How, exactly, are you supposed to review a game that ticks all the boxes? NBA Street: Showdown is such a game. Decent enough graphics: tick. Thumping urban soundtrack: tick. Three-on-three fluid basketball action: tick. Player creation and development: tick.

Like much from EA’s Big stable NBA Street: Showdown does much that can be lauded. It’s competent without being dull, snazzy without being obnoxious yet it’s also slick without being exciting and fun without being addictive… In spite of all the posturing of having the NBA licence (and the player models) the game fails to do anything outside the box.

Game modes offer a wide range of play styles and multiplayer is something that is high on the game’s list of things to do well. But when it comes down to it NBA Street: Showdown is not a game that you would show off to someone as ‘here’s why you have to get a PSP’.

This is how you review a game that ticks all the boxes. You tick a box yourself, one that’s marked ‘b-ball fans only, please’.