|
EA Sports’ basketball series makes another appearance. NBA Live 08 doesn’t include dozens of new game modes or vastly improved graphics, but it does improve the core basketball gameplay of the game. This is where the game could have used the most improvement, so it’s nice to see the folks over at EA Canada focus on the gameplay.
NBA Live 08 doesn’t include many new games modes, but offers enough. The game includes a deep Dynasty mode that has seen some improvements over the past year, although nothing too revolutionary. Additionally, you’ll find a Season mode and the All-Star weekend, which includes the all-star game, rookie challenge, three-point shout-out and the slam-dunk contest. The game does include a new FIBA tournament, although it’s hard to get worked up over that.
On the court, you’ll find that NBA Live 08’s control scheme is more responsive this time around. This allows the game to run at a faster pace than it was before without making it feel too arcade-like. There are still separate buttons for shooting and dunking, but the system feels more intuitive this time around. The game includes two main gameplay changes that make the gameplay even better than it was last year. The first is the ability to see your player’s hot spots, places that show where players are particularly good or bad at shooting from. It changes how you approach the game since you’ll want to have the best player for the best shot. The second is the adition of “special moves” for key players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. They have special shots, usually great jumpers that can end a close game on your side.
The game supports online multiplayer, as expected. New this year is the addition of online leagues, which were found in 2K Sports’ NBA 2K series but not previous NBA Live games. Online, we found games to be responsive, although more so on Xbox 360 than on PS3 using the same connection.
The NBA Live series has always looked great on next-generation consoles and NBA Live 08 is no different. The character models are still among the best of any basketball game thanks to realistic skin tones and muscle definition. The animation has been improved over last year and the players look a lot better on the court, whether or not they’re handling the ball. The crowds look as good as usual thanks to the good-looking fans. Other visual niceties like the floor reflections and, working scoreboards are awesome.
The game’s audio component is strong. The background music is comprised of the typical EA Trax songs, which work well for NBA Live 08. The sound effects accurately capture the sounds of basketball, too. The commentary is the highlight of the audio package though. Commentary is provided by Steve Kerr and Marv Albert, who do a good job of following the game and providing some nice side commentary, too. Greg Anthony and Ernie Johnson cover the All Star Weekend, and do a great job there.
NBA Live 08 doesn’t add a whole lot of new modes, but the stronger gameplay goes a long way. The improved, more realistic gameplay, coupled with the excellent presentation package make NBA Live 08 a must-have for basketball game fans. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Oct 15, 2007
|
