When EA Sports announced that they’d be reviving the NBA Jam franchise on the Wii, fans of the classic basketball title had questions.  The first of those questions; what will the game look like?  Will it be photorealistic, or will it go with a more over-the-top style?  Turns out the answer is, “both.”

Based on the above screenshot given to Nintendo Power, and subsequently circulated by GoNintendo, the game will utilize 3D character models with 2D photos of players’ faces.  Think of when Tom Bergeron puts his own stupid head in the stupid videos on his stupid Funniest Home Videos show and you’ll get the idea.  It’s a strange look, for sure, and one that we’ve never seen before in a game, but it makes sense for the game.  NBA Jam has always been about ludicrously over-the-top basketball action with a silly sense of humor, and the static faces on 3D bodies sounds like a perfect aesthetic. 

The second question people have about NBA Jam is about its faithfulness to the classic game.  The Nintendo Power feature details some of the game’s features, and it looks like we have nothing to worry about as far as this being an “authentic” NBA Jam title.  Shattering Backboard, flaming basketballs, cheats, playable mascots, secret characters, and of course, big head mode will all be included.