NBA Live 06
Electronic Arts has been at the forefront of developing sports titles for many years. Its first big hit was Dr.J and Larry Bird Go One on One, a basketball game that was released in 1983. Basketball games are a huge business in the USA so it's no suprise that NBA Live '06 is one of the launch titles for the Xbox 360.
NBA Live 06 begins with a virtual basketball court, a futuristic-looking practice arena to hone your skills. The basketball hoop materialises out of thin air and a player emerges as if he's arrived through a vortex. These initial screens are designed specifically for HDTV where it probably looks great but won't make any difference to the game play itself.
Player models are stunning, their skin shines with sweat and their eyes are spookily real. They do remind you of mannequins with their polished, doll-like look and although EA has captured that general look, the players are somewhat emotionless. The arenas are impressive and cardboard crowds have been replaced with animated basketball fans who jump up and down, clap ther hands and generally make the noise that one would expect at a real-life NBA match. But in no way does this make up for what essentially is a very poor game.
Graphical excellence that attempts to hide the many technical flaws fails miserably. NBA Live's poor gameplay sticks out like a sore thumb. From the moment a match begins, the game feels wrong, almost as though EA has rushed it out in a bid to produce a basketball game that will capitalise on the launch of 360.
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for larger imageAs you tip off, the camera is miles away from the action and it feels as though you are a spectator rather than a player. The camera viewpoint can be changed from the menu system but why it begins with this way is anybody's guess. While attacking, the passing seems laboured, almost as though the A (pass) button is not functioning properly. Hold the button down for a fraction of a second too long and you'll automatically pass to the wrong player, even if he's out of bounds. Your player seems to clunk around the pitch when attacking - it just feels awkward.
In direct contrast, while defending, players appear to skate round the court in a epileptic state as they attempt to steal the ball from the opponent. Inconsistencies are everywhere. Surprisingly, you experience slowdown in most matches. Perhaps I have a dodgy disk or perhaps NBA Live 06 has serious framerate issues.
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for larger imageFreestyle moves feel like you are playing in slow motion, moving around the court with the grace of a Russian weight lifter. Slamming a basket is still quite good fun but your attention will be diverted by the awkward and frustrating gameplay.
Free-throw shooting is appalling and mind-blowingly difficult. Moving your left thumbstick backwards then forwards in a consistent motion to shoot a basket seems pretty straightforward, apart from the fact that you will probably only score around 10% of those shots. Perhaps this requires greater skill that I possess but it still seems a thousand times harder than previous games.
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for larger imageOn a positive note, NBA Live has great coaching options available by pressing the D pad. Choose your stategy, offensive and defensive alignments and make substitutions while in the midst of the action. It's a nice touch but doesn't make up for the multitude of blunders throughout the game. The omission of the Franchise mode that was a big hit in previous games is a huge mistake. At least a Franchise mode provided some reason for fans to keep on playing.
Basketball ball fans new to consoles will probably find something that will keep them playing NBA Live '06 but seasoned gamers will see right through the flashy graphics and be heading back to the shops in huge numbers to trade it in. Hire this game if you must but don't go buying it!
