NBA Live 2006
Posted January 2, 2006
The start of the '05-'06 NBA season is drawing near and there are a number
of questions on people's minds. Can the Spurs bring home yet another title?
Is this the last chance for Shaq and the newly stacked Heat? How will relations pan
out in the on-going Kobe/Phil saga? Can I win both the Slam Dunk AND
3-point contests at All-Star Weekend? Alright, so maybe most people aren't
exactly thinking over that last query, but I sure was as I threw in the
latest EA Sports release NBA Live 06.
Aside from strippers and porn, the excitement of an NBA game is my favorite thing in the world to watch. The new dress code should make this season the best ever, but the excitement will only be in small part due to the spanking new suits all the players will be donning. The real draw of the season can be seen in the action of the old veterans versus the new rookies, the finesse game versus the power game, the West versus the East, and of course you versus some kid in a foreign nation. That's right kids!, I'm still talking about NBA Live 06, not the real NBA.
EA Sports has released this years edition with most of the old favorites in terms of game play and play mode options, with the excitement of a few new options thrown in to get you all giddy and excited. You have the usual suspects of online play and dynasty play open to you with the added caveat of being able to hire your own staff in the dynasty mode. Finally, you can decide if that fat slob of a scout is worth that 6-figure contract...and it's up to you to break the news to him! As for the online options, you may choose a quick match against a pre-schooler, a quick tournament against a 4th grader, or go for the "Lobby Match" where you play against those on your ability level. All the while the convenient EA Messenger allows you to talk smack about your hot model girlfriend and how you just won $25K in Vegas...or about the SportsCenter "Top10" dunk you just plastered on your opponents' face...either way. Oh, and of course there's the Season mode, the Playoffs mode, NBA All-Star Weekend (including Rookie Challenge, 3-point, and Slam Dunk contests), Freestyle Challenge, 1 on 1, and so much more! "Scott, you're a funny guy, but would you please just tell us about the game play, graphics, and audio?"...of course I will. Here we go.
Gameplay:
As with most sports games, Live allows you a plethora of game play options, most of which I discussed just a second ago. I'll quickly go through each option in a little more detail here before getting to the actual playing of the game.
The first option (and probably the most popular) is to start a full season. You can choose between a 29, 58, and full 82 game campaign. You can pick a team to make your run with, or you can have a fantasy draft and create a "mega" team of your favorite players. If you do well enough, you will make it to the playoffs where you can make a run for the title via the traditional playoff format, or one you customize yourself. As mentioned earlier, you also have the option of just participating in a playoff run without the banality of an 82 game season.
There is, thankfully, an "Individual Practice" mode, which is pretty helpful for those of us who are used to the "A" for shoot "B" for pass of ye' oldern days. You can work on your freestyle moves, dribbling between the legs, dunking, and shooting in this format. The only thing that would help would be a scrimmage-esque situation where you could work on passing and defense and some of the basics of the game. But I guess that's what instant games are for...I guess.
Speaking of instant games, of course that feature is available in Live. Pick a team, pick a location, pick your jersey type, set the length of the game, camera view...you get the idea. Play against a friend (if you have one handy) or challenge yourself against the almighty computer.
Arguably the most exciting option is to participate in the oft over-hyped and chock full of bad musical performances (yet thrilling!) NBA All-Star Weekend. The first event, as in real life, is the "Rookie Challenge". Select a side and go for the victory as you prove whether or not you are worthy to even be in the League. Then you choose your best long range threat and "take a shot" (haha) at winning the 3-point contest. Typical format for this event as you have the chance to sink more shots than your local flu vaccine station. Of course the Slam Dunk Contest is next pitting you in a race to be the first to impress the judges with your highflying acrobatics. It should be noted that if you attempt to do this feature of the game without first practicing "how" to dunk...you will lose...mightily. Lastly of course is the big game itself...the Super Bowl. Oh wait, no it's the NBA All Star Game!...I knew that. Pick your colors, East or West, and then marvel at how passes are actually made by these ball hogs as you attempt to win the big show.
