Once upon a time NBA Jam was the biggest game in the world. Over the last twenty years the brand has lost some of its luster, but it wasn't that long ago that Midway's arcade basketball game was at the top of the heap. Not only was it one of the most profitable arcade machines, but NBA Jam made millions of Super NES and Genesis owners rush out and buy 4-player adaptors. The game was a fun mix of over-the-top action, great graphics and a blatant disregard for the rules of civilized basketball. NBA Jam was huge!

In the midst of the excitement, Midway decided to release a number of blatant knock-offs. While they found success with the NFL Blitz franchise, other sports didn't come as naturally. This is an advertisement for one of Midway's many attempts at cramming NBA Jam into a hockey rink. On paper the game succeeds. Open Ice: 2 on 2 Challenge had the same disregard for the rules and crazy, all while adding a roster of hockey players with complicated names (Messier, Robitaille, Lemieux, etc.).

All this leads me to the million dollar question: Considering the game is so over-the-top unrealistic, why is Midway trying to sell the game's realism? This advertisement suggests that the game is so real that you can see the nose hairs. Besides being gross and taking away from the merits of the game, it's factually inaccurate. This game isn't about realistic shooting, passing and checking ... it's about arcade action that will melt your face. If this game is so realistic, then why is my character on fire? Midway, you're sending me some mixed messages.

FROM: America's Next Great Bad Advertisement