There are a lot of cool perks inherent with being a reviewer of video games — in fact, I’d conservatively estimate the pro-con ratio to be somewhere in the 50-to-1 range. That said; one of those drawbacks is pushing through some major difficulty spikes in order to finish a game on a deadline when you’d rather step away and regroup. The result: controller tossing.

Combat has been tweaked, but with the Active Time Battle system returning it once again puts a premium on entering commands quickly. In fact, the pacing has actually been amped up a notch or two, especially when executing the game’s signature paradigm shifts. Even with the blistering pace, the game remains easy to control. About the only issue I encountered was on-screen effects sometimes making it difficult to keep track of which commands you’re inputting.

That’s not to say advancements haven’t been made, however, as the gameplay has received a number of refinements to elevate the core experience. Perhaps the most noticeable change for longtime fans is in the alley-oop game. Now connecting with a soaring teammate is no longer a virtual two-point lock as oops will be swatted and would-be dunkers regularly shoved to the ground if you try to simply bully your way with lobs down the lane.