When we think about Sports video games, most of us generally refer to football games such as FIFA and PES as the most common example. However, there is much more to the sports video game genre than we typically think of. This genre also includes basketball games, a form of sport that is globally popular and highly enjoyed by the audience. Similar to football game franchises such as FIFA and PES, basketball game series such as NBA Live and NBA 2K have existed for decades and has made its way onto a wide variety of video game consoles. As for the mobile platforms, if you’re looking for something similar but with a lot more grounded approach, you can try out Basketball Stars. The game is published by Miniclip and is available for Android and iOS devices. No matter how much knowledge you have about the sport in general, you might want to familiarize yourself with some of the tips and tricks and a guide which will make your Basketball Stars gameplay, much more convenient and easier.
Game Modes in Basketball Stars
Basketball Stars has two primary game modes – Shooting Race and Attacker-Defender. Shooting Race requires you to score as many goals as possible, as quickly as possible. At the end of the game, the player who has a higher score wins. The Attacker-Defender mode, on the other hand, is exactly as it sounds. One player will be the Attacker, and one will be the defender. Your objective is to score more goals than your opponent, and block as many of your opponent’s goals as possible. Without further ado let’s get into the details of these game modes and guide you to maximize your wins in Basketball Stars.
General Tips while playing Basketball Stars
Buy Better Balls
Basketball Stars features hundreds of customization options for in-game characters. Players can customize how their character will look in the game, by equipping them with various wearable items. While these items are purely cosmetic, the game also features different basketballs that have actual stats that can affect your gameplay.
You won’t be able to unlock all the balls at the beginning. This is rather a gradual process, where you unlock more balls as you level up in the game. Different balls have different stats. Balls have namely two types of stat categories – Accuracy and Time. Balls with higher Accuracy will ensure that your balls reach the basket even though you make a slight mistake while swiping the screen. On the other hand, the ones with higher Time will make sure you can throw your ball more quickly. Be sure to keep a lookout for new unlocks as you level up and get them as soon as possible.
Money Management
Like many other games, Basketball Stars features in-game currency. Whether you’re playing Shooting Race or Attacker-Defender mode, you will need to wager a certain amount of money in order to play a game. Both you and your opponent wager half the money that contributes towards the winning prize. The winner, of course, receives the winning prize which is basically the amount you and your opponent wagered. By any chance, if you continuously lose matches, you will keep on losing your wagered amount. The higher the level of your basketball court, the higher is the initial wager amount required to participate. Therefore, if you’re low on cash, you might want to stick to the first court, the Underdog’s Court, as you will have a higher chance of winning.
Moreover, the game frequently offers free cash to players. Be sure to grab it whenever it is available. The game also features a spinning wheel. You can spin the wheel once in a day to receive rewards. The most likely outcome is that you will receive cash, therefore, it is suggested that you spin the wheel daily.
Shooting Race Mode
It is highly suggested that you play the Practice mode in the game to familiarize yourself with the controls. Once you’re done with that, it would be better if you start out with the Shooting Race mode instead of heading directly to Attacker-Defender. Here are some tips and tricks to remember while you play Shooting Race in our Basketball Stars guide:
Keep Your Eyes Open
The power meter on the left indicates you much force you are using to throw the ball. The white marker on the meter indicates the optimal force or the Perfect Power level required to ensure that the ball reaches the basket. The amount of power you use depends on how far you swipe on the screen. If you swipe too little and the power meter does not reach the white marker, it implies that the ball will not reach the basket. On the other hand, if you swipe too far, the power level surpasses the white marker which means that your ball will probably go over the basket and bounce off the board. The white marker’s position on the power meter will keep on changing from time to time. Therefore, you must keep an eye on the meter and swipe accordingly.
Make Every Shot Count
Some special shots earn you more points than others. For example, a perfect shot through the basket will earn more than normal shots. Moreover, these perfect shots when performed at a streak will fill up an “On Fire” meter. Once filled, you will notice that your ball is glowing as it is literally on fire. When you shoot an “On Fire” ball through the basket, it will earn you much more points than a normal shot. You can also earn more points if your ball hits the board first before going through the basket. Just make sure your swipe is accurate enough because if it’s not, it will probably bounce off the board and fall to the ground.
Shooting Race is a race against time. Therefore, you should not waste any time looking at the scoreboard or your opponent’s shots. Just focus on your own shots and the power meter. Make sure after shooting your ball through the basket, you immediately shoot another ball. Keep on throwing your balls until the match ends.
Attacker-Defender Mode
As mentioned before, if you’re just starting out, it’s best if you lay off this mode for a while. Participating in a match requires in-game cash and you wouldn’t want to lose it. Therefore, it’s best that you start playing this mode only when you’re well versed with the game and its mechanics.
Attacker
You need to make sure that you reach the target score before your opponent. Scoring your goals is not as easy as it is in Shooting Race because this time your opponent will attempt to block your shots.
Do not stand in one place for long. Deception is key to scoring a goal in Attacker-Defender mode. Keep moving left and right to make sure your opponent changes lane. You might want to fake a few shots by double-tapping. However, do not spend too much time fooling your opponent because they will snatch the ball from you at the earliest possibility. Throw the ball as soon as you see that your opponent is in a different lane than you. Throwing your ball followed by a fake throw is recommended as it will make sure your opponent does not have enough time to block the shot.
Defender
The more shots you block, the higher is the chance that you will reach the target score before your opponent. Always keep moving along with the Attacker and make sure you are in the same lane as them. Part of being a Defender is being able to make judgment calls as to whether the Attacker is faking a shot. It is totally up to your instincts whether you will block the shot or remain still. If you are right, you will successfully block the ball. Moreover, if your opponent is taking too long to throw, it’s best if you try to steal the ball from them instead.
Conclusion
Basketball Stars can be exciting for those who are into basketball games. Unlike many other games, this game takes a rather simplistic approach to game mechanics. Since it’s a 1v1 multiplayer game, it provides quite a bit of challenge for players which is good for those who are into competitive games. Overall, this game is worth a try since it has over a million users worldwide. In case you are confused as to what kind of approach would be best for playing Basketball Stars, you can always refer to the above tips and tricks to make things easier for you and guide you to easy first wins.
What are your opinions on this Basketball Stars Beginners Guide with Tips and Tricks? Do let us know in the comments!
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