Much like the All Star festivities the "Freestyle Challenge" option is one you'd be wise to practice before participating in a showdown. In this version you are actually in a split screen shooting 3s and dunking the rock. In the 3-point shootout you want to make more than your competitor or face their silly taunts. The Slam Dunk Contest however is a race to impress the judges with instant points scored per dunk. You must keep dunking until you have summarily killed your opponent, but beware as missed dunks take points off your total. Again, if you enter this game mode without knowing how to dunk you WILL lose. By the way, this is why there is option named "Slam Dunk School." Go there or you'll regret it for the rest of your sad sad life.
Something EA seems to be rather proud of is the new feature of "EA Sports Retro." This option gives you a chance to go back and play good old NBA Live 95. At first I thought this was a silly marketing ploy, then I realized it was, but THEN I rocked a game of the old school style and really enjoyed. Throw Double Dribble in a game and I just might go out and personally help sell it.
Of course there is the online mode if you are fortunate enough to have the network card and an EA Account and all that other crap. You can play games with the first available player, the first available player on your level, or a multi-player tourney. As mentioned earlier, you can always talk smack via the EA Messenger, but my hope is that if you are the type to do that you would get DUNKED on while telling somebody where they can shove it.
Last we have the Dynasty mode. Pick a team and then watch as hours of your life are spent maintaining it. Isn't this what fantasy football was invented for? Anyway, you have the NEW ability to hire your staff, from coaches down to towel boys. Once that is complete, training camp begins. You have to ensure that the coaches are covering all the areas necessary for a successful season with your team during camp or it may come back to haunt you. As GM, once the season begins you can opt to either play the games for your team or let the A.I. determine your fate. All the while though you must keep track of injuries, potential trades, and remember to focus on the bottom line: the almighty dollar. After the season you are forced to evaluate your success and then decide what to do for the upcoming year. Prepare for the draft, make some trades or acquisitions...or realize that nobody has that much free time.
Now as far as the actual on-court control of the players...this is the bread and butter of the game as you may imagine. You can draft the top5 players of all-time, but if you keep pressing the pass button as you're trying to shoot...well, you get the idea. The basic controls are what you would expect them to be. You need to be able to pass, shoot, jump, and defend. "So it's only 4 buttons to master the game, right?"...wrong. You can play with the use of only 4 buttons, but if you want to rule the court, keep reading. Well, read the manual, but keep reading the review anyway.
We can all figure out rather quickly that pass is "X", shoot is "O" and dunk is "square". It also does not take long to catch on to "X" switching defenders, "triangle" goes for a block/rebound, and "square" leads to a foul (as you attempt a steal). In fact, these maneuvers are so simple that they are on the same page as the index to the game booklet. Past this however, things get a little more complicated. I won't sit here and list for you the different button combinations that lead to the "killer moves" to impress your friends. But I will tell you ALL about them...
The following is a non-comprehensive list of the moves available to you in this game, only about 40% of which I have ultimately mastered.
Power Dribble: Don't know what this is? Most people don't...but if you want to do a "pro-hop" or power dribble, you can throw off your defender and open up the passing lanes for a potential alley-oop or at the very least, back door dish.
Alley-oop Pass: I've never really understood how you're supposed to know when a teammate has an open lane to the basket, but I guess if you see a guy running towards the hoop full speed, just tap R2 and then mock your friends.
Intentional Foul: As proof that Hillary Clinton didn't get her hands on this game during development, the game offers the opportunity for you to just whack somebody upside their head. It'll cost you a free throw and possession, but it'll add that element of hockey to the hardwood that we all miss so dearly.
Tip Slam: One of the coolest moves you'll ever see in either live or fake basketball. Also offered is the wussy brother of the tip slam, the "tip-in".
Swim Move: Defender playing you too close?...push the right analog stick up to the sky and you'll pull the offensive equivalent of "magic" and swim right past him.
Fade Away Jumper: Wow!...I didn't even know you could intentionally do this one until just now. Apparently you can though. One of the sweetest offensive moves in all of basketball. I'm gonna have to go try it.
