NBA Live 07

NBA Chemistry 101: Teammates who get along well together win together.

While it seems fundamental, EA Sports has made sure that the entire element of team chemistry has received attention in the pending release of NBA Live 07. Of course, that is not the only thing that is new to the game, and the tandem of Marv Albert and Steve Kerr will give you the lowdown on everything that is new to this year’s franchise.

But before getting to that though, NBA Live 07 does have some nice twists and features, from the creation mode to the rich and deep dynasty mode. Unfortunately, while bright and lush, the overall experience is just feeling a bit dated. The players don’t move quickly, even when you hit turbo they seem to drift to the nearest opposing player slow down by physically bumping into them and dragging that player on the move. The jump shot has an odd hiccup as well. Instead of being released from the top of the forehead, the ball lurches down to about eye level before rising up toward the basket in a smooth arc.

Does this make for a bad game experience? Absolutely not. There are several reasons for that – one is the intensity element added. Players controlled by the AI will react differently as the game progresses and if you go on a scoring run, plays sterling defense, expect to feel that. The ebb and flow of the game seems much more defined in this year’s title.

Of course, there are a host of other additions to the ’07 title.

New features this year include the Total Freestyle Control, a system that employs the right thumbstick to perform a variety of moves that largely depend on the superstar you have (as in the level of your player). Freestyle Superstars 07 has added two new types of superstars, bringing the total to eight, with two new levels (star level and superstar level). Players can switch superstar types (if there are more than one) on the fly (left trigger and click right thumbstick). The X Factor is the clutch 6^th man who can temporarily elevate his game to the superstar level. You name a potential X Factor player, put him into the game and use him consistently to get the bar to flash, at which point the player goes into superstar ability mode for a short time.

There are also new gameplay features that give you different types of passing moves, including touch pass. Most of the passes use the X button, but the alley-oop uses the white button. The D-pad can select plays on the fly. The right thumbstick (moved fluidly up and down) is used to make free throws. Dunks and layups have been moved to the Y and X buttons, respectively.

The new passing features are very well designed, and you can use the right thumbstick to guide the direction of your passing, making for a quick defensive rebound, outlet and passing scheme down the court.

The music is basically forgettable in this game. Even the prospect of songs by Sergio Mendes with The Black Eyed Peas just seem to be rehashes and fall short of expectations. The commentary (by Marv Albert and Steve Kerr) is bland at points. Yes, they do keep up with the game’s action well, but Kerr is so laid back that in the excitement of the play it is easy to miss his comments.

The game’s graphics, as mentioned, have a lush feel to them. The court reflections, lighting and player models work very well, and the ball physics are great. The game just feels slow for some reason. Even when you hit turbo, there is a barely noticeable burst of speed, not the quick steps that blow by a would-be defender.

The AI is smart and strong. Depending on the difficulty level you select (and you can tweak a host of elements to really refine the game experience), the AI will either play almost flawlessly (aside from the missed shots, which each team is prone to), or make a few odd mistakes at various times. From the default camera angle, it does get hard to figure out if your defensive player is taking a charge or committing the foul.

Defined roles are a key factor in this year’s game, and NBA Live 07 presents a strong court experience. As whether it is enough to carry the game to the playoffs, time will tell.