NBA Live 2005 Review (No Dynasty Mode)
Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:48 pm
Well, I've spent a great portion of last night as well as most of the day playing NBA Live 2005 for the XBox. Here's what I think:
Graphics
The player models in Live 2005 are indeed improved over last year's version most notably body types. Now more than ever, there is a distinct difference between a player like Chris Kaman and Chris Childs. Using the Lakers I was thrilled to see that EAC went through great pains to avoid having generic looking players and strived to have diversity in this area. When you use Shaquille you actually feel like the biggest guy on the court and you immediately want to use your awesome size to your advantage.
Player faces are extremely hit and miss. Guys like Shaq, Yao and LeBron look dead on while players like Kobe and Maggette look kind of weird. I like the fact that they got the tattoos incredibly accurate, you really see just how ugly Kobe's tattoo is!
For those wondering, yes you can add and remove headbands on any player. LeBron's default head has a headband but you can take it off whenever you see fit to do so, and yes, Yao can have a headband! One thing however that I don't care for is that mysterious "gleem" that makes the player models look shiny. I'm not quite sure what EAC was trying to achieve with this but it doesn't behoove them to continue in that direction. It makes them emit a very plastic looking quality that lacks realism. Create A Player has alot more options but I still feel alot more can be done with it. There's alot of faces, noses, etc. but it doesnt seem like there's alot of variation between all of them, only subtle differences.
I also felt the colors could be alot sharper on uni's and players but it isn't a huge concern. Graphics really shine when it comes to stadiums though, the floors and arenas look fabulous. The lighting effects are great when you see how the lights illuminate off of the floor, creating an authentic NBA atmosphere. Those who are big on arena audience graphics won't be blown away but should be more than satisfied with how it looks.
Grade: ( B+) While way better than last year there's still some work to be done.
Gameplay and AI
This is what makes this title the best basketball game in the history of video games. Yeah, I read all the EA Summit reports and every bit of information about this much like the rest of you but I simply wasn't prepared for how great it is. The spacing is way better than year's past and "crowding and bunching up" is at a bare minimum. I think EAC really answered the bell and allowed the game to be a much more fluid contest rather than a bump and grind fest. Players will do things like push off of defenders to create space, find open spots on the floor to get a shot off and the post game is much cleaner than ever before.
I made a list of things to look out for to really see if that game had improved and Live 2005 passed with flying colors. The wretched dribble bumps are turned down, when it does occur it makes sense and doesn't annoy or detract from the experience. With the plethora of new animations (they REALLY outdid themselves) you really feel like it's an accurate representation of the NBA. Dribble moves are more realistic and freestyle is toned down for the better. The pro hop is now something you'll want to use sparingly because when abused you'll get the charge or lose the rock. When you are successful it is a pure joy to behold.
Dunking is finally what it should be, a reward that you earned. No way do you see 30+ dunks in your average NBA contest and you won't see it in a game of Live 2005. There are alot more layups and you'll have to master the art of the mid range jumper. If you don't you'll get killed plain and simple. The cpu is now so smart that it's frightening, they take advantage of mismatches consistently and use freestyle realistically and effectively. There are still a heck of alot of blocks on the default settings but no longer is it with the little guys. I adjusted the slider to decrease the block party and it worked to perfection. Also, that point guard problem is completely gone. No longer will virtually every point guard take the majority of the shots unless he's the go to guy. When playing against Denver, Melo took the most shots while Miller got people involved until it was time to exploit Chucky Atkins' size and defense (or lack thereof).
The "Frustration Animations" where you lose control over your player are now almost gone, though sometimes you'll block a shot and there will be a slight delay afterwards. Rest assured though, the animations are plentiful and fluid on both sides of the ball. The animations in the post look great as well so you'll want to let your big man work it down low. There are minor issues such as the ball hitting off the backboard or inexplicably going out of bounds when your player draws contact while penetrating but it's not a big hassle. The new feature Freestyle Air is great, especially when you successfully get a tip in. It doesn't seem like you can abuse this feature, and it adds a new dimension to gameplay.
