he past few years, NBA 2K has dominated NBA Live like Hot Sauce schooling Joe Juba in a Rucker Park pickup game. But with NBA Live 08, EA has got its groove back and fans of the series can put away their online petitions in favor of a game controller.
Everything about NBA Live feels completely revamped. EA ditched the baseline camera in favor of a broadcast-style view. On the court, the new right analog stick controls respond much more fluidly than the former, clunky Total Freestyle Control. The new Hot Spots feature lets you find the places on the court where your players excel offensively at the push of a button, which aids your strategy in key situations.
The AI is also improved. Opposing teams will actively use their subs to rotate in valuable bench players, and if you go on a run they will call timeouts to slow the pace of the game and readjust their strategy. All of this adds up to a much more enjoyable basketball experience than last year’s farce.
But not all is perfect on the hardwood. The game still suffers from clipping —player arms cut through the glass behind the basket and passes go through the defenders’ arms. Players seem hesitant to grab loose balls, the rebounding can be sporadic, and players miss too many easy lay-ups, even if you’re using a stud like Gilbert Arenas. The fast-break game also needs tweaking. Breakout passes are often poorly placed and require your running player to stop to receive the ball instead of attacking the rim in stride.
In addition to the great Dynasty mode, EA has expanded the game with the FIBA World Championships, a Quick Pick Play mode that lets you assemble a roster from the entirety of the NBA for a pickup game, and Scenario Play that allows you to test your mettle in tough user-created game situations. You can also set up online leagues with friends, but this mode isn’t nearly as full blown as NBA 2K8.
In all, NBA Live 08 is a vastly improved game that is nearly ready for primetime. With another year under its belt, NBA Live may be contending for the championship.