We really enjoyed the iPhone version when it arrived in the App Store in mid-February. It wasn't perfect, but it was a great update of a classic franchise that gave iOS gamers almost as much dunkalicious fun for $4.99 as console gamers got for $49.99. There was some missing aspects though. Important stuff. With the launch of the iPad version we're pretty thrilled to say that those omissions have been rectified.
The main thing we're talking about is multiplayer, however there's still no online play. The multiplayer is, as of right now, strictly local. iPad owners can connect via a local wifi signal or bluetooth to play against human opponents. Multiplayer is a big deal in a game like this. The computer AI will never truly be able to recreate the thrill of going toe to toe with a friend.
The multiplayer modes come at a price though since the HD version (at $9.99) is twice as expensive as it is on the iPhone. Plus, as should be obvious, you're not going to get much utility out of the NBA Jam multiplayer unless you A) have a friend that has an iPad, B) that friend enjoys gaming, and C) that friends specifically enjoys arcade basketball games. It's nice to see multiplayer, but when the competition is purely local it's hard to get too excited.
NBA Jam has been released in the UK and other territories and should be released in North America very soon.
