Great Basketball

Great Basketball is a sports simulation game developed and published by Sega for the Master System in 1987. Part of Sega's "Great Sports" series, it was the only basketball title released for the console in the U.S. The game features eight national teams: USA, Canada, Soviet Union, Japan, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Hungary, each with different statistics in shooting, passing, jumping, and speed. Viewed from a side perspective, one button passes while the other controls jumping and shooting. The "Vitality Point" system allows players to upgrade stats by sinking five three-point shots in a row. The game is notable for early sound samples, including voice clips like "Jump Ball," "Dunk Shot," and "3-point shot," as well as a halftime show with cheerleaders.

Master System

Released in 1987 in North America, Europe, and Japan, this version received mostly negative reviews. Critics heavily criticized the gameplay, describing ball movement as "willy-nilly" with slow passes and shots lacking proper arch. Defense was almost a non-issue, as fouls were called too often. The player sprites were described as "short, squatty, faceless guys who appear to be wearing diapers." Some players noted that shots that look completely off can still mysteriously go in, making the experience feel random. However, the game was praised for its catchy music. The multiplayer mode was considered more interesting than single-player, but the game is generally regarded as a disappointing sports title, especially compared to NES basketball games released the same year.