Plot: What’s it about?
It seems every basketball fan has their pick for the ultimate player of all time, but no one can say for sure who the best really is, can they? If one player has dominance in one area, perhaps he lacks prominence in another, which rules him out of the running for the crown of the best player in the game. So what makes the ultimate NBA player then? Is it fast hands, accurate shooting, great power under the boards, or maybe just speed and grace? These questions and more are asked here, as we strive to find the NBA Ultimate Player, or at least get a few good suggestions. This program takes on a trek throughout the game’s history, as we seek out dominance on the courts, to bring us closer to an idea of what makes the ultimate basketball hustler. In the end, we just might learn that in a sport as diverse as basketball, we may never know who the ultimate player is, but we can have a lot of fun watching all the contenders.
I’ve had the chance to browse more than a few of USA’s NBA based releases and on the whole, I’ve found them to be very well made and worthwhile titles. The themes have been well planned and packaged, which is a tradition that continues here with NBA Ultimate Player. As expected, this one is loaded with exciting clips and highlights, but the piece itself is well crafted and very well executed. I think you’ll need to be an NBA fan to really like this one, but even casual fans will be pleased, thanks to the dynamic nature of the footage used. These releases are pretty much an excuse to sample some of the NBA’s greatest plays and playmakers, but if you ask me, there’s nothing wrong with that. I like how this program singles out different aspects of the perfect player, very cool indeed. This program runs almost an hour in duration, with over forty minutes of added footage, which makes this release a true bargain for roundball fanatics. I’ve been very pleased with this series of NBA releases and this installment is no exception, so it comes recommended to anyone who likes to see some awesome players at their best.
Video: How does it look?
NBA Ultimate Player is presented in a full frame transfer. This looks as good as possible I think, given that the footage is taken from several different sources. The in game clips look solid and as good as they did on television, though the older sequences show more wear and what not. The new interviews are the best video level however, as the elements seem in order, but even so, the video source is more than evident. In other words, this won’t stack up against refined feature film transfers, but as far as this material goes, this presentation is more than acceptable.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release uses a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, which enhances the experience to an extent, but don’t expect an explosive audio atmosphere. The surround see some use from the musical soundtrack, as well as some impact sound effects within the game footage, very cool indeed. This is about the same level of audio power as found in the other USA released NBA titles, which is a good one to be sure. This disc also includes a Dolby stereo track, in case that option better suits your home theater needs.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some bonus footage from the All Star Weekend 2001, as well as video profiles on seven of the NBA’s legends. On the DVD ROM side, you’ll find some animations to browse, photo galleries, web links, and more.
