NBA Live 06 Xbox Review
I love sports and growing up I tried them all even basketball. No, this is not a put down to the sport but at the time I was not tall and even now I am 5ft 8. So back when I tried to play, I was the one who had a great outside shot and the ability to foul. This meant two things every time we played one. I would wind up kissing the asphalt and secondly I would probably wind up fouling the biggest guy on the court, I would also wind up getting into a fight. Of course back then the fights where mostly a few shoves and maybe a punch or two and it was over.
I envied the guys that were tall and good at the game. I grew up on the same playground as Sam Bowie and his sister. For those old enough to remember Sam, you may remember the guy had skills. So I was over shadowed but still enjoyed playing. The only time I ever got to really dunk the ball was when the baskets were at the local elementary school or the janitor left the mini-trampoline out. We would take turns jamming the ball in the net.
My whole point is that there are many out there who were not built to play the game but love it. Now with NBA Live 06 we get the chance to take control of our favorite players even though it’s in the video game realm. There are some new features this year, so let’s take a look at the full review of NBA Live 06.
Gameplay
This year fans of the series will notice a few changes. You now have FREESTYLE SUPERSTAR Controls over the players. Now it’s possible to pull off those really slick behind the back rolls and shots as seen on TV. I have to admit this is a really nice feature and adds to the overall gameplay. Now the Free Style controls will take a bit of time to learn and use a series of combos of buttons to pull off (more on this in the control section).
Fans of the series will also see a few new features in the way of an assistant coach in the Dynasty mode. All the modes from last year return but a few have been tweaked. Each player has a certain skill depending on their abilities. Some examples are the High-flyer or the Playmaker. You will see an icon beneath the player and the icon will tell you his skills. Now a few players have that special ability to have more than one set of moves since they fit another category. A player can be a playmaker and a high-flyer. It almost reminds me of the way they had the player icons in NHL 2004.
Gamers can jump right in and play an exhibition game and get a feel for the game. They even added a special movie and presentation on the new Free Style controls and movements. The movie is short but really shows what you can pull off in the game. Each move can be modified and this also adds to the learning curve. The camera shows the action and is never in the way which is great. Back again this year is the 1 on 1, Slam Dunk contest, Slam Dunk School, Practice and the NBA All-Star Weekend. So the game is loaded with modes to play.
The fact you can adjust every rule and settings allows any gamer to play this one and then set the levels higher once they get the hang of the game. Overall it’s an improvement over last year’s version and tries to take the game to another level. The game has an arcade feel to it and those that prefer a more Sim like game may need to give the game a chance.
Control / Playability
I touched on the new Free Style controls and the new FREESTYLE SUPERSTARS. You use the left trigger and a series of buttons and the left analog stick. At times you will also need to tweak things with the right analog stick. The controls may sound a bit complicated but the learning curve is only about 45 minutes. Going into the practice mode will help you learn the moves.
The book has a lot on the controls and how to modify each move. You really need to look at the game manual and the intro movie. It’s hosted by Marv Albert and really gives you a feel for the game and controls. You will learn the basics pretty easily while the advanced moves will take a while to learn. The controls are laid out very well and while the screen flashes the combos to hit quickly, you will get the hang of it. When you pull off a really cool move or score, the replay icon will pop up and allow you to see the move in slow motion. The rest of the controls are the standard set used from last year.
Xbox Live
The Lobby is set-up like NHL 06 with voice chat added which is a great idea and beats the typing out messages. You will see the rooms or you can make your own private room and even add a password. The online play is not limited to just one on one play. You can challenge anyone to a 3 point shoot out or a Slam Dunk contest. They even have a 4 or 8 man tournament setting.
Along with the standard EA sports lobby, there is the sports ticker that keeps you up to date with every sports score going on. You can choose to accept a challenge and will be able to see the other gamer’s records and stats. Once again EA is showing that they can make a well made online lobby and make it easy to navigate through. Everything is right there including your friends list, how many players are in each room, and how good their connection is. I noticed no lag at all and never got disconnected or booted out of the online mode. Overall, the online play is very good and ranks up there with NHL 06, NASCAR 06 and NBA Street Vol.3.
Graphics / Presentation
EA did revamp their graphics engine this year and it really adds to the overall game. Each player looks just like their real life counterpart. There still are a few cases where you will see a player blend into another which looks odd, but overall the graphics look very good. The animation is smooth and the replays are fantastic to watch. When there is a fast break, the camera keeps up with the action and there is not an issue with missing a shot due to poor angles.
The lighting off the hardwood floors look great and the arenas look exact. The Slam Dunk mode occasionally looks a bit washed out when compared to the other modes for some reason. Other than that the graphics adds a lot to the game overall.
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View all NBA Live 06 Xbox Screenshots
Audio
Marv Albert and Steve Kerr are the commentary team this year. Although returning again is Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson, they are found in the NBA All-Star mode. Ernie Johnson adds some great one-liners and off the wall remarks. The commentary overall is good although like most sports games, it always seems like they could have added more lines to the script. Each member of the team really sounds into their roles.
The other sounds like the ball hitting the rim or the thunderous sound of a tomahawk Slam Dunk are well done. The refs’ whistles even sound real. The music is hip-hop and fits the game, although not my personal favorite, it’s mixed in a way that does not drown out the actual sounds of the game.
Replay Value
NBA Live 06 tries to take the series to the next level and adds some new depth to the gameplay. It still seems a lot like the past few versions, but does show they are adding to it at the same time. Basketball fans will like the chance to modify the moves and show off while those new to the game will enjoy the chance to learn and have a blast. Yes, it is arcade-like, for some this may be a turnoff but throw in all the modes and the online aspect and this one has plenty to keep basketball fans happy.
Overall Score
Overall Score: 8.4/10 [not an average]
Additional Comments
NBA Live 06 has some new features. Every sports series has a period where they change things and I think EA is on the right track. The gameplay is smooth and although the advance controls will take some time to learn, it adds something to the game. It’s enjoyable to play and the added option of simulating a game and even stopping it and taking over to change the outcome is something fans will enjoy. The Free Style controls do remind me of NBA Street in a way, but it’s not too over the top. NBA fans should find enough in this one to keep them happy and the TV presentation and replays really get you into this one.
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