Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA Playoffs

EA’s Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA Playoffs arrived in 1991 as the high-stakes successor to Lakers vs. Celtics, bringing the intensity of the 1990-91 season to the Mega Drive. It was a landmark moment for sports gaming, successfully securing the NBA license to feature authentic teams and rosters, including the legendary Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan. The game shifted the focus from generic arcade action to a more broadcast-style simulation, complete with a pre-game show and statistical overlays that made every playoff matchup feel like a televised event.

Visually, the game utilized large, detailed player sprites that showcased unique "Signature Moves," such as Jordan’s acrobatic layups or Tom Chambers' "Tomahawk" dunk. While the animation can feel stiff by today's standards, the tactical depth was impressive for the era, allowing players to manage fatigue, substitutions, and half-court sets. The horizontal perspective offered a clear view of the court, though the pace of play is notably slower and more methodical than the frantic dunks found in the later NBA Jam or EA’s own NBA Live series.

Despite its technical limitations and the sprite flicker that occurs when the court gets crowded, Bulls vs. Lakers remains a fascinating time capsule of the early 90s basketball boom. It captures the transition of the NBA from the Magic and Bird era to the dominance of the Bulls, providing a surprisingly deep simulation experience for a 16-bit cartridge. While the sequels would eventually refine the speed and fluidity of the engine, this entry remains the definitive starting point for EA’s basketball dynasty on Sega hardware.

DID YOU KNOW?

This is one of the very few EA basketball titles to feature Michael Jordan before he opted out of the NBPA's shared licensing agreement, making his appearances in subsequent 16-bit games extremely rare or requiring him to be replaced by a "Player 99" character.

72%

JOYPAD'S VERDICT

A solid simulation that defined the early 16-bit basketball era with its impressive TV-style presentation and authentic NBA rosters. While the gameplay feels sluggish compared to modern titles, it remains a nostalgia-heavy essential for fans of the 90s Bulls era.

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Signature Moves Trigger

Every star player has a "Signature Move" (e.g., Michael Jordan's Air Walk, Magic Johnson's No-Look Pass). To trigger these, drive toward the hoop and press A + C simultaneously when you are inside the paint. The player must have energy and be in the correct position relative to the basket.

The Unstoppable Baseline Leaner

Drive your player along the bottom baseline toward the basket. Once you reach the edge of the key, hold the D-Pad toward the hoop and press C. Because of the game's sprite layering and hitbox detection, this shot is nearly impossible for the CPU to block.

Instant Steal Glitch

When the CPU is bringing the ball the court, stand directly in front of the ball handler before they cross half-court. Rapidly tap B. Because the CPU logic is locked into a "bring ball " animation, they often fail to protect the ball, allowing for an easy breakaway dunk.

Free Throw Accuracy

When the T-meter appears for a free throw, wait for the first bar to hit the exact center. Instead of just tapping B, hold on the D-Pad while pressing B. This slightly increases the success window for the second horizontal bar.

Master Code (Required for some consoles)

RE8T-R6WA

Infinite Shot Clock (24 Seconds)

AJBT-AA3Y

Infinite Game Time (Clock Never Runs )

AJBT-AA24

Player 1 Starts With 10 Points

BJBT-AA2A

Player 1 Starts With 40 Points

F6BT-AA2A

Player 2 Starts With 10 Points

BJBT-AA2G

Infinite Timeouts (Player 1)

AJDA-AA4R

Player 1 Scores 2 Points for Every Basket

SBBA-BA0C

Player 1 Scores 3 Points for Every Basket

SBBA-BA0W

P1 Always Has 99 Points

FF0360:0063

P2 Always Has 0 Points

FF0362:0000

Freeze Game Clock

FF0270:003C

P1 Infinite Timeouts

FF037A:0005

P2 No Timeouts

FF037C:0000

P1 Score Value (Custom)

FF0360:00XX

Replace XX with hex value (e.g., FF for 255 points).

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