’Arcade-style game play’ is not always a bad thing; it can make many activities accessible even to someone who isn’t an expert at the game’s subject. Such is the case with sports games like HoopWorld; it’s a competent 3-on-3 basketball game in the same style as NBA Jam and Archrivals and does not bother with the fine details of real life basketball. Instead, it’s all about fast and intuitive play as you take long-range shots, do stylish dunks, and flagrantly shove the other team out of the way... there are no fouls.
HoopWorld lets you take control of several different teams, though they mostly differ in appearance. They and the various arenas they play in all look colorful and varied, but keep things simple in design. Since each game is just a match to knock the opposing team around and score points, most of the depth comes from a series of power-ups sprinkled about the court. These range from extra speed and energy to balls that reduce the opponent’s score (or raise your own more than usual), to simple blasts that knock all opponents down, so the effect isn’t entirely unlike Mario Kart.
The game’s controls are fairly easy to learn, probably requiring only one or two sessions to get used to; just as well since each match only lasts a few minutes. However, you are only allowed to use the Wiimote plus Nunchuk, and both passing and shooting require you to wave your controller. The problem with this is that both of those actions use a similar motion, so it’s entirely possible to do one when you intended to do the other. Classic Controller support would have easily fixed this and made for a nice option alongside Wiimote swinging, but it’s not here. This doesn’t happen too often, but it occurs enough times to be annoying; thus the controls are easily learned but even when you know them it’s possible to mess up.
Playing against the AI is fun for a little while, and doing so can unlock extra teams and courts to play with. However, the novelty wears out fast, and this game only really comes into its own when played with other people. If you happen to have others around who are interested in an arcade ’basketbrawl’ game like this, great; you’ll get to fully enjoy what this game has to offer. There is no online play however, so you’ll have to do all your multiplayer sessions with someone who is ’local’ to you.
Fast and easy to learn, HoopWorld has much to recommend itself as a fun arcade sports game with a friend, and $10/1000 Wii Points is a fair price for a game of this kind. Its only serious drawbacks are its reliance on Wiimote-waving controls that aren’t as accurate as they should be (and using a Classic Controller isn’t possible), along with a lack of online play. This perhaps gives it a niche audience, but if you happen to be in that category then HoopWorld may be worth your time.
