Double Dunk, unlike many video games, was designed to be as fair as possible. For example, at the beginning of the game, the choice of which team gets possession of the ball is entirely random. From that point on, however, the course of the game is determined by the skill and techniques of the players. We can't help you with skill—to develop that, you'll have to put in some practice time, but here are some techniques that will help you improve your score.
To begin with, both the offense and the defense have eight sets of plays from which you can choose. Bear in mind that these plays can be exectuted only when the ball is brought in, which means that once a shot has been attempted, you cannot pass the ball until it is brought in again. Be very careful, if your player steps out of bounds, he will have to turn over the ball.
On Offense Offensively, the best plays to use are Give and Go Left (or Right) and Inside Man Shoots. I say this because every time the ball is passed in one of these plays, defensive control automatically switches from one player to the other, causing instantaneous confusion for your opponent. The Give and Go plays allow you to pass the ball between your men twice, wreaking havoc with your opponent's control and giving you an open shot.
* indicates best positions from which to score a 3-point basket.
After your passing play and shot attempt have been executed, you can do several things to ensure victory. As soon as your ball carrier shoots, position him under the boards to help with the rebounding; your other player will automatically be there. If you do come up with the ball, you can immediately go up for the dunk. Or, if the 3-point option is in effect, you can go for the 3 points. The best position for a 3-pointer is at the baseline or in the center half court. As soon as you enter that 3-point zone, go up for the shot. You will find that Mr. Outside (the small guy) will have a better shot percent age, especially if you wait until his feet are about to land before you release the ball for the shot.
On Defense Defensively, you will find that the Lane Defense and the Rebound Position Defense are the most useful choices. When playing defense, remember to stick as close as possible to the ball carrier and, when a shot is taken, position yourself under the basket for a rebound. The player you control is the one covering the ball carrier, so you must try to anticipate all his moves and be especially alert for a jump shot or a pass. If he passes the ball to his teammate, you will immediately find yourself in control of your other player, so be prepared.
As soon as a shot is attempted, you must make a quick decision. You can either jump up in the shooter's face and hope to steal the shot or position yourself under the basket for the rebound. If you choose to go for the rebound, it is important to wait and see how the ball is going to bounce off the rim before you make the rebound attempt. This split second of patience will make an amazing difference in your rebounding percentage.
As the defensive player, you have a slight advantage in positioning your player for the rebound; you can place him under the basket where he will be more likely to get the rebound. When that happens, immediately clear the ball by taking it into the 3-point zone. If the 3-point option is in effect, go for the shot. If not, drive back into the lane and go for the dunk. You will find that Mr. Inside (the big guy) is better at this shot than his teammate. If the foul option is in effect, you could be fouled, which is all right, too, because a foul shot almost guarantees a point and you may even get two.
If you miss the rebound, there is still hope. Your defensive man can always steal the ball. To attempt a steal, get very close to the ball carrier and press the joystick button. If the foul option has "been selected, you will probably commit one while trying to steal the ball. If, however, fouls are not being called, try to steal as often as possible. You will find this to be very beneficial to your score.
End Game Strategy Finally, the last few seconds of the game usually call for some special tricks. If you are desperate, try one of the following ploys. If you have the lead and time is about to run out, try to run the clock down a little by running around in the 3-point zone. If you are playing until a certain number of points is reached, try to foul your opponent; it is better to give away 1 point than risk a score of 3-points. If you find yourself behind, go for the 3-point shots—they are your only hope.
2008 ben langberg, all rights reserved.