Along with those offensive and defensive moves is a list of several other useful and pretty looking moves that can help elevate your game from the common player to your own level of All-Star. In addition, an entire list (with explanations) of which moves will maximize your points in the Slam Dunk contest are listed. Keep in mind that utilize the play calling function, which allows you to set up both offensive and defensive sets as you are bringing the ball down the court. I'm 100% certain that these are the things you MUST know how to do in order to master the game. Bring the ball into the halfcourt, call a play, and watch it develop. Your skills in this game will double once you learn how to do that effectively...trust me.
One last thing. As with almost every sporting game, you are given a certain amount of turbo that allows you to "blow by" guys as your rumbling down the court. And as with most sports games I can recall, it's effective for the first quarter, and then the defense miraculously figures it out...or your player just gets tired, I've never decided which it is. In any event, the burst of speed option is there, so use it. If you don't, you will literally be playing on a different level than your competitor...a slower level.
Graphics:
While the graphics never truly amaze me for any sports game I play, I must admit...these graphics are pretty nice. I mean, the player renderings are clearly a step up from my favorite basketball game Magic Johnson's Fast Break for the NES, but then again, I think I could draw better players freehand then the offerings that game brought to the table. I also think the graphics for this generation of sports game have finally surpassed the slow-motion black and white dunk sequence you used to get with the more well-known NES gem, Double Dribble. I still think (to this day) that the slam dunk scenario in that game is one of the most overlooked innovations in sports gaming in the past 20 years. It was SO far ahead of its time. But anyway...the courts and backgrounds are typical in that you really can't see too much of the crowd, solely for the reason that if the background got too "busy" it would take away from the actual game play itself. The rims, the courts, the balls, and the other peripherals are a little more well defined and detailed than what I'm used to, and so the game gets higher marks for graphical mastery.
As for graphical game play, the menu screens are certainly legible and nicely colored and accented. Team select and other option screens would fall under this same category. As already described, the player renderings during both close-ups and action are improving (although I still think they have work to be done). "Blocky" mishaps rarely occurred and game slowdowns were at a minimal...all a bonus for a sporting game such as this.
Graphics were sound overall and while they didn't necessarily add anything to the game, they did justice to the type of game play that this game depicts.
Audio:
Nothing really worth mentioning as a positive or negative here. The sound effects that occur in a basketball game are pretty few and far between. I mean, it's either the bouncing of a ball, the swish of a net, the rattling of a rim, the squeaking of shoes, or the sound of whistles and buzzers. Those are all present and all on the forefront of the audio track when necessary. Otherwise, it's pretty typical fare for a basketball game. Lots of hip-hop-esque background music (during the title and menu screens) and then the game does the rest. The occasional crowd noise, organ playing of "De-fense" and the oft annoying announcers round out the audio portion. I can say this though, the game is nowhere near as annoying as a real NBA game, where the hook to Usher's latest single seems to be the audio du jour for the crowd. Lil' Jon...I'm jealous of you.
The announcers don't butt in too often and are there merely to keep you up to date with what's going on. As you no doubt know, the game of basketball is rather fast paced, and if you don't keep up you may just forget what's going on...the announcers help keep you updated, but don't dominate the audio track. I'm sure there are also options to turn all of this stuff off or on, but I didn't mess with that. Overall, nothing to complain about in the area of game audio.
Conclusion:
I'm a fan of the NBA. I mean, I'm a really big fan of the NBA. I'll watch a Lakers game in the second week of the season when it really means nothing. I tape the NBA All-Star game. I'm just silly about basketball. So would I, an NBA fanatic and connoisseur, suggest to other NBA fans that they play EA Sports NBA Live 06?...sure. I know, that's not the "slam dunk" stamp of approval, but it's a good game. It's better than last year's edition and it is overall a good game. I have friends that play entire seasons of college football on the XBox, and they get really into it. If you are one of those types of guys, then I think you can really sink your teeth into a game like this. If you just like to play the occasional exhibition NBA game and rock some mad dunks as your favorite player, then this game is probably for you.
