NBA The Run offers a burst of excitement reminiscent of casual park basketball, featuring fast-paced 3v3 matches that allow for frequent player rotations to keep the experience fresh. The game boasts a roster of over 30 NBA all-stars and five street legends, each possessing distinct skills. Players like Victor Wembanyama exhibit unique abilities due to their height, while sharpshooters such as Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard can score from anywhere on the court. Ja Morant is highlighted for his highlight-reel dunks and daring shots, adding further variety. The diverse player pool ensures that championships won with different characters, like Devin Booker or Nikola Jokic, feel distinct.
A notable feature is the accurate mimicry of signature jump shot forms for each player, a detail that elevates the game beyond generic character animations. This attention to detail extends to the visual representation, capturing the likenesses of basketball icons with their authentic shooting styles.
The game's core gameplay is presented through two primary modes: Knockout Squads and Knockout Solos. Knockout Squads functions similarly to NBA 2K's The Park, requiring teamwork among three players, each controlled by a different person. Knockout Solos allows a single player to control all three team members against an opponent doing the same. A third mode, Knockout Friends, is a private tournament format designed for up to 48 players, though it was not accessible for testing prior to release.
Knockout Squads is particularly engaging due to the potential for spectacular highlights, taunting, and the shared joy of winning a championship with teammates. While encountering players who do not pass can be frustrating, the short match durations make it easy to move past losses and start a new game without significant annoyance. The review specifically calls for better teamwork, emphasizing the importance of passing in a team sport.
NBA The Run also features seven distinct in-game courts, each inspired by real-world locations. The Tenement in Manila, Philippines, is highlighted as a favorite for its accurate portrayal of basketball as a community spectacle, drawing crowds of all ages. Other courts include iconic locations like Rucker Park, with each arena designed to reflect its real-world counterpart and the cultural significance of basketball.
To maintain unpredictability, different match types are randomly selected before each game via a roulette system. These variations, such as Triple Threat, where only three-point shots are worth three points while all other baskets count as one, or first-to-7 contests where every basket is worth a single point, encourage players to explore the roster and adapt their strategies. This rotation prevents matches from becoming stale and discourages reliance on a single playstyle or character.
However, the novelty of NBA The Run eventually fades. After numerous matches and experimenting with different characters across both main modes, the initial excitement diminishes. The reviewer draws a parallel to Michael Jordan's second retirement, suggesting that once players have experienced all the game has to offer and achieved multiple championships, the drive to continue playing diminishes without new content. As it stands, the game offers little incentive to return once the initial appeal has worn off.