The passing is greatly improved guys. While there are still some of the one handed jump passes and catches it isn't enough to annoy like 2004. The no looks you throw out of a pro hop animation are plain beautiful and you'll have to learn to be smart with passing period. The cpu will not allow phony cross court passes, they'll knock it down or intercept it in a heartbeat. You have to be fundamentally sound and well as smart with the basketball or you'll be racking up turnovers. Passes in and out of the post still aren't what they should be but it is improved as well.
Grade: ( A+) The gameplay is smooth, smart, and most importantly 100% simulation. EA Canada I salute you for giving us the gameplay we've long clamored for.
Audio
I'm not too crazy about the in game audio with Mike and Marv. Frankly I expected alot more in this department, there are some new sayings but it felt somewhat recycled and mundane. The basketball sounds like dribbling, dunks and rim clanks are excellent. The realism is in and the over the top sound effects have been put to rest, I was quite pleased really. The crowd sounds are improved as well, they booed me out of the building when I fell behind by fourteen to the Timberwolves, and cheered when Kobe brought us back in the fourth quarter. Not outstanding but not disappointing either.
The best though is the commentary by Ernie and Kenny the Jet in the ASW. They say tons of interesting things and made me laugh on more than a few occasions, it really captures their amazing chemistry from the NBA on TNT. Maybe they'll add the Chuckwagon for 2006? Hope so but even without Charles in the fold it doesn't disappoint in the least.
The soundtrack could have been alot better, the problem lies in the fact that it gets a bit old to hear song after song about either NBA Live or the game of basketball. The fact that the word "live" is a part of Hip Hop slang certainly doesn't help matters, expect to hear a million and one references to the crowd "getting live." The lyricists they chose are actually pretty good with witty punchlines and metaphors but the actual beats are horrid to say the least. As a die hard Hip Hop fan I wasn't impressed in the least,and I'd love the opportunity to pick their tracks for them in 2006.
Grade: ( B-) Ernie, Kenny and the improved basketball sounds save this from being a C, there is much room for improvement in this area.
NBA All-Star Weekend
Shhhhh, don't tell EAC this but they could have actually made this a separate game and doubled their money. That's how good this new mode is and most notably the dunk contest. You have to understand that I was excited but a bit leery of how well it would be executed, I immediately saw that it was what dreams were made of! The dunk contest and the dunking school that accompanies the mode is fabulous, intuitive and challenging. I first entered the dunk school and it took me a while to execute even the simplest dunk but once I did I actually yelled out loud. The control is perfectly responsive and the animation's jaw dropping. I just kept dunking and dunking and dunking and dunking.......
The contest is great, it really has the feel of the actual event. When Kenny rips into you after you mess up you really want to bury your face in the sand. This is absolutely the best thing to ever happen to basketball videogames, you'll love it plain and simple. The 3 point contest is great too, personally I felt like it should have never left. It's now returned with a vengeance! Just the mere fact that the shooting styles closely resemble those of the actual players gave me goosebumps, and they definitely made it more difficult too. The Rookie Challenge and All-Star game are really fun as well, rounding out a great new feature in the NBA Live franchise
Grade: ( A+) Outstanding addition to the NBA Live franchise, online for 2006?
Front End and Presentation
The menus in 2005 are much more user friendly than last year's which I found incredibly cumbersome. Loading times seem to be reduced and it just plain easier to navigate. I still wish they had an auto load/save feature to make things easier for the user. The presentation is excellent, everything looks very sharp. In the My NBA Live feature you now have a place very similar to Crib Mode in ESPN's games where there are three different areas. In the Hall Of Fame you have trophy cases, retired jerseys and the record book. In the lounge you have a jukebox, place to implement codes and a tv and DVD player to watch Freestyle tutorials. Lastly the NBA store looks identical to the real store in NYC, you'll be able to buy shoes, jerseys, etc.
Grade:( A ) The menus are vastly improved and the addition of the NBA Store was a nice touch.
