Superstar difficulty

[JohnnyKnoxville]

One thing that has plagued Live in the last few version is still here this year IMHO - the PC obviously "cheating" on Superstar.

I have not played that many games on Superstar yet, and I have actually one about half of those I played, but it is quite obvious again that the CPU is capable of hitting stuff that would never ever fall in in real life; or coming up with the steal, or an amazing, unbelievable block etc.

While it seems to be covered up better this year (it was glaringly obvious in 2001 and 2003 IMHO), there are just some moments where Superstar gets frustrating. I am really thinking about going back to All-Star but adjusting the sliders so the game remains hard.

Anyone feeling the same?

[Seonadancing]

I'm with you on that. Playing on Superstar Level is so frustrating not because of the difficulty but because of the unbelievable shots the computer make. It just takes away the realism from the game. Players don't just make fade away three pointers as shot clock expires, the computer makes them multiple times in the game. I'm staying on All-star.

[ChicagoBulls6in8]

I'm with you on that. Playing on Superstar Level is so frustrating not because of the difficulty but because of the unbelievable shots the computer make. It just takes away the realism from the game. Players don't just make fade away three pointers as shot clock expires, the computer makes them multiple times in the game. I'm staying on All-star.

in all fairness, the things you speak of happen on any level above pro. it's just the the pro difficulty is so easy.

[TheGlove]

i play dynasty with the lakers and have won 11 out of 20 games, but it's almost impossible to hit 3-pointers and all those jumpshots, while the pc even with tweaked shooting to 40 and less is able to make multiple unbelievable shots, that just anoys me very much

[HeHateMe]

I played a game last night in my dynasty, I'm the cavs, played @ MSG vs the knicks.

Held the lead through 3, in a relatively high scoring game. was 93-87 at the end of 3. But in the 4th, they went 11 for 16 in 3 pointers, and for the whole game they went 27 for 45.

Is it just me, or is this rediculous? I lost by 10 and couldn't make a layup to save my life in the 4th quarter. I shot something like 4 for 23 in the 4th, most of them 6 footers or less. Jonathan Bender (2nd year of my dynasty, guess the computer actually makes trades) had 8 blocks in the 4th. I know bender is big, and my SG was wagner and he's small, but jesus. most of those blocks were play of the week material. Came from out of nowhere after I blew by him.

I also could never follow my many missed layups because my players would stand there in awe when I missed one, while the ball flopped around for 5 seconds until the computer finally picked it up and ran down the court to nail a 3.

Superstar sucks, but none of the other modes are competative. I guess I should be happy, because on superstar I actually lose. I just hate losing like that.

[Andrew]

I've noticed the same problems with Superstar mode. I lose a few games on All-Star though, mainly because I haven't touched the field goal sliders yet. I believe that might be the most satisfying option - playing on All-Star with sliders that keep the game challenging.

[SuperFlash]

In a interview on of the producers of MAdden did, he said hardest level of EA games are now the most realistic gameplay. They designed it that way. They want the computer to make crazy shots. They set it so it has to win. That why there a 4 levels in EA games. They should really label them: "too easy", "easy", "playable", and "This cheating azz computer!"

[cocobee]

I won my first game on superstar tonight, Magic vs Cavs. I held a 5 point lead with mcgrady fouling out with 3 minutes left in the 4th. Gooden hit a pretty amazing shot, and James and Davis kept trying to take over the game. I was sweating balls and just sitting there concentrating on defence--it was quite intense. Imagine how a game vs the lakers will be.

I seem to get better stats on superstar. I'll play a couple more games, All-Star and sliders seemed too easy for some reason. So I decided to go back to superstar. One things for sure, this level makes you sweat it out to the last minute. I loved how the cpu kept fouling me at the end of the game with like 50 seconds left.

BTW--I won 109-104. 12 minute quarters--I'll test these sliders and I'll post if I keep getting good results. Also, playing this game with headphones on is the SH!T! You hear every little detail, really cool.

