Simulation
sports titles typically outperform their arcade counterparts. Madden offers
more features and sells more copies than NFL Street. Same goes for EA’s NHL
series when compared to the wonderfully entertaining (but recently absent) NHL
Hitz. Baseball is no different.
The
exception to the rule is basketball. In the early 90s, NBA Jam ruled the
courts. Today, NBA Street is king. Extra features hardly matter when the core
gameplay is as polished as it is in Street. Which might explain why the recent
crop of simulation basketball games seem to be going in the Street direction.
NBA Live 07
picks up where the last game left off. The superstar feature makes its return
with new risks. Players can now gain weight during the off-season. If they’re
too lazy and/or perform too badly, they’ll lose their superstar status.
On the
bright side, players may also slim down and improve during the off-season, and
eventually become a superstar player.
Just before
the season, new rookie drafting “logic” (EA’s word, not mine) will allow you
to request three recommended picks. Each player is supposed to alleviate one
of the team’s shortcomings, making your job on the court a lot easier.
Recommended players are not guaranteed to be the best in the league. But
similar to the recommended plays feature in Madden, it’s a safe bet for anyone
who wants some advice.
Looking for
more predictions? The ESPN Mock Draft gives you a quick look at what the game
thinks will happen. Who should you pick? Who will your opponents pick?
Both questions are answered.
Team
chemistry has also been updated. The player chemistry ratings bar indicates
how well players work together. Select a player to view who he feels
comfortable playing with, then select the players on his list to compare. Are
the comfort levels equal? Rarely is that the case.
Same goes
for your opponents, whose chemistry ratings may also be viewed. Opponent
functions are said to be based on their chemistry rating, but the technology
just isn’t there yet. You won’t notice a significant difference in their
actions. Opponents act as they always have. None of them seem to be
particularly connected.
When a game
is close and the end approaches, they’ll do whatever it takes to get the ball.
However, if the end approaches and you’re in the lead, the opposing team is
likely to start causing illegal interferences. That means more free throws
and, if the shots are landed, a larger gap between you and the losing team.
For
simulated games, it is now possible to choose how many minutes each player has
on the court. This is extremely crucial. Simulated games are and always will
be a sit-back-and-wait experience. But now you have the chance to influence
the outcome before the sim begins. Oddly enough, when I first started the
Dynasty mode, I had better luck with a rookie than with one of the game’s
default players. The rookie’s potential was rated "excellent," which turned
out to be true for those games. I took a dive toward the middle of the season
and realized it was time to make some changes or stop simulating games.
Every eight
weeks you’ll receive an event scheduling notice (in-game default setting, not
real-time). Decide how often players should have a:
-
Team Event (increases
communication on the court; small boost to passing and defensive awareness
ratings). -
Press Event (increases
team’s ability to focus; small boost to dunks and free throws). -
Team Practice (boosts
team’s defense; decreases hardiness and fatigue resistance). -
Day Off (boosts hardiness
and fatigue resistance).
Knowing how
much to rest, practice, and promote your team is crucial. These actions are
simulated and take only seconds to complete. Your job is to make sure the
right choices were made before the simulation begins.
Based on the
number of tweaks and additions, you’d think NBA Live 07 was a brand-new
basketball game. I really wish it were, because the result of all this content
is not nearly as spectacular as the game would have you believe.
First and
foremost, the controls are akin to what would happen if a simulation sports
game got trapped in NBA Street’s world. Part of the game wants to be like
Street and forget the rules. By putting any amount of emphasis on style, the
game automatically drops below simulation level.
At the same
time the game wants to be a simulator. Consequently, the pace is very, very
slow. Menus are quick. The off-court Dynasty mode actions have been designed
to take up as little of your time as possible. But when you’re on the court –
when you start a game for the first time and watch the ball fly into the air –
shouldn’t it be exciting? Shouldn’t you be pumped? Shouldn’t that feeling be
followed by a fast, smooth, and seamless gaming experience?
That’s where
NBA Live 07 really disappoints. In addition to being a rehash (no amount of
off-court additions could change that), the game is also very slow,
graphically dated, and technologically challenged. Quirky animations (where a
player leaps into the air with little to no leg movement) could be
overlooked…if this were a first-generation title. The arena fans are
basically lifeless, only having a few frames of animation to work with. You
could praise the lifelike detail applied to each of the players’ faces, but
we’ve been getting that since 2001.
I had high
hopes for NBA Live 07. After seeing what could be done with Madden on the
current generation of game consoles, I hoped the same could (would) be
achieved for other sports series.
Unfortunately, we’re reminded every year that not every game can be Madden –
or anywhere close.
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Gameplay: 6.7
A decent
basketball game that fails to take the next step. The entertaining and
arcade-like mechanics are somewhat of a contradiction to the slow player
movement. It’s not that I expected the game to move at the pace of NBA Street.
Then again, I didn’t expect them to include any arcade elements at all.
Graphics: 6.0
The smooth player
animations are overshadowed by the dated paint job, unexciting audience
reactions, repetitive start-up scenes, lackluster lighting, and a lack of
cinematic effects applied to the pre-game presentation. I admit, that last one
is a matter of opinion. Some players might prefer that their games are more
like a real sports presentation, not a movie. But the other flaws are
inexcusable. It’s as if the game is saying, “If you want prettier graphics,
buy a next-gen console.” Meanwhile, the PS2’s remaining power goes to waste.
Sound: 5.0
Commentary is Ok,
but nowhere near standout. Musically the game follows the belief that, since
some basketball players rap, the whole soundtrack must be comprised of rap and
hip-hop. The result is a grossly unbalanced mix of — actually, it’s not much
of a mix at all. Which is fine and dandy if you love the genre. If not, you’re
stuck using the mute button.
Difficulty: Medium
NBA Live 07’s
moderate challenge should keep most players busy.
Concept: 6.0
Changes and/or
game updates do not constitute innovation, nor do they guarantee that a series
is making progress. It’s good to see Live’s Dynasty mode coming into its own,
with new additions that increase the player’s managerial tasks. Unfortunately,
once you enter the court, the game doesn’t feel like it has made much
progress. The initial impression was a bit of a letdown, given the game’s slow
(and rarely increasing) pace. The long-term impression wasn’t much more
exciting. You get used to its pace. But there is not a moment of, “Oh, I get
it!"
Multiplayer: 6.8
NBA Live 07’s
replay value is disappointingly lacking. With the core gameplay being more of
the same, the multiplayer competitions didn’t have anywhere to go. Though it’s
always more fun to play sports games with friends than it is to play them
alone, the difference between single-player and multiplayer excitement isn’t
that great.
Overall: 6.7
At the very least
a game should try to capture the thrill and intensity of whatever sport it’s
hoping to mirror. While NBA Live 07 is a generally decent sports game with
near-average replayability, it doesn’t “capture” anything. You’ll be amused
but not engrossed. It’s an update to last year’s game, not a sequel. There
aren’t any mind-blowing gameplay mechanics, or anything that comes close to
pushing the series forward in the way that NHL 07 and Madden 07’s new features
have. Unless you’re a die-hard Live fan that can’t live without every single
update, this is a rent-only release.