Dynasty Mode
I know this is the most important feature to the vast majority of you but I will not review this portion of the game. Frankly I'd be doing you and the game an injustice by reviewing a feature that takes much more than one day of playing to truly get an informed perspective. Not to worry, an in-depth preview devoted solely to Dynasty Mode will come within the next few weeks.
Overall Grade:( A-) I'm very happy with what EA Canada has achieved with this 2005 project, their focus on realistic gameplay is evident from the very first tipoff. Couple that with the new All-Star Weekend and we have an undisputed havyweight champ on our hands. My only question is? How can they possibly top this Herculean effort next year?
Graphics
The player models in Live 2005 are indeed improved over last year's version most notably body types. Now more than ever, there is a distinct difference between a player like Chris Kaman and Chris Childs. Using the Lakers I was thrilled to see that EAC went through great pains to avoid having generic looking players and strived to have diversity in this area. When you use Shaquille you actually feel like the biggest guy on the court and you immediately want to use your awesome size to your advantage.
Player faces are extremely hit and miss. Guys like Shaq, Yao and LeBron look dead on while players like Kobe and Maggette look kind of weird. I like the fact that they got the tattoos incredibly accurate, you really see just how ugly Kobe's tattoo is!
For those wondering, yes you can add and remove headbands on any player. LeBron's default head has a headband but you can take it off whenever you see fit to do so, and yes, Yao can have a headband! One thing however that I don't care for is that mysterious "gleem" that makes the player models look shiny. I'm not quite sure what EAC was trying to achieve with this but it doesn't behoove them to continue in that direction. It makes them emit a very plastic looking quality that lacks realism. Create A Player has alot more options but I still feel alot more can be done with it. There's alot of faces, noses, etc. but it doesnt seem like there's alot of variation between all of them, only subtle differences.
I also felt the colors could be alot sharper on uni's and players but it isn't a huge concern. Graphics really shine when it comes to stadiums though, the floors and arenas look fabulous. The lighting effects are great when you see how the lights illuminate off of the floor, creating an authentic NBA atmosphere. Those who are big on arena audience graphics won't be blown away but should be more than satisfied with how it looks.
Grade: ( B+) While way better than last year there's still some work to be done.
Gameplay and AI
This is what makes this title the best basketball game in the history of video games. Yeah, I read all the EA Summit reports and every bit of information about this much like the rest of you but I simply wasn't prepared for how great it is. The spacing is way better than year's past and "crowding and bunching up" is at a bare minimum. I think EAC really answered the bell and allowed the game to be a much more fluid contest rather than a bump and grind fest. Players will do things like push off of defenders to create space, find open spots on the floor to get a shot off and the post game is much cleaner than ever before.
I made a list of things to look out for to really see if that game had improved and Live 2005 passed with flying colors. The wretched dribble bumps are turned down, when it does occur it makes sense and doesn't annoy or detract from the experience. With the plethora of new animations (they REALLY outdid themselves) you really feel like it's an accurate representation of the NBA. Dribble moves are more realistic and freestyle is toned down for the better. The pro hop is now something you'll want to use sparingly because when abused you'll get the charge or lose the rock. When you are successful it is a pure joy to behold.
Dunking is finally what it should be, a reward that you earned. No way do you see 30+ dunks in your average NBA contest and you won't see it in a game of Live 2005. There are alot more layups and you'll have to master the art of the mid range jumper. If you don't you'll get killed plain and simple. The cpu is now so smart that it's frightening, they take advantage of mismatches consistently and use freestyle realistically and effectively. There are still a heck of alot of blocks on the default settings but no longer is it with the little guys. I adjusted the slider to decrease the block party and it worked to perfection. Also, that point guard problem is completely gone. No longer will virtually every point guard take the majority of the shots unless he's the go to guy. When playing against Denver, Melo took the most shots while Miller got people involved until it was time to exploit Chucky Atkins' size and defense (or lack thereof).
