Boomshakalaka -- now on the go.

Licensed sports games so often aim for the diehards and sim junkies, leaving the casual and less devout fans on the bench. Not NBA Jam, though -- this light and speedy take on professional basketball pops with big-headed players and two-on-two dunk-fests, and nearly two decades after its original arcade debut, it's been revived for iPhone and iPad with all the latest teams and stars.

Simplicity has always been a guiding tenet for the series, and it holds true here both in the gameplay and the unobtrusive touch controls. After picking one of the 30 licensed teams and selecting two players -- with current pros, unlockable legends, and even mascots in the mix -- you'll be thrown into the action and challenged with shooting threes, playing defense, and notching some seriously ridiculous dunks. And it's all performed with three small virtual buttons and a joystick, which let you command your player (the teammate is A.I.-controlled) with relative ease. You can even slide your finger between buttons to run to the hole and dunk or set up an alley-oop for your partner.

The iPad version doesn't offer a ton of play options -- single games, local wireless matches, and a Classic Campaign mode that lists off all the other teams to defeat -- but the core appeal of the quick and entertaining games stays true for some time. Rare visual glitches aside, NBA Jam's cartoonish aesthetic holds up very well on the iPad, and the legendary announcer quips that helped make the original games such a sensation are back in full force. Whether you're a hoops-head or just a casual b-ball fan, it's nearly impossible to avoid cracking a smile while playing NBA Jam.

The bottom line. NBA Jam for iPad recaptures the humor and entertainment of the classic entries, and though light on play options, it's a great pick for hoops fans of all levels.

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NBA Jam by EA Sports - iPad Screenshots

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  You knew these guys had big heads, right? This proves it.

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  There's a Kidd on the floor.

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  Monster dunk -- boomshakalaka!

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  These guys would also do well in the Olympic high jump.

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  Easy controls, awesome action.

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