[Steve_OS]

• GameSpot

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The greatest players aren't limited to simple pick up and play as there are two modes focused on ending the debate. The first is the Teammate Challenge where 15 of the best NBA teammate combos ever to grace the NBA face off against each other. You'll have pairings like Alonzo Morning and Larry Johnson of the Hornets; Shaq and Penny from the Magic; and even Pippen and Jordan. You pick the pairing that you like and then face off against the 14 others to claim the title of best duo. For those who may want to see which era had the best players, the Era Challenge mode provides the answer. Here, teams of three consist of the best players from a given decade. If you're a fan of the '80s, then your team of Isiah Thomas, Patrick Ewing, and Larry Bird will face off against other teams. Here, there are 10 teams to choose from, with two from each decade up to the present.

• GamePro

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While those modes add a lot to the new experience, my favorite new mode is easily HORSE, where the classic playground trickshot challenge is brought to life with all these classic players. The menu of moves you can pull off is deep, and includes pedestrian stuff like behind the back and no look shots all the way up to kicking shots in or bouncing them off the ground into the hoop. You can even call banks or swishes for added difficulty, and a little exploring will unlock special areas to make shots from like the rooftops of nearby buildings. It's addictive fun, and not as easy as you might assume.