When NBA Live
06 debuted for the PSP, any basketball fans expected the same rich action
and game modes EA Sports brought to the console version but it only managed to
give us a game that showed us a version that seemed rushed and incomplete. How
cool it would be to carry around a version of our beloved NBA Live
franchise and to play during lunch breaks or that commute back home, we thought
to ourselves? Well, another year and another attempt and we find ourselves back
on the court with NBA Live 07. Unfortunately, even with the improvements
this is still a game that would barely make it to the playoffs.
Still, it’s not
that EA Sports didn’t try to bring us something better this year and it does
improve things in the game mode department. You’ll find everything here from
Season, Playoffs, All-Star Weekend and even a deep Dynasty Mode. To top it all
off they’ve even included three PSP-exclusive mini-games such as 2 Ball, Handles
and Superstar Challenge. Yes, there’s certainly a lot here to sink your teeth
into this year and that’s the good news. The bad news is that even with all
these juicy game modes the gameplay will leave a bad taste in your mouth. First,
though, let’s focus on the good.
Dynasty Mode is
the heart of the game if you want to dive into various seasons with your
favorite team as the General Manager and coach. You’ll find pretty much all of
the elements from the console version complete with the usual assortment of
wheeling and dealings such as managing your staff, scouting for promising
rookies and keeping tabs on your team’s schedule. It’s certainly a very deep
mode and you’ll be glad to hear that EA Sports added a feature called
PlayStation 2 LINK that allows you to transfer files from your PSP to your PS2
and vice versa. That way you can continue your PS2 Dynasty Mode game on your PSP
and continue what progress you made on your handheld to the PS2.
Another aspect
of Dynasty Mode is keeping a close eye on Team Chemistry since your players
react differently throughout the season. While keeping their morale high results
in each player bringing their game to each game on their schedule, keeping it
low means you‘ll find it harder to keep your team from falling apart on defense
and offense. Fatigue is also a factor in keeping your team morale high and thus
upping the realism factor, and makes for more of a challenge. It’s a great mode,
indeed. The other game modes are nothing to sneeze at since they offer all the
things we’ve come to expect from the console version. All-Star Weekend, for
instance, features everything from a Slam Dunk Contest to a Rookie Challenge, as
well as an All-Star game. The best part is that it even comes with its own
commentary by Greg Anthony and Ernie Johnson. Again, this is some great stuff.
This year’s game
also sees a PSP exclusive Mini-Games mode that contains some fun little
exercises as well as Superstar Challenge (a game made that has gamers relive
some truly spectacular moments from the 2005-2006 seasons). There is also 2
Ball, a game mode that allows you to pick a player and go up against another
rival player in a game that has you attempting to make as many baskets within a
points marker on the floor. It’s not an easy game since various power icons pop
up that allow you to literally freeze your opponent or add four more points to
your basket. Finally, there’s Handles, a rhythm-styled game that has you
dribbling to the directional pad instructions. Interestingly enough, Handles has
you holding your PSP sideways since it gives you a full screen look at your
dribbler in action.
With all these
great game modes why does the game still feel like it hasn’t changed at all? For
one thing, the framerate is slow. You’ll be dribbling into enemy territory,
ready to beat the clock when suddenly things slow down to a crawl and the
stutter that comes afterwards disorients you. This is what you’ll come across
frequently in this game and yes it definitely sucks the life out of the game.
Another aspect of the gameplay that doesn’t work is the new Total Freestyle
Control features. Sure, the Freestyles Superstars, Playmakers and High Flyers
moves sound good on paper but they come off more of an annoyance rather than
giving gamers that extra edge. Think of it as a double-edged sword since your
opponents can make good use of it as well and they do it often. Worse yet, the
new X-Factor feature that takes a weak player and turns him into a superstar
works against you since your computer-controlled opponents use it often. And to
top it all off, pulling off the High Flyers moves requires you to press a number
of different buttons (L and triangle and X … do you have to be double-jointed to
pull these moves off?). Soon even a rookie can out dunk the likes of LeBron
James or even Kobe Bryant.
