Basketball Stars
One-on-one arcade basketball with steals, blocks, pump fakes and a supershot meter, on a tiny court with a one-minute clock.
Basketball Stars is MadPuffers' 2019 arcade basketball game, built for two people on one keyboard. The court is a single half, matches run a minute, and there is no dribbling game to speak of. You either shoot, fake, block or steal, and possession flips constantly because a missed shot puts the ball back in play immediately.
Each character has a small edge, like a stronger dunk or better defence, and a supershot bar fills as you play. Filling it lets you score from anywhere on the floor, which is what keeps a one-minute game from being decided in the first twenty seconds. There is a solo tournament ladder against the computer, but the two-player mode is what it was built for.
Controls
P1 arrows plus X and Z, P2 WASD plus B and V; double-tap left or right to dash
Tips
- Pump fake before shooting. A defender who jumps early hands you a free, unblockable attempt.
- Steal on the bounce, while the ball is off the floor, rather than reaching in while they hold it.
- Bank the supershot for when you are behind late. It scores from anywhere and cannot be blocked.