What can I say, it's a good game. It's not the best game I own, and I wouldn't yell out my window to my neighbors that they MUST own it. If you're a fan of the sport, get the game. If you're not, at least rent it. You have nothing better to do...
Recommended.
Aside from strippers and porn, the excitement of an NBA game is my favorite thing in the world to watch. The new dress code should make this season the best ever, but the excitement will only be in small part due to the spanking new suits all the players will be donning. The real draw of the season can be seen in the action of the old veterans versus the new rookies, the finesse game versus the power game, the West versus the East, and of course you versus some kid in a foreign nation. That's right kids!, I'm still talking about NBA Live 06, not the real NBA.
EA Sports has released this years edition with most of the old favorites in terms of game play and play mode options, with the excitement of a few new options thrown in to get you all giddy and excited. You have the usual suspects of online play and dynasty play open to you with the added caveat of being able to hire your own staff in the dynasty mode. Finally, you can decide if that fat slob of a scout is worth that 6-figure contract...and it's up to you to break the news to him! As for the online options, you may choose a quick match against a pre-schooler, a quick tournament against a 4th grader, or go for the "Lobby Match" where you play against those on your ability level. All the while the convenient EA Messenger allows you to talk smack about your hot model girlfriend and how you just won $25K in Vegas...or about the SportsCenter "Top10" dunk you just plastered on your opponents' face...either way. Oh, and of course there's the Season mode, the Playoffs mode, NBA All-Star Weekend (including Rookie Challenge, 3-point, and Slam Dunk contests), Freestyle Challenge, 1 on 1, and so much more! "Scott, you're a funny guy, but would you please just tell us about the game play, graphics, and audio?"...of course I will. Here we go.
Gameplay:
As with most sports games, Live allows you a plethora of game play options, most of which I discussed just a second ago. I'll quickly go through each option in a little more detail here before getting to the actual playing of the game.
The first option (and probably the most popular) is to start a full season. You can choose between a 29, 58, and full 82 game campaign. You can pick a team to make your run with, or you can have a fantasy draft and create a "mega" team of your favorite players. If you do well enough, you will make it to the playoffs where you can make a run for the title via the traditional playoff format, or one you customize yourself. As mentioned earlier, you also have the option of just participating in a playoff run without the banality of an 82 game season.
There is, thankfully, an "Individual Practice" mode, which is pretty helpful for those of us who are used to the "A" for shoot "B" for pass of ye' oldern days. You can work on your freestyle moves, dribbling between the legs, dunking, and shooting in this format. The only thing that would help would be a scrimmage-esque situation where you could work on passing and defense and some of the basics of the game. But I guess that's what instant games are for...I guess.
Speaking of instant games, of course that feature is available in Live. Pick a team, pick a location, pick your jersey type, set the length of the game, camera view...you get the idea. Play against a friend (if you have one handy) or challenge yourself against the almighty computer.
Arguably the most exciting option is to participate in the oft over-hyped and chock full of bad musical performances (yet thrilling!) NBA All-Star Weekend. The first event, as in real life, is the "Rookie Challenge". Select a side and go for the victory as you prove whether or not you are worthy to even be in the League. Then you choose your best long range threat and "take a shot" (haha) at winning the 3-point contest. Typical format for this event as you have the chance to sink more shots than your local flu vaccine station. Of course the Slam Dunk Contest is next pitting you in a race to be the first to impress the judges with your highflying acrobatics. It should be noted that if you attempt to do this feature of the game without first practicing "how" to dunk...you will lose...mightily. Lastly of course is the big game itself...the Super Bowl. Oh wait, no it's the NBA All Star Game!...I knew that. Pick your colors, East or West, and then marvel at how passes are actually made by these ball hogs as you attempt to win the big show.