What works well
is the multiplayer mode. In fact, you’ll find yourself turning to it and
skipping much of the single-player modes since here you’ll find games that will
bring a more realistic challenge. You can play using an Ad Hoc connection but
you can also take your game online through Infrastructure mode. Online the game
plays far better and the framerate hardly slows down.
Visually
speaking, the game isn’t very attractive but it’s not ugly either. The arenas
look good on the PSP widescreen even though the fans look like cardboard
cutouts. Better yet, many of the superstars look more like the real deal, which
is nice. The game features an ESPN-styled presentation that doesn’t look as
great as the console version but does a great job of highlighting some great
slam-dunks or amazing plays.
The sound is a
different story since EA Sports added the EA Media Center feature that includes
such an innovative multimedia feature like the ability to rip a tune from your
MP3 player to your memory stick so you can use your own tunes as the game’s
soundtrack. Even if you don’t chose to use your own tunes, the game’s soundtrack
(that features an assortment of artists like Jurassic 5 or the Black Eyed Peas)
isn’t bad at all. Even the commentary, handled by Marv Albert and Steve Kerr, is
excellent and is filled with interesting insights with hardly any repetition.
NBA Live 07
is an
improvement over last year’s game but it still contains many of the flaws we
hated. Calling it a better game than the 06 game would be a mistake
seeing as a slew of new game modes don’t make up for poor gameplay and features
that just don’t work. Sorry EA Sports, but we’ll skip this one and hope next
year you’ll surprise us with a better game fitting of our favorite franchise.
|
|
Gameplay: 6.0
Unfortunately,
NBA Live 07 doesn’t play like a pro on the PSP and much of it has to do
with the misuse of the Superstar abilities and the slow-as-molasses framerate.
Passing and dribbling are handled nicely but when it comes to slam dunks, you
have to be double jointed to pull off the game’s fancy moves. This is too bad
since the game modes are wonderfully deep.
Graphics: 7.0
The game’s
visuals aren’t bad at all but they’re not spectacular either. You’ll recognize
some of your favorites on the court and the replays are particularly juicy but
it’s nothing to write about. At least the arenas look good as well.
Sound: 8.5
You can’t go
wrong with Marv Albert and Steve Kerr handling the bulk of the commentary and
they do an excellent job of not being repetitive. There’s a full roster of
musical artists like the Black Eyed Peas that makes the soundtrack a decent one
but the real superstar here is the ability to rip your tunes straight into your
memory stick to include your own soundtrack.
Difficulty:
Medium/Hard
For the most
part you’ll find an interesting challenge when you’re playing the single-player
mode but beware of the slow framerate that will cramp your playing style. The
bad part comes in the form of the X-Factor and Superstar abilities that your
rivals will use to their advantage more frequently. It not only becomes an
unfair match but a frustrating one as well.
Concept: 7.0
You’ll feel
how deep Dynasty Mode is and you’ll be glad the game includes the super sweet
PlayStation 2 LINK feature to transfer files when you want to take your
continuing season on the go. The mini-games aren’t spectacular but they’re nice
when you want a break from a serious Season of Playoffs mode and you have to
love the EA Multimedia Center feature that should be in all PSP sports games for
now on. Well, a girl can dream, right?
Multiplayer:
8.0
The game’s
multiplayer mode delivers a solid online and offline experience that keeps a
steady framerate throughout even if you’re playing with gamers using
Infrastructure mode. Really, this is the mode you’ll be turning to quickly to
avoid the unpleasantness of the single-player mode.
Overall: 6.6
NBA Live 07
for the PSP is
a great attempt to bring fans of the hardwood a deep and exclusive-rich portable
game that goes beyond the console version but sadly it fails in its execution.
With lengthy load times, slow framerate and the unfortunate Superstar moves just
keep this game from being fun despite its decent mini-games and great
multiplayer aspect. Skip this one, sports fans, and hope next year EA Sports
will fix these problems.
