NBA LIVE 06 – PS2 – Review

Once again this is yet
another year and another season of basketball playing goodness for the PS2.
Whether you’re a fan of 2K Sports nearly perfect NBA 2K games and EA Sports’
always evolving NBA Live series, we can come to expect these two rivals to try
to one-up each another with their own style.  Fortunately for us this means
improvements and new additions and, for NBA Live 06, they certainly make the
difference.  This is NBA Live’s best year yet.

One of the reasons this
year’s game wins big points is the fact that the game concentrates its attention
on the NBA’s superstars.  You know who they are, right?  Players like LeBron and
Kobe that have enough skills that sets them apart from other players in the
NBA.  The focus is centered on each player’s ability, whether the superstar is a
Playmaker, Shooter, Power Player, Highflyer, Scorer or Sharpshooter.  In case
you don’t know who your superstars are the game highlights each player enough
that they do stand out among their teammates and unleashing their
individual ability is what makes the game even more enjoyable.  Not only are we
treated to some spectacular shots of the superstars at their best but being the
one that has control over them makes this all the more special.

Every other aspect of the
game really hasn’t changed much.  The entertaining NBA All-Star Weekend is back,
along with its Slam Dunk contest, 3 Point Shootout, Rookie Challenge and
All-Star game.  There’s the same Season mode along with the ability to play the
Playoffs as well as going for a little one-on-one with your favorite player.
The tools needed to improve your game are available as well, such as the Slam
Dunk School and the Individual Practice mode.  Freestyle Challenge is also a
welcome feature, mainly because you can play it with a friend.  Even the game’s
online component is great.

By far the best
improvement is the Dynasty Mode that is not only delightfully deep but also
wonderfully entertaining.  Once again you are in charge of your team’s everyday
business as the General Manager but this time your start from scratch, hiring
your necessary staff members and scheduling your team’s practice, training and
games.  Because it’s all about the superstars, you can concentrate on a single
player and make him a superstar worthy of your already established superstar.
It’s not only a deep franchise mode but also its fun dealing with all the
problems and situations that arise in a NBA season.

The game’s controls are
handled well enough on the PS2 with the exception of a few flaws here and
there.  The biggest flaw comes in the form of the opposing team’s AI, which –
for the most part – goes from realistic to occasionally ridiculous.  You will
often catch players like Allen Iverson stealing the ball faster than you can
blink your eyes and Shaq doesn’t miss a free throw late in the game.  Yet the
rest of the game runs smoothly enough with the free throws better than ever
(this, in my opinion, beats the free throw in NBA 2K6).  Once you get the hang
of it, there’s some great slam dunk moves like windmills and tomahawks.  It’s
good, all right, but it doesn’t have the same finesse as NBA 2K6 when it comes
to the arcade-like gameplay and serious simulator style.

Here’s another bit of good
news, the PS2 gets an exclusive the other versions of the game don’t get and
that’s a playable version of NBA Live ‘95.  It’s a nice treat, really, and one
that allows players to go back to the basics the franchise has improved upon
over the years.  Found in the EA Sports Retro section in the main menu, players
can play an exhibition game using an arcade, simulation or custom style.  It’s a
great bonus basketball fans will really appreciate.

The game’s graphics are
great looking on the PS2 and the player models have really improved especially
when it comes to a player’s face.  The player models are great but where the
game really drops the ball (no pun intended) is their movements.  Players don’t
seem to move naturally and they don’t seem to run across the court.  Rather they
seem as though the kind of glide.  This does take away from the realism and
that’s too bad since the arenas look amazing as does the fans.

Sound-wise, the EA Trax is
filled with hip-hop tunes from Q-Tip, Spider Loc and even the Black Eyed Peas to
name just a few.  It’s your standard fare and not particularly good but there’s
an option to leave out the sounds that doesn’t work for you.  As far as the
game’s play-by-play and color commentary, you can’t go wrong with Steve Kerr and
Marv Albert.  They call the game excellently and, as an added treat, NBA Live 06
also marks the return of Kenny Smith back on the mic when it comes to covering
the slam dunk contest.

NBA Live 06 for the PS2
doesn’t deviate from its original recipe but it’s new features are impressive
enough to make this game the year you shouldn’t miss this one.  It might not be
this year’s overall winner in terms best basketball game of the year, this year
the honor goes to NBA 2K6, but it is one of the most enjoyable game’s you should
own if you’re a PS2 owner (there’s an exclusive PS2 extra) or a hardcore
basketball fan.

#Review Scoring Details for NBA LIVE 06

Gameplay: 8.8
The game plays just as good as last
year’s game.  Whether you’re passing or shooting at the three-point line, the
game handles it decently.  The game modes are a real treat, particularly NBA
All-Star Weekend and the wonderfully addictive Dynasty Mode.

Graphics: 8.5
The player models have gotten a lot
more detailed than before and the facial features have gotten as close to the
real thing and that’s quite a feat.  The arenas are also rendered beautifully as
are the fans.  What isn’t such a gorgeous sight is the way the players move
across the court.  They don’t move naturally at all.

Sound: 8.5
The play-by-play and color
commentary is actually done wonderfully and Marv Albert certainly adds a lot to
each game.  Particularly good is the commentary during the Slam Dunk contests,
which is not only funny but also fresh throughout.  The game’s soundtrack is not
my cup of tea but at least you have the option to remove your less favorite
ones.

Difficulty: Medium
The computer-controlled opponents,
especially the superstars, play a great game true to the real-life players.
Occasionally there are a few glitches that have players like Kobe Bryant
performing the same alley-oops every time throughout the game.

Concept: 9.2
The Freestyle Superstars feature is
a brilliant touch and the game modes are chock full of favorites new and old.
Dynasty Mode is nice and deep and who doesn’t love the NBA All-Star game?
There’s a PS2 exclusive in the form of a playable version of NBA Live ‘95.
Overall, this is a great package.

Multiplayer: 9.0
The online multiplayer is just one
of the many highlights this game has to offer and because it runs at a steady
framerate this is yet another perfect online sports game.  Not only does it
support leagues but also the tournaments will have you playing against players
at your own skill. You can play using a Broadband or Dial-Up connection.

Overall: 8.9
EA Sports has done a magnificent job
with NBA Live 06, one of the best basketball games to come out this year.  While
its gameplay mechanics don’t quite come close to capturing the balance between
simulator and arcade sports game that NBA 2K6 clearly possesses, this is a solid
basketball game that no PS2 owner should miss.