Much like the All Star festivities the "Freestyle Challenge" option is one you'd be wise to practice before participating in a showdown. In this version you are actually in a split screen shooting 3s and dunking the rock. In the 3-point shootout you want to make more than your competitor or face their silly taunts. The Slam Dunk Contest however is a race to impress the judges with instant points scored per dunk. You must keep dunking until you have summarily killed your opponent, but beware as missed dunks take points off your total. Again, if you enter this game mode without knowing how to dunk you WILL lose. By the way, this is why there is option named "Slam Dunk School." Go there or you'll regret it for the rest of your sad sad life.
Something EA seems to be rather proud of is the new feature of "EA Sports Retro." This option gives you a chance to go back and play good old NBA Live 95. At first I thought this was a silly marketing ploy, then I realized it was, but THEN I rocked a game of the old school style and really enjoyed. Throw Double Dribble in a game and I just might go out and personally help sell it.
Of course there is the online mode if you are fortunate enough to have the network card and an EA Account and all that other crap. You can play games with the first available player, the first available player on your level, or a multi-player tourney. As mentioned earlier, you can always talk smack via the EA Messenger, but my hope is that if you are the type to do that you would get DUNKED on while telling somebody where they can shove it.
Last we have the Dynasty mode. Pick a team and then watch as hours of your life are spent maintaining it. Isn't this what fantasy football was invented for? Anyway, you have the NEW ability to hire your staff, from coaches down to towel boys. Once that is complete, training camp begins. You have to ensure that the coaches are covering all the areas necessary for a successful season with your team during camp or it may come back to haunt you. As GM, once the season begins you can opt to either play the games for your team or let the A.I. determine your fate. All the while though you must keep track of injuries, potential trades, and remember to focus on the bottom line: the almighty dollar. After the season you are forced to evaluate your success and then decide what to do for the upcoming year. Prepare for the draft, make some trades or acquisitions...or realize that nobody has that much free time.
Now as far as the actual on-court control of the players...this is the bread and butter of the game as you may imagine. You can draft the top5 players of all-time, but if you keep pressing the pass button as you're trying to shoot...well, you get the idea. The basic controls are what you would expect them to be. You need to be able to pass, shoot, jump, and defend. "So it's only 4 buttons to master the game, right?"...wrong. You can play with the use of only 4 buttons, but if you want to rule the court, keep reading. Well, read the manual, but keep reading the review anyway.
We can all figure out rather quickly that pass is "X", shoot is "O" and dunk is "square". It also does not take long to catch on to "X" switching defenders, "triangle" goes for a block/rebound, and "square" leads to a foul (as you attempt a steal). In fact, these maneuvers are so simple that they are on the same page as the index to the game booklet. Past this however, things get a little more complicated. I won't sit here and list for you the different button combinations that lead to the "killer moves" to impress your friends. But I will tell you ALL about them...
The following is a non-comprehensive list of the moves available to you in this game, only about 40% of which I have ultimately mastered.
Power Dribble: Don't know what this is? Most people don't...but if you want to do a "pro-hop" or power dribble, you can throw off your defender and open up the passing lanes for a potential alley-oop or at the very least, back door dish.
Alley-oop Pass: I've never really understood how you're supposed to know when a teammate has an open lane to the basket, but I guess if you see a guy running towards the hoop full speed, just tap R2 and then mock your friends.
Intentional Foul: As proof that Hillary Clinton didn't get her hands on this game during development, the game offers the opportunity for you to just whack somebody upside their head. It'll cost you a free throw and possession, but it'll add that element of hockey to the hardwood that we all miss so dearly.
Tip Slam: One of the coolest moves you'll ever see in either live or fake basketball. Also offered is the wussy brother of the tip slam, the "tip-in".
Swim Move: Defender playing you too close?...push the right analog stick up to the sky and you'll pull the offensive equivalent of "magic" and swim right past him.
Fade Away Jumper: Wow!...I didn't even know you could intentionally do this one until just now. Apparently you can though. One of the sweetest offensive moves in all of basketball. I'm gonna have to go try it.
