Overview- Critic & User
Reviews - Videos &
Screenshots
News- Codes
& FAQs - Gameplay
Controls - Similar
Games
Answers
Bundles
Critic & User Reviews
IGN Review of NBA Live 09
The speculation last year was that NBA Live 08 would be the series' last dance on the PS2, mercifully ending the franchise's run on the console after the once-proud title had spent several seasons on the decline. However, that speculation was, much to our dismay, incorrect. The folk at EA Sports have seen fit to grace us with NBA Live 09, but is the game fit to play?
Has EA finally produced an NBA title that looks, plays and feels like authentic NBA basketball? Or, is NBA Live 09 simply a repackaging of last year's failed attempt? Let's run the fast break and find out.
Still Dribbling In Circles
We're sad to say that NBA Live 09 doesn't do anything to break from the mold the series has settled into over the past several years. This year's edition plays just like its predecessors, placing an emphasis on attacking the bucket with reckless abandon in a frantic attempt to out-dunk the opposition.
Gamers seeking a realistic NBA sim are barking up the wrong backboard with NBA Live 09. Even if you select "simulation" as your preferred style of play when prompted when you first load up the game, you'll find that the game plays much more like an arcade-style basketball game than a true sim.
Just as in previous editions of NBA Live, players have a fairly easy time dribbling the ball right through the teeth of the defense, often plowing right through defenders, on their way to acrobatic dunks and layups. And the game's developers still don't seem to have a grasp on what it means to lead a player with a pass, or its impact on the game of basketball. So, when you see a teammate streaking down the court with a clear path to the hoop, you'll want to ignore him and take the ball hard to the tin yourself; if you elect to pass the ball to said open teammate, he'll simply stop where he is and wait for the ball to reach that spot, and by that time the defense will have had plenty of time to recover.
The on-court issues don't end there, either.
CPU-controlled players often ignore user-called plays, and even after you've called for a pick and roll three times, you may find your player standing out on the perimeter all by his lonesome while the post player who's supposed to be setting said pick meanders about the key haplessly. Also, CPU controlled players still have a strong tendency to set themselves up in terrible position to receive passes, and you'll find that it's extremely common for a pass from a point guard out to the wing will result in the wing player catching the ball and automatically pivoting to face the hoop, stepping out of bounds in the process. And, while we're on the subject of passing the rock, you'll find that passes move horrendously slow and that it's far too easy to press the R2 button and toss a lob pass in to a teammate for an easy dunk or layup.
Another inexcusable glitch in gameplay is that several times each game you'll see a player grab a rebound on the defensive end and then advance the ball into the front court facing the opposite basket. Not posting up, mind you, but simply dribbling up the court backwards.
To NBA Live's credit, this year's edition does feature a complete Dynasty Mode, a full FIBA World Championship tournament (complete with qualifying pool play) and the option to play a full season in Be A Pro mode, which allows you to take control of a single NBA player (or created player) and guide his team to the title, leveling up and boosting his attributes along the way. Those three game modes should be good for months of entertaining gaming, if you can stomach the title's shaky gameplay, that is.
Gamers hoping for any sort of graphic overhaul in this year's edition of NBA Live will be sorely disappointed, as it appears the developers at EA have completely skipped over tweaking the game's player renderings and animations as they cranked the game out. Simply put, this game doesn't look good.
Also, gamers may have a tough time adjusting to the "Player Lock" camera setting that you're forced to play Be A Pro mode in, as the camera rotates slowly and the ball often ends up out of sight if a defensive player pokes it free in the back court.
You may also find yourself scratching your head when you take a look at the player attributes EA's assigned for this year's game. All-Star point guard Chris Paul is rated an 86, the same as second year forwards Josh McRoberts and Alonzo Tucker. And, All-Star center and reigning slam dunk champion Dwight Howard received an 83 overall rating (and is listed as a power forward), a point behind Yi Jianlian and Sheldon Williams. Marco Belinelli, who spent his entire rookie season riding the pine in Golden State, received an 80, while All-Star forward Carlos Boozer was rated at 76.
©2008-10-23, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Has EA finally produced an NBA title that looks, plays and feels like authentic NBA basketball? Or, is NBA Live 09 simply a repackaging of last year's failed attempt? Let's run the fast break and find out.
Still Dribbling In Circles
We're sad to say that NBA Live 09 doesn't do anything to break from the mold the series has settled into over the past several years. This year's edition plays just like its predecessors, placing an emphasis on attacking the bucket with reckless abandon in a frantic attempt to out-dunk the opposition.
Gamers seeking a realistic NBA sim are barking up the wrong backboard with NBA Live 09. Even if you select "simulation" as your preferred style of play when prompted when you first load up the game, you'll find that the game plays much more like an arcade-style basketball game than a true sim.
Just as in previous editions of NBA Live, players have a fairly easy time dribbling the ball right through the teeth of the defense, often plowing right through defenders, on their way to acrobatic dunks and layups. And the game's developers still don't seem to have a grasp on what it means to lead a player with a pass, or its impact on the game of basketball. So, when you see a teammate streaking down the court with a clear path to the hoop, you'll want to ignore him and take the ball hard to the tin yourself; if you elect to pass the ball to said open teammate, he'll simply stop where he is and wait for the ball to reach that spot, and by that time the defense will have had plenty of time to recover.
The on-court issues don't end there, either.
CPU-controlled players often ignore user-called plays, and even after you've called for a pick and roll three times, you may find your player standing out on the perimeter all by his lonesome while the post player who's supposed to be setting said pick meanders about the key haplessly. Also, CPU controlled players still have a strong tendency to set themselves up in terrible position to receive passes, and you'll find that it's extremely common for a pass from a point guard out to the wing will result in the wing player catching the ball and automatically pivoting to face the hoop, stepping out of bounds in the process. And, while we're on the subject of passing the rock, you'll find that passes move horrendously slow and that it's far too easy to press the R2 button and toss a lob pass in to a teammate for an easy dunk or layup.
Another inexcusable glitch in gameplay is that several times each game you'll see a player grab a rebound on the defensive end and then advance the ball into the front court facing the opposite basket. Not posting up, mind you, but simply dribbling up the court backwards.
To NBA Live's credit, this year's edition does feature a complete Dynasty Mode, a full FIBA World Championship tournament (complete with qualifying pool play) and the option to play a full season in Be A Pro mode, which allows you to take control of a single NBA player (or created player) and guide his team to the title, leveling up and boosting his attributes along the way. Those three game modes should be good for months of entertaining gaming, if you can stomach the title's shaky gameplay, that is.
Gamers hoping for any sort of graphic overhaul in this year's edition of NBA Live will be sorely disappointed, as it appears the developers at EA have completely skipped over tweaking the game's player renderings and animations as they cranked the game out. Simply put, this game doesn't look good.
Also, gamers may have a tough time adjusting to the "Player Lock" camera setting that you're forced to play Be A Pro mode in, as the camera rotates slowly and the ball often ends up out of sight if a defensive player pokes it free in the back court.
You may also find yourself scratching your head when you take a look at the player attributes EA's assigned for this year's game. All-Star point guard Chris Paul is rated an 86, the same as second year forwards Josh McRoberts and Alonzo Tucker. And, All-Star center and reigning slam dunk champion Dwight Howard received an 83 overall rating (and is listed as a power forward), a point behind Yi Jianlian and Sheldon Williams. Marco Belinelli, who spent his entire rookie season riding the pine in Golden State, received an 80, while All-Star forward Carlos Boozer was rated at 76.
©2008-10-23, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved