There is an
inherent problem with reviewing a PlayStation 2 title that falls under the same
name as a reviewed PlayStation 3 title. Of course, the PS2 version can’t hold up
graphically to its next-gen counterpart, but what really matters is the way the
game plays anyway, not just the pretty pictures.
Unfortunately,
for NBA 08, SCEA’s next iteration of its franchise, the gameplay is lacking as
well.
Central to the
game is The Life v3, a supposed look at what it would be like to be a rookie
starting down the path to superstardom in the NBA. But while The Life has the
best intentions, it missteps in key areas – most of which are attributable to
the AI.
The Life begins
under an ominous cloud: one of the team stars (and yes, while the players are
fictitious you do get to select the team you want to play as, and the game uses
the NBA arenas for the game) may be lost for the season due to an injury,
another key player has been traded, and after 23 years in the biz, the head
coach has announced his retirement at the end of the season.
With that as
the backdrop, you are whisked off to Brazil for pre-season training and verbal,
cut scene, abuse by the head coach. Training is a series of objective-driven
mini games. For example, using the timing on the shooting meter, you may be
asked to knock home 12 consecutive free throws. Or you may have to demonstrate
the ability to post up during a scrimmage, getting points off a couple of
low-post plays, while dishing out X amount of assists and scoring X amount of
points. The goal may be further defined by having your shooter hit a combination
of jumpers as well as recording a dunk.
It is during
scrimmages that some of the more glaring problems with the AI surfaces. The X
button is used, defensively, to switch players, but there is lag in the control
scheme. You may have a guard beaten on top, with the offensive player driving
for the basket. It should be no problem to hit the X button, switch to a big man
down low to cut off the drive. Well, it is a problem. Some of the times you will
end up cycling through your players, and if you do manage to get the defender
down low, on occasion he will not turn to confront the offensive attack but
rather will stay facing the player he is guarding down low. On offense, the shot
goes up and you get the pulsating circle on the ground, indicating the
positioning for the rebound. You tap X to get to the nearest position player and
instead of moving toward the rebound marker, he assumes the position of setting
a screen.
Training camp
drags on and on, repeating the same drills over and over with little variation.
When you do finally get to a game, the objectives overshadow winning or losing
the game, and regardless of performance, the cut scenes are predetermined. You
may have an exception quarter and then get yelled at by the coach in the ensuing
cut scene for your lack of effort. While intended to inject life and character
into the game, the cut scenes, after a short time, become filler that can easily
be ignored because it is out of context.
What The Life
v3 does well, though, is to get the player out of the solo mindset; this is more
about the team than the individual player and your created player’s impact is
more about contribution to the team rather than his own personal stats or
effort.
The game also
sports several single-player modes as well as an online component. In
single-player action, you can play an exhibition game, play mini games, or take
on the challenge of playing in a league – season and playoffs, You can create a
player for this portion and insert him into the lineup, taking on the role of
manager and making decisions such as setting your roster, signing free agents or
trading players, and the like. Online you will be able to hook for two-player
games and download Live roster updates.
When it comes
to the look of the game, NBA 08 is solid for a PS2 title. There is not much
continuity to the animation flow. You may see a player heading for the rim for a
dunk, another player on an intercept course and then, instantly, the dunk is
through and the player is on the landing stage. The venues are well rendered.
The game’s
sound is what one would expect, and is merely average. When it comes to the
controls, noteworthy is the low-post battles. Get down low with the ball, hit L1
and you back into the defense. You then use the right analog stick to put on a
move, including but not limited to dropping a shoulder and knocking the defender
backwards for some shooting space.
NBA 08 may be
the fix that a PS2 hoops fan is looking for, but not a whole lot has changed
from the 07 version. If you have a next-gen machine, or are thinking about
purchasing one come the holidays, hold off on this title and get a next-gen NBA
title. NBA 08 for the PS2 might be worth a rental, but because of the flaws and
repetitive nature of this game, it may not be worth the price of admission.
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Gameplay: 5.5
The AI is not that
intelligent and the lag in the control scheme needs work. But as this is a port
that will not see too many more iterations, you will have to make due with what
it allows.
Graphics: 6.0
Some of the
animations are not that good in terms of fluid motion. The cut scenes are
reasonably well done, though.
Sound: 6.5
The musical score
sounds very familiar and the announcing is hit and miss. It does not always
adequately depict the action in the game. The rest is what one would expect from
a game of this nature.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 6.3
A new coat of paint
to the story for The Life, but not much else has changed.
Multiplayer: 6.5
You will get a
better game from a human opponent than the AI – well, at least the playing field
will be a lot more even.
Overall: 6.0
While this may be
one of the last iterations for the PS2 version of the game, still more should
have been expected and delivered. This is a poor cousin to the PS3 version
and aside from the new storyline for The Life v3, there is little else that has
been changed from the 07 version.
