NBA Live 08 Hands-On Preview

BY Nicholas Rego | POSTED: 15 August 2007

Slam dunk your way to the top!



Not being a big sports fan in general, I tend to avoid playing console sports games. You always have to spend time learning the rules of the game, mastering the controls, and battling a near-perfect AI opponent. Very rarely does a game come along that not only makes the gaming experience as realistic as possible, but is both kind to amateurs and challenging to professionals. I recently sat down with a nearly-finished preview build of NBA Live 08, soon to be released for the PS2. Though I was initially weary of playing a basketball game, I managed to pick things up fairly quickly, and was soon skating around the court as the Chicago Bulls.

NBA Live 08 is one of the many anticipated games being released by EA before the end of this year. The previous NBA game came under a lot of  scrutiny for its very many flaws and rushed feel, so I was eager to see how EA had redeemed itself in this latest instalment. Jumping straight into a quick match, it is easy to spot straightaway how fast and smooth everything looks. Players move fluidly around the court and player animations have been pulled off really well. Rather than behave like rag dolls, players move around the ball fluidly, and react in real-time to the ball’s direction. Rather than summoning the ball using psychic powers, players jump and lunge to reach for a shot, adding to the game’s realism.

I found the biggest draw of the game to be the Dynasty Mode. Signing on to take care of a team, you have to hire staff and keep your team happy so that they can continue winning matches. You start off by hiring essential staff such as a Trainer, Coach, and talent Scout. Once these have accepted your contract offers, you can put them to work to schedule training sessions for your players, or to arrange for high profile matches and even player swaps. At first the layout of Dynasty mode can be a bit confusing, but there are helpful prompts at every step that tell you what you need to do. You then progress by simulating days passing, as matches draw near. Once you are ready for a match, you can actually dive in and play the game yourself, or just let the computer simulate the game and come up with a final score. The dynasty mode will keep fans of the game occupied for a while, as there are tons of things that you can do to improve your team and your game.

Controlling the players was a breeze – you can make a quick pass to your team mates with the help of the X button, and then make a quick shot by tapping the square or circle buttons. Slam dunks remain the favourite move of most players, and the gamepad provides plenty of force feedback when you dunk one in. The gamepad also vibrates when you are covering a player and getting to close, so you can avoid a foul play in advance.

It was remarkable to note how well your team members responded to your actions on the court. Once in possession of the ball, some of my players came forward to help with passes, while others slinked through and waited near the hoop to make a slam dunk. Scoring is fast and frantic, and its important to keep an eye on your team mates as well as your opponents. The AI here isn’t stupid either, and intelligently reacts to your moves and plays. This isn’t to say that the game is insanely difficult, but offers a level of difficulty that even novice players can adjust to.

There are several other game modes to keep players happy, including a 1-1 playoff and challenge mode. You can also try your hand at the FIBA cup, or just spend hours scrolling through all the team details. You can take the game online as well, or another player can pick up the second controller and join in the fun. The game is accompanied by various excellent R ‘n’ B soundtracks, which play in-game along with some superb commentary and crowd cheers. Its clear that EA has gone to great lengths to make the game as real as possible, and literally stretch the capabilities of the PS2. The biggest improvement in NBA Live 08 has to be the almost flawless speed at which games can be played, whereas in the previous instalment, choppy frame rates and murky animations bogged down gameplay.

It looks like EA is set to win us over again with NBA Live 08 releasing soon. As it stands, the game is going to be a real winner for basketball fans, with its fast gameplay and level of detail. This is definitely one to look out for, and is another feather in EA’s cap.