet Georgia Brown.
Gameplay: 0.5
Passing doesn’t work well. Shooting is pretty bad. Defense rarely works. It’s pretty bad.
Difficulty: 1.0
Your teammates are useless and the computer will run up the score on you.
Fun Factor: 1.0
Doing the trick shots and passes are kind of neat, but that’s all.
Overall Rating: 0.9
Harlem Globetrotters earns a D. This is another horrible basketball game on the NES that you should stay away from at all costs.