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NBA Live 2003

Score: 95%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Sports
Media: DVD/1
Players: 1 - 4
Genre: Sports


Graphics & Sound:

What can I say? Maybe that this year's graphics have, once again, stepped it up from last year's already impressive looks. Well, it's true. The NBA Live series has never looked so good! Player models are so lifelike that at a quick glance, you'd swear you were watching a game on TNT. Better yet are the incredibly smooth animations that grace your screen. Whether it be a simple crossover move, or a power slam from a big man like 'The Mailman', NBA Live 2003 delivers.

Like the graphics, NBA Live's music and sound fx continue to be top-notch. Game menus have a genuine beat to them that never gets annoying, featuring the likes of Snoop Dogg, Fabolous, and more. And the in-game sounds replicate the NBA experience to a T. The announcers do a fine job of calling the game, and the on-court antics of the players are always present too. Unfortunately, the cut-away shots of players arguing with the refs would have been more complete with audio (and, someday, hopefully the voices of the real players). But overall, the clean look and sound of NBA Live 2003 is just a bonus for what may be the best basketball game on the market in terms of gameplay.


Gameplay:

Put everything aside - the clean look, the great TV-style presentation, the pace of the game - and listen to what I have to say. NBA Live 2003 has got the absolute best controller scheme on the market today. I mention this first because it has a huge effect on how you can play the game. For those of you used to the old-school gaming of only button presses, you'll be pleased. But for those willing to learn a thing or two, just run the simple tutorials in the game and learn how to take total control of your players with EA's new 'Freestyle Control.'

In addition to the common buttons used in basketball games, you'll now be able to use the right analog stick to perform jock-dropping moves on offense, as well as have complete control of your team on the defensive end of the court. Offensively, you can now control which hand your player dribbles with, which type of crossover he uses, and still have the ability to fake out your opponents with jab steps, hesitation moves, or fade-aways. Defensively, you'll be able to stand your ground and set up for a charge, get into a quick defensive stance, and choose which hand you want to attempt to steal the ball with. When used properly, the right analog stick finally adds a third dimension to video sports games.

NBA Live 2003 has all of your standard gameplay modes, including Season, Franchise, and a Fantasy Draft option, as well as authentic All-Star Teams, complete with 'Fros (sweet!). My only complaint with NBA Live 2003's gameplay is that it is still much harder to play defense than it is for offense, making it a slightly lopsided affair. Still, the game plays like a dream, and is a must-have for any fans of the National Basketball Association and EA Sports. Now, if only EA would have included an online option to coincide with the release of the upcoming Xbox Live, the game would have been complete. I think that EA Sports really dropped the ball there.


Difficulty:

Once again, NBA Live has four difficulty settings. And although the computer AI does change with each setting you play with, the real 'difficulty' lies within how you tactically approach each game. Using the right analog stick in a proper manner will yield a much easier game for you to control, and will make short work of the computer or any human opponents you face. But if you choose not to use the Freestyle Control setup, then you can expect this year's Live to play much the same as with past games. The hardest part about this (or any basketball video game out there) game is in controlling your defense effectively. At times it will seem like you just can't stop anybody, but other times you'll come up with that defensive stand you've been looking for the whole game. Either way, you will yield the best results when using the right analog stick as you step up the D.

Game Mechanics:

Continuing on from the 'Gameplay' section above, NBA Live 2003's new Freestyle Control is the best thing to ever happen to the franchise in terms of gameplay. Not only do you have total control over your players, but this absolute power can also easily be mastered by all who give it a chance. A few quick flips of the right analog stick push your player into a new level of on-the-court ecstasy.

Now for the bad news. My biggest pet peeve with NBA Live 2003 is that once again, EA Sports has failed to come through in the user records department. Why is it that every other franchise in the company auto-loads user records, but the Live series has been left out to dry. Come on, EA... Here me now, believe me later... It is EXTREMELY annoying to have to load user records each time you turn on the console!!! Enough said about that.

But, while I'm still on my soapbox, I'm also going to mention the lack of online play. With the exception of a few minor things (and one major - user records), NBA Live 2003 would have been the absolute perfect game had it included an online option to coincide with the soon-to-be Xbox Live release on November 15th. The lack of this option is unfortunate to say the least. But still, NBA Live 2003 is THE game that the failing franchise was looking for. Every basketball fan out there should check it out to see just how impressive the Live franchise has finally gotten.

NOTE: As a side note, NBA Live 2003 also comes with an audio CD. Tracks on the CD include: 1) NBA LIVE Intro; 2) Fabolous -- It's In The Game; 3) Snoop Dogg -- Gat Live; 4) Joe Budden -- Drop Drop; 5) Flipmode Squad featuring Busta Rhymes -- Here We Go; 6) Just Blaze with Freeway and Memphis Bleek -- Let's Go; 7) Hot Karl -- Blao; and 8) No Good -- Ballin' Boy.

-Woody, GameVortex Communications
AKA Shane Wodele

Microsoft Xbox Hunter: The Reckoning Microsoft Xbox Madden NFL 2002

 
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