In the past,
if there was any one thing that EASports NBA title needed to fix, one thing
immediately apparent when the game first launched, it would have been the pacing
of the gameplay. The players looked like they were running with leaden weights
on their feet, or in mud.
EASports
recognized that, scrapped previous code and started to build NBA Live 10 from
scratch. What has been rendered up is a fluid game that is delightful in pacing,
features spectacular finishes a la the NBA style of play and gets the franchise
to a place where successive titles will have a foundation worth building on.
The game is
missing some of the modes from previous iterations, such as the Be A Pro mode,
which really was not all that compelling a component. This is a game that is, in
many ways, barebones, but it is seemingly apparent that what EASports was
looking to do was to rebuild the game, bring as much authentication to it as
possible and then use it as the foundation for titles to come. If that was truly
the intent – they succeeded.
The player
skins look like their real-life NBA counterparts – for the most part, the arenas
look great and bear the signature settings of the actual arenas, the
presentation is very much broadcast quality, and there is even a sponsor that
brings you key moments – like Dunk of the Night, brought to you by Sprite (the
soda pop).
Like other
EASports titles, NBA Live 10 immerses itself totally in the Dynamic DNA model,
allowing players to update rosters with stats reflecting who’s got the hot
shooting hand, who is injured, trades and such. Central to that is the new
Dynamic Season mode that allows players to log in on a daily basis, update the
roster and then play the games that were actually played that day, effectively
allowing those players to alter the course of their favorite NBA team – for
better or worse.
Another new
mode is the Playoffs, in which the atmosphere of playoff NBA action is ramped up
above that normally associated with the regular season. There is a tangible
intensity to the atmosphere that creates a bit more of an adrenalin rush within
the context of the game.
Online takes
the game to new levels with the adidasLIVE Run, which allows players to become
part of a team and each season is a month long. You can build a dream team for
your fantasy squad and then go head-to-head against other players.
As you
launch the game you are presented with a gym, replete with coaches that will
allow you to unlock training sessions and learn the intricacies of some of the
game elements. You can learn about the Quickstrike 2.0 Anklebreaker moves that
take a hesitation move and then allows you to explode past a would-be defender.
You can run the quick break from either an offensive or defensive perspective.
The controls
for the game have been broken down and simplified. This is very much a game that
you can pick up and play immediately. Shooting controls do have modifiers, such
as holding the R2 trigger and hitting the square shooting button to attack the
rim. Or hit R2, move the left thumbstick right or left to execute a hop move or
spinning lay-up.
The alley-oop
pass has been relegated to the triangle button, keeping players from having to
do multiple keystrokes on controller antics to execute a seemingly simple play.
The
commentary team of Marv Albert and Steve Kerr do a solid job, and the musical
score that bridges games is decent.
NBA Live 10
is not as robust in terms of game modes, but it is a solid title that focuses on
the game itself and not a lot of superfluous ideas that are not fully fleshed
out. NBA fans should find the new NBA Live 10 a refreshing step up in terms of
gameplay; this is about the game and in that regard NBA 10 does the job.
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Gameplay: 8.7
Simplified
control elements, streamlined interface, Dynamic DNA add-ins – NBA Live 10 may
not have a host of options when it comes to game modes, but what it does have is
well realized.
Graphics: 8.7
The animations
are very good and some of the NBA players mirror their real-world counterparts
in convincing fashion. There is a generic quality to some of the lesser known
players, though and collision paths can seem a bit off at times.
Sound: 8.5
Nothing too new
or innovative here, but solid commentary that – for the most part – is in step
with the action, and a decent musical score to bridge from menu screens to
games.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.2
Back to basics
with this title? Maybe, but while the game is not huge in game modes, this is a
title that feels rebuilt from the ground up and the results are solid.
Multiplayer: 8.5
Every time the
online selection was chosen there were always games to be found, sporting a
decent range of skills, from the newer players to hardcore gaming machines that
could crush you and run up the score. The connections were strong and very
little lag was experienced.
Overall: 8.5
NBA Live 10 took
a step back, and then reinvented itself. The result is not a particularly robust
selection of game modes, but what is here has been done well. The core and focus
of the game is the NBA games and season, and in that regard, the dev team did a
good job and served up an entertaining game that shows why those playing at the
NBA level are there. Some of the finishes are amazing to watch.
