NBA LIVE 06

EA Sport’s NBA Live franchise has come a long way and it certainly developed a loyal following among the masses. Why wouldn’t it be since Madden NFL is still sought after each year by sports gamers? Still the brilliance and addictive nature of 2K Sport’s NBA 2K6 is hard to ignore but NBA Live 06 certainly brings us sports fans the best game this franchise has ever produced. So lace up those sneakers and let’s hit the hardwood for some b-ball.

Last year’s game had all the goods and the makings of a classic but it fell short in a lot of the things that last year’s 2K game brought to the table. It’s not that it was a bad game but it just didn’t play as well. NBA Live 06 may not seem like a different game but this year the game centers its attention on the superstars, granting them the ability to show off their best talents to their awesome fullest. The EA Sports Freestyle Superstars features are not only one of the best new features but it’s also the most fun. It is here that the game recognizes the distinct abilities of a Playmaker, Highflyer, Scorer, Sharpshooter, Power Player and Stopper. You’ll know who your team’s superstar is thanks to an identifying icon and unleashing their ability requires the right analog stick. So when the time comes you’ll know how to make use of LeBron’s great playmaking abilities.

Aside from the excellent Freestyle Superstars feature, though, Dynasty mode has now become a deep and engrossing franchise mode that allows you to form your team the way you want it. Not only are you a General Manager in charge of all aspects of your team’s decisions (hiring staff and the like), but you take individual players and work with them until they develop superstar abilities of their own. Your PDA grants you news, emails and some pointers but it’s all up to you how you develop your team and its players. If that sounds good, well that’s because it really is that deep and that entertaining.

Again the franchise sees a return of Season, Playoffs and the NBA All-Star Weekend that was a hit last year. NBA All-Star Weekend basically features the usual East meets West NBA All-Star game with a Rookie Challenge, 3 Point Shootout and a Slam Dunk Contest. It’s great stuff indeed. There’s also the 1-on-1 game, a Slam Dunk School and an Individual Practice mode. All of this adds up to some really great game modes that will have you busy for months to come.

Gameplay-wise the game hasn’t really changed much from last year’s version. Some of the game’s little flaws make their way back in this year’s addition and that irritating AI problem is now just a minor annoyance. Still there’s very little to complain about when free throws are still handled beautifully and most of the superstars act the way they would in real life (well, most of the time). It’s solid stuff indeed but there’s always room for improvement, especially when it comes to the shooting.

Visually, the game has not improved greatly and that’s a real shame. Sure the player models look great and the superstars, even from afar, look like the real thing. Everything from the uniforms to the facial features looks really good but they still move a bit strangely. In fact, the players still look like they’re skating across the hardwood. You know there’s a problem when you see Allen Iverson slide across the court without moving his legs to receive a pass. Still the arenas look great and the game still retains much of its televised game feel.

The game’s sound is also pretty good and most of it is the result of some good play-by-play and color commentary. Both Steve Kerr and Marv Albert are great at calling the plays and while some comments come off as a bit dumb (“Yes, now that’s what I call a Shaq play!) the bulk of it is done just as good as a televised game. Even more enjoyable is Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith handling the commentary for the NBA All-Star Weekend games and its Slam Dunk contest. The best bits come from Kenny Smith who is not only funny but has a comment for every dunk. There’s also a few EA Trax from hip-hop artists like Q-Tip, Spider Loc and the Black Eyed Peas. Personally these tunes sound so generic that you’d swear these artists were manufactured in some corporate headquarter but then again it fits the game well enough.

One of the most enjoyable games the franchise has produced, NBA Live 06 is just one of those games that does the sport right. With a deep Dynasty mode, loads of addictive game modes and its somewhat solid controls this year’s offering is worth the purchase price. While NBA 2K6 has all the goods this year, this is certainly a game you don’t want to skip. Buy this one right away if you’re looking for a good EA Sports basketball game.

Gameplay: 8.5
It’s all about the superstars and watching them pull of some truly sweet moves true to their specific abilities is worth its weight in gold. The game modes feel a lot more complete this year and it all feels good on the Xbox. Some AI problems do crop up, but it doesn’t get annoying.

Graphics: 7.5
Once again the players look like their playing a roller skate version of basketball and that has got to be fixed. The players, especially the superstars, look a lot like their real life counterparts and the arena is alive and thumping with fans that look great.

Sound: 8.0
Marv Albert and Steve Kerr are a great team and they call the plays well enough. I even enjoy Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson as they cover the slam dunk contest. Their commentary never gets old. What doesn’t work, for me anyway, are the EA Trax filled with tunes from the Black Eyed Peas and Jurassic 5 to name a few.

Difficulty: Medium
The computer-controlled AI is done right and your rivals do put up a great defense with their superstars acting like the real deal. Dynasty Mode has just gotten a lot harder but that’s Ok, it’s a much better challenge than last year.

Concept: 9.0
Dynasty Mode feels more complete this year and that’s a very good thing if you like to build your franchise from the ground up. NBA All-Star Weekend is a dream come true and the Slam Dunk Contest is still worth the purchase price alone.

Multiplayer: 9.0
Online multiplayer is still one of the best reasons sports fans should be thankful that EA and Microsoft worked out their differences. It’s a smooth ride for Xbox gamers and there’s downloadable content promised so what’s not to love, right?

Overall: 8.9
This year’s NBA Live 06 is a slam dunk and the best we’ve seen from the franchise so far. Its little blemishes don’t really ruin the game’s attractive features but it does need to step things up if they want to beat NBA 2K6, a game that scores the highest points of this season. Still this one is worth your time and money if you love the game.