[Metsis]

Stop writing this sheit... OR I'll come down to the US and steal all of your games!

Man, just reading these threads makes me want to play the game so desperately that I can hardly handle it.

The game should get to Finland this week or the next, but damn. I ain't reading these threads any more before I get the game. This is just frustrating.

And do you know what is even more frustrating! Having to look at the NBA Live 2004 box for consoles! That's even more frustrating then this!

I need my yearly injection of NBA LIVE NOW!

[oboeguy]

Metsis, your post and other like it show why the NLSC forum is such a cool place.

On topic: I'm too afraid to play on SS difficulty. I work my tail off to win close at All-Star, as it is (and losing is all too easy for me). You guys have way more game than I, that's for sure. See you online sometime, hehe.

[Calvenn]

Something you guys forget to mention regarding superstar level is that the computer RARELY if EVER takes mid range shots. The pro-hoping and driving to the hoop issue is exacerbated at this level of play no matter what you try. For this reason, and because internal player ratings are exaggerated on superstar, I'd much rather stick to all-star where the game plays more realistically due to the coding and more accurate player ratings. The more realistic aspects of the all-star level can't be overlooked if you're a true b-ball enthusiast!

As Andrew has suggested, the best way to handle the game if you find it easy over time is to simply increase the cpu's fg% via slider adjustments or lessen human fg% or some sort of combination of the aforementioned.

Similar to Madden and other EA Sports games, the ultimate level of play also means an added challenge, but often times at the expense of REALISM in certain important areas of gameplay.

[JohnnyKnoxville]

I just tried to play another Superstar game but quit at halftime and will go back to All-Star for my dynasty, that's for sure.

Making great shots is all fine and dandy, but hitting three consecutive turnaround fadeaway threepointers to beat the clock (because my defense did not allow a shot before that) are just freaking me out and completely taking the fun out of the game.
While I have still won 50% of my Superstar games (I count the one I just quit as a loss) I want to have fun and not exit the game frustrated (afterall, that's what real life is for )...
It also seems to me that defensive plays you should have made (and would have made on All-Star) do not happen on Superstar. First of all, your CPU teammates never steal or intercept the ball at all; and while this might be more challenging, it is ridiculous as unfortunately I cannot control all 5 players at the same time... Also, shots that are blocked on any other level go in in Superstar (and I checked the replay, they went thru the defender's hand, something that has not happened to me before in Live 04 - and I checked a lot of replays of blocks and missed blocks).

And still, both the CPU and I manage to shot above 50% on Superstar, even with sliders turned down pretty far. The only thing I can't hit to save my life are three-pointers...

All-Star, here I come! (again...)

[smithy_17]

Stop writing this sheit... OR I'll come down to the US and steal all of your games!

Man, just reading these threads makes me want to play the game so desperately that I can hardly handle it.

same with me. tried to stay away from the board. but it will come out friday here in germany ( i assume it will be the same date in finland). so i decided to come back and have a look, especially at slider-concerned threads. from what i´ve read here i will definitely play all-star and adjust sliders in a way that i will still have to fight for a winning record on an average team. i do the same on madden (all-pro level) and i´m getting very realistic stats while still losing a lot of games

[trey1343]

only thing Ive noticed with superstar is the unbelievable amount of buzzer beaters for the shot clock...

at the moment Im finding the PC shoots way too many threes, I need to fix that...but I was playing vs the Lakers, and Shaq hit a three to tie the game with 10 seconds to go...now cmon!

I play superstar, im 9-7 with the spurs, but lately my scores have creeped from 110...too 130..so Im going to have to get some sliders action soon....

Its almost like I dont play D, just outscore em, and I dont like that...

[cocobee]

Something you guys forget to mention regarding superstar level is that the computer RARELY if EVER takes mid range shots.

Funny you mention that, on Sportscenter last night, they were talking about how the mid-range shot is fading out in the nba . That all the players do is dunk and shoot three's nowadays. They were talking about how that they need to get back to some fundamentals. They also touched on the subject of zones--and that's why so many players are getting exploited because they don't have that mid-range shot which could kill the zone defenses. But more teams in the NBA are daring players to shoot the mid-range and as you can see that's why the totals are so low.