Along with those offensive and defensive moves is a list of several other useful and pretty looking moves that can help elevate your game from the common player to your own level of All-Star. In addition, an entire list (with explanations) of which moves will maximize your points in the Slam Dunk contest are listed. Keep in mind that utilize the play calling function, which allows you to set up both offensive and defensive sets as you are bringing the ball down the court. I'm 100% certain that these are the things you MUST know how to do in order to master the game. Bring the ball into the halfcourt, call a play, and watch it develop. Your skills in this game will double once you learn how to do that effectively...trust me.
One last thing. As with almost every sporting game, you are given a certain amount of turbo that allows you to "blow by" guys as your rumbling down the court. And as with most sports games I can recall, it's effective for the first quarter, and then the defense miraculously figures it out...or your player just gets tired, I've never decided which it is. In any event, the burst of speed option is there, so use it. If you don't, you will literally be playing on a different level than your competitor...a slower level.
Graphics:
While the graphics never truly amaze me for any sports game I play, I must admit...these graphics are pretty nice. I mean, the player renderings are clearly a step up from my favorite basketball game Magic Johnson's Fast Break for the NES, but then again, I think I could draw better players freehand then the offerings that game brought to the table. I also think the graphics for this generation of sports game have finally surpassed the slow-motion black and white dunk sequence you used to get with the more well-known NES gem, Double Dribble. I still think (to this day) that the slam dunk scenario in that game is one of the most overlooked innovations in sports gaming in the past 20 years. It was SO far ahead of its time. But anyway...the courts and backgrounds are typical in that you really can't see too much of the crowd, solely for the reason that if the background got too "busy" it would take away from the actual game play itself. The rims, the courts, the balls, and the other peripherals are a little more well defined and detailed than what I'm used to, and so the game gets higher marks for graphical mastery.
As for graphical game play, the menu screens are certainly legible and nicely colored and accented. Team select and other option screens would fall under this same category. As already described, the player renderings during both close-ups and action are improving (although I still think they have work to be done). "Blocky" mishaps rarely occurred and game slowdowns were at a minimal...all a bonus for a sporting game such as this.
Graphics were sound overall and while they didn't necessarily add anything to the game, they did justice to the type of game play that this game depicts.
Audio:
Nothing really worth mentioning as a positive or negative here. The sound effects that occur in a basketball game are pretty few and far between. I mean, it's either the bouncing of a ball, the swish of a net, the rattling of a rim, the squeaking of shoes, or the sound of whistles and buzzers. Those are all present and all on the forefront of the audio track when necessary. Otherwise, it's pretty typical fare for a basketball game. Lots of hip-hop-esque background music (during the title and menu screens) and then the game does the rest. The occasional crowd noise, organ playing of "De-fense" and the oft annoying announcers round out the audio portion. I can say this though, the game is nowhere near as annoying as a real NBA game, where the hook to Usher's latest single seems to be the audio du jour for the crowd. Lil' Jon...I'm jealous of you.
The announcers don't butt in too often and are there merely to keep you up to date with what's going on. As you no doubt know, the game of basketball is rather fast paced, and if you don't keep up you may just forget what's going on...the announcers help keep you updated, but don't dominate the audio track. I'm sure there are also options to turn all of this stuff off or on, but I didn't mess with that. Overall, nothing to complain about in the area of game audio.
Conclusion:
I'm a fan of the NBA. I mean, I'm a really big fan of the NBA. I'll watch a Lakers game in the second week of the season when it really means nothing. I tape the NBA All-Star game. I'm just silly about basketball. So would I, an NBA fanatic and connoisseur, suggest to other NBA fans that they play EA Sports NBA Live 06?...sure. I know, that's not the "slam dunk" stamp of approval, but it's a good game. It's better than last year's edition and it is overall a good game. I have friends that play entire seasons of college football on the XBox, and they get really into it. If you are one of those types of guys, then I think you can really sink your teeth into a game like this. If you just like to play the occasional exhibition NBA game and rock some mad dunks as your favorite player, then this game is probably for you.
What can I say, it's a good game. It's not the best game I own, and I wouldn't yell out my window to my neighbors that they MUST own it. If you're a fan of the sport, get the game. If you're not, at least rent it. You have nothing better to do...
Recommended.