The "Frustration Animations" where you lose control over your player are now almost gone, though sometimes you'll block a shot and there will be a slight delay afterwards. Rest assured though, the animations are plentiful and fluid on both sides of the ball. The animations in the post look great as well so you'll want to let your big man work it down low. There are minor issues such as the ball hitting off the backboard or inexplicably going out of bounds when your player draws contact while penetrating but it's not a big hassle. The new feature Freestyle Air is great, especially when you successfully get a tip in. It doesn't seem like you can abuse this feature, and it adds a new dimension to gameplay.
The passing is greatly improved guys. While there are still some of the one handed jump passes and catches it isn't enough to annoy like 2004. The no looks you throw out of a pro hop animation are plain beautiful and you'll have to learn to be smart with passing period. The cpu will not allow phony cross court passes, they'll knock it down or intercept it in a heartbeat. You have to be fundamentally sound and well as smart with the basketball or you'll be racking up turnovers. Passes in and out of the post still aren't what they should be but it is improved as well.
Grade: ( A+) The gameplay is smooth, smart, and most importantly 100% simulation. EA Canada I salute you for giving us the gameplay we've long clamored for.
Audio
I'm not too crazy about the in game audio with Mike and Marv. Frankly I expected alot more in this department, there are some new sayings but it felt somewhat recycled and mundane. The basketball sounds like dribbling, dunks and rim clanks are excellent. The realism is in and the over the top sound effects have been put to rest, I was quite pleased really. The crowd sounds are improved as well, they booed me out of the building when I fell behind by fourteen to the Timberwolves, and cheered when Kobe brought us back in the fourth quarter. Not outstanding but not disappointing either.
The best though is the commentary by Ernie and Kenny the Jet in the ASW. They say tons of interesting things and made me laugh on more than a few occasions, it really captures their amazing chemistry from the NBA on TNT. Maybe they'll add the Chuckwagon for 2006? Hope so but even without Charles in the fold it doesn't disappoint in the least.
The soundtrack could have been alot better, the problem lies in the fact that it gets a bit old to hear song after song about either NBA Live or the game of basketball. The fact that the word "live" is a part of Hip Hop slang certainly doesn't help matters, expect to hear a million and one references to the crowd "getting live." The lyricists they chose are actually pretty good with witty punchlines and metaphors but the actual beats are horrid to say the least. As a die hard Hip Hop fan I wasn't impressed in the least,and I'd love the opportunity to pick their tracks for them in 2006.
Grade: ( B-) Ernie, Kenny and the improved basketball sounds save this from being a C, there is much room for improvement in this area.
NBA All-Star Weekend
Shhhhh, don't tell EAC this but they could have actually made this a separate game and doubled their money. That's how good this new mode is and most notably the dunk contest. You have to understand that I was excited but a bit leery of how well it would be executed, I immediately saw that it was what dreams were made of! The dunk contest and the dunking school that accompanies the mode is fabulous, intuitive and challenging. I first entered the dunk school and it took me a while to execute even the simplest dunk but once I did I actually yelled out loud. The control is perfectly responsive and the animation's jaw dropping. I just kept dunking and dunking and dunking and dunking.......
The contest is great, it really has the feel of the actual event. When Kenny rips into you after you mess up you really want to bury your face in the sand. This is absolutely the best thing to ever happen to basketball videogames, you'll love it plain and simple. The 3 point contest is great too, personally I felt like it should have never left. It's now returned with a vengeance! Just the mere fact that the shooting styles closely resemble those of the actual players gave me goosebumps, and they definitely made it more difficult too. The Rookie Challenge and All-Star game are really fun as well, rounding out a great new feature in the NBA Live franchise
Grade: ( A+) Outstanding addition to the NBA Live franchise, online for 2006?
Front End and Presentation
The menus in 2005 are much more user friendly than last year's which I found incredibly cumbersome. Loading times seem to be reduced and it just plain easier to navigate. I still wish they had an auto load/save feature to make things easier for the user. The presentation is excellent, everything looks very sharp. In the My NBA Live feature you now have a place very similar to Crib Mode in ESPN's games where there are three different areas. In the Hall Of Fame you have trophy cases, retired jerseys and the record book. In the lounge you have a jukebox, place to implement codes and a tv and DVD player to watch Freestyle tutorials. Lastly the NBA store looks identical to the real store in NYC, you'll be able to buy shoes, jerseys, etc.