Fuuny correaltion, btw--the game vs reality argument. In reality not a lot of NBA players will shoot that mid-range especially when they can hoist 3's or jump out of the gym.

[oboeguy]

Cocobee has the score right. The death of the mid-range shot has been discussed for quite a while now, and it seems to be more and more obvious with the zone D being allowed. It's natural that this sort of thing should happen in the ebb and flow of gameplay. It's much like the reaction to the crazy scoring in the 80s... everyone started to play more D. This time, zones are daring people to hit mid-range shots, so I expect eventually teams will run more plays for it and guys will adapt their games to it.

In any case, that makes me wonder: if we, say, play a zone D in the game, will the CPU adapt to take more mid-range shots or will it get stuck not scoring. Hmmm... gonna have to try it.

[chipper]

I just checked some NBA stats for 90-91 season and I noticed that most players including point guards and shooters have FG% at or near .500

I guess today's players are just not fundamentally sound enough. My points? We need to import more european players!

[cocobee]

Which then leads to the programmers, if NBA players aren't taking mid range shots why will we make that a focus for the offense in this game? I have NBA league Pass so i get to watch a lot of games daily, and i do notice that not a lot players will take that J. Offenses are taught to go behind the 3 pt line when someone drives, not go to the open spot on the court. It's the evolution of the game--i will keep playing and and post my stats as i finsh each game. i've started playing 12 minute quarters for the first time, and i love it--but each game is like an hour--i wish this game had ingame saves.

[Calvenn]

Maybe live is mimicking the real game then? You're right in saying that the Nba seems to be transitioning away from fundamental ball of the past. Tis a bit of a shame. Honestly, I don't mind the drives and pro-hopping as long as they take advantage of the open shots when they are available. I mean I normally play defense to the point of suffocation on superstar, but the cpu just decides to ignore this presence and insists on backing me down with jump shooters such as Ray Allen. This is what's upsetting about superstar. If the shots are there, take them at least once in a while!

I can't count more than 1 mid range jumpshot the cpu has taken on this level of play, I truly don't believe that the problem is this bad in the NBA. Pared just recently made some comments regarding his observations at the OS Live sliders forum which corroborate my findings on this level of play.

I'm still loving the game however. The one thing I hope makes a difference is reducing cpu freestyle effectiveness. It seems like the pro-hoop is considered a freestyle move

[ChicagoBulls6in8]

The one thing I hope makes a difference is reducing cpu freestyle effectiveness. It seems like the pro-hoop is considered a freestyle move

i stated this on the board as well. without the presence of the pro hop you will get better games but they still don't shoot many stand up mid-range j's. they just won't do it. i have the freestyle effectiveness set to 40 and may lower it to 30.

[Calvenn]

I tried this with no success on superstar. The cpu DOES shoot mid range and other jump shots on all-star. This kills superstar IMO. There are other issues which I could live with, but this is a no go.

[fgrep15]

i tried lowering it to 30 they took 2 mid range j's and it was b.c the shot clock was at 1.....i dunno maybe they just cant do it

[XFACTOR]

i completely agree with knoxville. the computer always seems to come back in the most dramatic unrealistic ways. the highest difficulty setting woes have plagued other ea sports titles, especially madden, in the fourth quarter it made patrick ramsey playing like john elway!

[Mark.]

I have my comp freestyle effectiveness turned down to bout 30 i think and i jst played the blazers and stoudimire had 31 points of which about 20 were form pro-hop penetration. Im not that good at defending but i can still stick to my man.

[ChicagoBulls6in8]

I have my comp freestyle effectiveness turned down to bout 30 i think and i jst played the blazers and stoudimire had 31 points of which about 20 were form pro-hop penetration. Im not that good at defending but i can still stick to my man.

well that disproves my theory that by lowering freestyle effectiveness you will lower the pro hops.