NBA 08
Posted November 1, 2007
When the PS3 was launched the big hullabaloo was about how it was the only true HD system and Sony’s release of NBA 07 flaunted that characteristic endlessly. Now that the PS3 isn’t the only 1080p console out there, one would think that the pomp would stop but immediately upon loading the title the banner touting the resolution of the game is displayed as prominent as ever. Sure the game looks good and some improvements have been made over the previous version, but players looking for a more full fledged NBA experience will likely pass over this particular title and check out one of the other two fully realized NBA titles.
The one thing that NBA 08 has going for itself, other than being a fairly pretty game to look at, is the return of NBA Replay mode. When working your way through each week of the 2006 season, you are required to perform specific tasks in a period of time – be it score eight points before an opposing player scores four, or dish out a set number of passes to a particular teammate. The challenges get tougher as you progress through the ranks, but should be easily tackled by almost any player who can shoot and pass well enough to win a game. In addition to the included NBA Replay mode, each week of the NBA season will open up more content within the game. Simply connect to the servers to download highlights and news challenges inspired by that week’s games. Sadly, this was unable to be checked out this time around.
Sports games that are released in this millennium generally include a set base of play modes, and NBA 08 includes most familiar modes of play. You can opt to play a quick match with teams of your choice, enter in a set of mini-games, or start league play, which has the very limited options of Exhibition and Season. For those who’ve never played this title before, Season does not mean you have access to any tweakable items found in other games containing a Dynasty or Franchise mode. The Season mode in NBA 08 shows a table of upcoming games and gives you the option to play or simulate them. Do not expect to be able to tweak concession costs / ticket prices or even draft players to mold them in the minor leagues before bringing them up.
Extremely weak long-term presentation aside, the game features a very nice create-a-player mode that uses a reward system to advance your player. As you work through any game mode in the title, be it the 3-Point Challenge or a match in season mode – experience points are accumulated and used to generate ability points that you can apply to your created player. Unfortunately this inclusion is the only reason I could ever see revisiting the mini-games other than the weekly updates to the NBA Season.
The controls in the game have been upgraded as well, supposedly tightening the response of the SIXAXIS control scheme from last year’s game. I didn’t try last year’s title, but I will say that the FREE6 controls, as they are now called, were actually quite responsive and felt fairly natural. When you are on offense, tilting and tweaking the controller would dribble the ball between your legs or keep it away from a defender. While on defense, tilting the controller up or down will move your character’s hands and arms up or down, closing down passing lanes and making the passing game somewhat more realistic. Controlling your player of choice is generally pretty slick and as responsive as you could hope for. The standout here is the way shooting is handled; a color-coded meter that takes a little skill to know when to release the shot button. Hold it too long and you’ll be blasting the ball through the backboard, too light and you’ll throw up a brick. While some sports benefit from pure analog stick control, I feel that basketball is best suited to a meter such as this to prevent from flailing with the analog sticks and finding that slight particular movement for a finesse shot.
As paraded endlessly, the graphics are quite sharp and players look less plastic and shiny than they did from NBA 07 screenshots and movies I have watched, which is a very welcome change. Players are very lifelike and the animations for everything from dribbling to lay-ups and dunks are all very fluid. For the most part the sound in the game is top notch as well, with the exception of the commentary that is provided in game. Shortly, you’ll find yourself looking elsewhere for aural entertainment when playing this title, should you choose to do so.
I honestly have a hard time recommending this title, especially because of how stripped down this game is in comparison to the other two NBA titles that are making a 2008 appearance. In order to make their game a contender or even be considered a top tier NBA title, major enhancements are going to be necessary in the 2009 version, and adding rumble support as well as a new juke to the FREE6 controls won’t suffice. At most, rent this title.
The one thing that NBA 08 has going for itself, other than being a fairly pretty game to look at, is the return of NBA Replay mode. When working your way through each week of the 2006 season, you are required to perform specific tasks in a period of time – be it score eight points before an opposing player scores four, or dish out a set number of passes to a particular teammate. The challenges get tougher as you progress through the ranks, but should be easily tackled by almost any player who can shoot and pass well enough to win a game. In addition to the included NBA Replay mode, each week of the NBA season will open up more content within the game. Simply connect to the servers to download highlights and news challenges inspired by that week’s games. Sadly, this was unable to be checked out this time around.
Sports games that are released in this millennium generally include a set base of play modes, and NBA 08 includes most familiar modes of play. You can opt to play a quick match with teams of your choice, enter in a set of mini-games, or start league play, which has the very limited options of Exhibition and Season. For those who’ve never played this title before, Season does not mean you have access to any tweakable items found in other games containing a Dynasty or Franchise mode. The Season mode in NBA 08 shows a table of upcoming games and gives you the option to play or simulate them. Do not expect to be able to tweak concession costs / ticket prices or even draft players to mold them in the minor leagues before bringing them up.
Extremely weak long-term presentation aside, the game features a very nice create-a-player mode that uses a reward system to advance your player. As you work through any game mode in the title, be it the 3-Point Challenge or a match in season mode – experience points are accumulated and used to generate ability points that you can apply to your created player. Unfortunately this inclusion is the only reason I could ever see revisiting the mini-games other than the weekly updates to the NBA Season.
The controls in the game have been upgraded as well, supposedly tightening the response of the SIXAXIS control scheme from last year’s game. I didn’t try last year’s title, but I will say that the FREE6 controls, as they are now called, were actually quite responsive and felt fairly natural. When you are on offense, tilting and tweaking the controller would dribble the ball between your legs or keep it away from a defender. While on defense, tilting the controller up or down will move your character’s hands and arms up or down, closing down passing lanes and making the passing game somewhat more realistic. Controlling your player of choice is generally pretty slick and as responsive as you could hope for. The standout here is the way shooting is handled; a color-coded meter that takes a little skill to know when to release the shot button. Hold it too long and you’ll be blasting the ball through the backboard, too light and you’ll throw up a brick. While some sports benefit from pure analog stick control, I feel that basketball is best suited to a meter such as this to prevent from flailing with the analog sticks and finding that slight particular movement for a finesse shot.
As paraded endlessly, the graphics are quite sharp and players look less plastic and shiny than they did from NBA 07 screenshots and movies I have watched, which is a very welcome change. Players are very lifelike and the animations for everything from dribbling to lay-ups and dunks are all very fluid. For the most part the sound in the game is top notch as well, with the exception of the commentary that is provided in game. Shortly, you’ll find yourself looking elsewhere for aural entertainment when playing this title, should you choose to do so.
I honestly have a hard time recommending this title, especially because of how stripped down this game is in comparison to the other two NBA titles that are making a 2008 appearance. In order to make their game a contender or even be considered a top tier NBA title, major enhancements are going to be necessary in the 2009 version, and adding rumble support as well as a new juke to the FREE6 controls won’t suffice. At most, rent this title.