Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

NBA ShootOut 98 makes a strong first impression because it lets you decide what sort of basketball game you want before tip-off. You can push it toward arcade action, switch to a more simulation-minded setup, adjust difficulty and quarter length, and choose whether turbo is active. That flexibility matters. A short, turbo-on exhibition can be a lively way to get straight to the baskets, while longer settings and a tougher difficulty give the Season and Playoffs modes room to breathe.

The most interesting idea is the control over teammates away from the ball. Icon Passing gives you a direct way to pick a recipient, while Icon Cutting lets you call for a particular teammate to head toward the hoop. Once you start using both, possessions have more intention than the usual cycle of bringing the ball up and hoping someone drifts open. You are not merely reacting to the defense; you are trying to create the lane or passing window yourself.

Total Control Dunking is the obvious crowd-pleaser. Being able to trigger different slam dunks gives a successful drive a little more personality, particularly when you have earned the opening with a cut or a well-chosen pass. It also suits the game’s adjustable tone: arcade settings invite you to chase those emphatic finishes, while a sim-minded setup makes them feel like a reward for getting the offense moving.

The trade-off is that this is a game that asks you to engage with its extra controls. If all you want is to sprint up the floor and fire away, the icon-based options can feel like more to manage. Give them a few games, though. The payoff is a more deliberate offense, and that is where ShootOut 98 distinguishes itself from a basketball game built only around the ballhandler.

Graphics

The court action is presented from a third-person basketball view, with the important visual payoff coming when a drive ends in one of the game’s selectable dunk finishes. The full 1998 NBA lineup also gives each match the immediate familiarity of a licensed league game: you pick a real team, recognize the matchup, and get on with playing.

Story

There is no authored narrative to carry NBA ShootOut 98. Its story is the season you make: choosing a team, working through the Season or Playoffs structure, and seeing how your results stack up over time.

That framework has more weight than a string of disconnected exhibition games because player and league-leader statistics are tracked. Chasing a standings position is one thing; watching the numbers accumulate gives your run a record and a reason to keep checking in after each game.

The draft mode and player-creation option extend that personal angle. You can shape a roster direction or add a created player, then let the season’s stat tracking turn those choices into something you can follow. It is sports-game storytelling in the old-fashioned sense: no cutscenes required, just a campaign that remembers what happened on the floor.

Overall Experience

NBA ShootOut 98 earns its place as a solid PlayStation basketball game by pairing the complete 29-team 1998 NBA field with more control over offensive movement than you might expect from a quick sports session. Exhibition works when you want a single matchup, but Season and Playoffs are where the roster choices, stats, and adjustable rules begin to matter.

Its best audience is the gamer who likes basketball games to offer a little coaching instinct alongside stick skills. Calling a cutter, choosing the pass, and then finishing a break with a dunk can make even a routine possession feel planned rather than accidental. If you prefer a looser, faster game, the arcade setting and turbo option let you lean that way without abandoning the broader modes.

The 7.2 score fits. ShootOut 98 is not just a roster package with a few modes attached; its passing, cutting, and dunk controls give it a real hook. Put in enough time to learn when to direct your teammates, and the extra involvement is worth it.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10