Multiplayer

• Multiplayer is done ok.
• Offline, one to four players can play a game on the same 360, choosing which ever team in a game they want.
• However, if you want to play in a season, then only one team can be user controlled.
• Online play doesn’t offer anything new or exciting either.
• You can enter ranked or unranked matches.
• Unfortunately you can create any custom seasons or tournaments.
• One nice aspect is the different lobbies.
• You start in a beginner lobby and you have to earn your way into better lobbies by playing in and winning so many games.
• This will increase your online level.
• Then with consideration to the number of DNF games you have you can enter “Advanced” and “Elite” lobbies.
• This helps weed out a lot of the trouble making quitters that you’ll likely find.
• Unfortunately there aren’t that many people online anymore so you might have a hard time finding a random match if you don’t already know someone with the game.
• Out of the few games I could play online about half showed some sort of lag.
• This could have been due to the lack of choice in opponents I had, so if it was a poor connection then I had to live with it.
• Still any lag will occasionally screw up your timing.

Graphics

• On an HDTV the game looks excellent at first.
• This is mainly due to the excellent facial representations of the NBA stars.
• However, after playing the game for a while you’ll notice some problems in the animation.
• Some of the animations look smooth and realistic, but the transition from one move to another can be jarring.
• Also unimpressive is some of the collision detection.
• Fouls are hard to see or feel as sometimes they are called and sometimes they are not.
• If you are trying to pull off moves to get around the defense, sometimes you’ll think you have a lane and then either can’t pass the defender or the defender magically sticks to you.
• Apparently none of the players have any finger animations either, as you’ll see the same hand configuration for every person.
• The first time I made a game ending basket, I about laughed out loud at the referee’s signal that the basket was good.
• It looks like there is supposed to be a real time sweat engine or something too.
• At first though I thought the players had been out in the sun to long as their necks look like cracked and wrinkled old paper.
• Then I realized it was supposed to be sweat streaks.
• Also foul shooters late in the game look more like they are crying (probably at their inability to figure out the free throw mechanism) than they look like their sweating.
• If you are playing on a standard TV (and why would you want to do that), then you’ll be even more disappointed with this game than many of the other 360 games.
• It’s apparent that the game was built only with HD in mind as many of the fonts and graphics do not look good on a regular TV.
• Overall certain aspects of the graphics look great but a lot of the small touches and details seem to leave a lot to be desired.

Sound

• The sound in the game is very good highlighted by some good crowd noise.
• The crowd can really get into the game and seems to do so at the right time.
• I like how every time you launch a shot from behind the arc, the crowd starts a “Threeee!” chant.
• The crowd also is definitely a hometown crowd rising in intensity as the home team plays better.
• Commentary is also well done by Marv Albert and Steve Kerr.
• Everything they say seems very relevant to the action happening on the court and really makes you feel like you are part of the game.
• They’ll even poke fun at you for hitting the wrong button at the wrong time.
• And what NBA game would be any good without a hip-hop soundtrack.
• EA delivers with a good mix of new and well known hip hop music as well as commercial releases and game originals.
• Here’s a sample of what you’ll be listening too.
• My Style – Black Eyed Peas
• Lets Move – The Perceptionists
• Grind Time – Chamillionaire
• Bucky Done – M.I.A.
• Streetz Melting – Jae Millz
• Like Dat – Stat Duo
• In the House – Jurassic 5
• Overall the sound does its job and sounds even better if you have a 5.1 surround sound system.

Captivation

• Unfortunately, with camera problems and a lack of any franchise or other entertaining long term play modes, there isn’t much to hold your attention in NBA Live 06.
• The great character model graphics capture the essence of the NBA stars like never before, but a choppy animation system reminds you that this is still a game.
• The sound effects do the best job of pulling you into the experience with realistic crowd noise and some great commentary by Marv Albert and Steve Kerr.
• Like most other EA games in the first wave of 360 games, the achievements are few and easy to get and do not offer much replay ability.

Final Thoughts

• Positives
• Great character models give realistic likenesses of your favorite players.
• Better defensive AI leads to a less arcade feeling game of basketball.
• Excellent sound and commentary.
• Negatives
• Some animations are good but lack of smooth transitions makes the gameplay feel jilted and choppy.
• Some of the graphic details like sweat and collision detection make the game feel a little less polished than it should.
• A poor camera system for a basketball game.
• Basketaball fans who don’t want anything more than to fire up a season or play with some friends might be able to put up with the game a little longer than most.

Bottom Line

• If you’ve waited this long to play a basketball game, just wait a little longer for the 2007 versions or pick up the better NBA 2K6 if you are on a budget.