Fast Break

Fast Break - the 1989 basketball sports game for Commodore 64 from Accolade.

Play two-on-two street basketball with fast passing, timed shots, and quick
defensive moves across full-court scrolling action.

Core loop
- dribble, pass, and shoot within a running game clock
- defend by blocking or stealing from opponents
- manage stamina and player positioning for scoring chances

Systems and items
- player stats - speed, accuracy, and endurance affect results
- shot meter - controls timing and success rate of throws
- fouls and turnovers - triggered by aggressive defense

Level design and feel
Horizontal scrolling court with animated sprites and smooth ball handling.
Single matches or full tournament mode with increasing AI skill.

Why it is notable
- one of the earliest C64 titles to capture basketball flow with 2-on-2 play
- designed by Distinctive Software before their EA Sports era
- featured cinematic cutscenes and digitized sound for crowd effects

Tips
- release shots at peak of the jump for accuracy
- alternate between short passes to open lanes
- conserve stamina for fast breaks late in the game

At a glance
Year - 1989
Developer - Distinctive Software
Design and programming - Michael Benna and Brad Gour
Graphics - Don Mattrick
Music - Kris Hatlelid
Publisher - Accolade
Genre - Sports (Basketball)
Players - 1 or 2 simultaneous
Controls - Joystick in port 2