Saber Interactive has announced the summer release of NBA Playgrounds 2, the sequel to last year’s hit indie-made NBA title.
The same cartoonish over the top NBA-tinged style is back, but, as is customary with sequels, everything is due to be bigger and better.
You can view the debut trailer for NBA Playgrounds 2 below. A minute’s wort of goofy slam-dunkin’ fun.
The new game promises better player animations and a spanking new tournament mode among other things. Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch laid out a bevy of details during the announcement found on the PlayStation Blog. Here’s an excerpt on what to expect.
One of the first things we wanted to do with the sequel was to expand online play. We witnessed some epic online games on YouTube and knew that we wanted to bring an even richer experience. We looked at our tournaments that filled the blackboard in our office pitting one developer against another and very soon it became clear that we want to bring this competitive experience and spirit to you.
That's why we created Playgrounds Championship for NBA Playgrounds 2. It's a worldwide online league with several divisions where you can climb the ladder to the top. You'll always know exactly where you stack up against other Playgrounds 2 players online and see yourself progress as you acquire skills. We made sure to include co-op leagues to climb the ranks with a friend as well, or go it alone in the solo league.
The PlayStation Blog post goes a bit deeper into the details but the message seems to be ‘we listened to the fans, and we want to deliver’.
The game will launch with a massive roster of over 200 current and retired NBA players. There are big names such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, Dr. J., Giannis Antetokounmpo, Allen Iverson and Larry Bird.
Sounds like hoops are back in style.