NBA Playoffs - Bulls Vs Blazers (Japan)

Getting Started

Since this is the Japanese version, the menus and team names are displayed in Japanese. If you aren't familiar with the language, you can navigate by muscle memory from other Genesis sports games - the basic structure is usually the same: pick a game mode (exhibition, season, or playoffs), then choose your team and opponent. The core loop is playing full NBA basketball games, controlling one player at a time with the ball while the AI handles off-ball movement. On defense, you control the nearest player to the ball.

Key mechanics include calling plays (usually via shoulder buttons), passing with B, shooting with A, and stealing on defense. The game simulates five-on-five basketball with fouls, timeouts, and shot clocks. Expect a fairly realistic simulation for its era, with a focus on positioning and timing rather than arcade physics. If you're new to Genesis basketball, start with an exhibition match on easy difficulty to get a feel for player speeds and shot windows.