Grade:( A ) The menus are vastly improved and the addition of the NBA Store was a nice touch.
Dynasty Mode
I know this is the most important feature to the vast majority of you but I will not review this portion of the game. Frankly I'd be doing you and the game an injustice by reviewing a feature that takes much more than one day of playing to truly get an informed perspective. Not to worry, an in-depth preview devoted solely to Dynasty Mode will come within the next few weeks.
Overall Grade:( A-) I'm very happy with what EA Canada has achieved with this 2005 project, their focus on realistic gameplay is evident from the very first tipoff. Couple that with the new All-Star Weekend and we have an undisputed havyweight champ on our hands. My only question is? How can they possibly top this Herculean effort next year?
Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:27 pm
Nice review. Really helpful. More torture for me to wait for PC version. :P
Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:34 pm
In depth. I like it.
Shame I have to wait another month
Shame I have to wait another month
Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:42 pm
Good review 
. Now I'm really itching for the game on PC. I wasn't too pleased with the animations in the IGN gameplay videos from the last couple weeks, but now that you have the game and are really pleased with the animations, did you notice a big difference with the animations now and with the old IGN videos? Also, does the computer pause for a split second after recieving a pass, or are they quick and responsive?
. Now I'm really itching for the game on PC. I wasn't too pleased with the animations in the IGN gameplay videos from the last couple weeks, but now that you have the game and are really pleased with the animations, did you notice a big difference with the animations now and with the old IGN videos? Also, does the computer pause for a split second after recieving a pass, or are they quick and responsive?
Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:05 pm
How would you respond to some of the criticisms other reviewers have made. Like fastbreaks not being as fluid as they should, and the CPU "catchup" still being very annoying.
Also, from some gameplay videos I've seen of CPU vs CPU, the AI doesn't seem to really run plays very much. It's more of a freestyle offense where they pass the ball around for a while, and then shoot with a guy in their face. Did you notice this at all while playing the CPU?
Some have described the gameplay as merely a tweaked version of last year. Not substantially improved. You don't agree?
Also, from some gameplay videos I've seen of CPU vs CPU, the AI doesn't seem to really run plays very much. It's more of a freestyle offense where they pass the ball around for a while, and then shoot with a guy in their face. Did you notice this at all while playing the CPU?
Some have described the gameplay as merely a tweaked version of last year. Not substantially improved. You don't agree?
Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:26 pm
Thanks for you review ~~
Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:37 pm
durvasa wrote:How would you respond to some of the criticisms other reviewers have made. Like fastbreaks not being as fluid as they should, and the CPU "catchup" still being very annoying.
Also, from some gameplay videos I've seen of CPU vs CPU, the AI doesn't seem to really run plays very much. It's more of a freestyle offense where they pass the ball around for a while, and then shoot with a guy in their face. Did you notice this at all while playing the CPU?
Some have described the gameplay as merely a tweaked version of last year. Not substantially improved. You don't agree?
Yeah, its strange to get so many conflicting reviews. Oh well, I'm getting the game on PC so I'll find out for myself in a few weeks...
Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:38 pm
Solid review Dre, I agree with everything you've said about Live. I've been busy playing Live as well--but played a couple games of ESPN tonight. (I'm impressed with it as well). These 2 games will give me a lot to do while waiting for my first love : the PC version. 
Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:11 pm
great review
i felt really jealous while reading your review... im one of the unlucky guys that have to wait for almost a month
i felt really jealous while reading your review... im one of the unlucky guys that have to wait for almost a month
Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:57 pm
yeah i agree with dre on the gleem he was talking about. its like they have a white outline on their bodies. makes it look WACKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:19 pm
good review Dre
i cant wait to play the game myself yo
i cant wait to play the game myself yo
Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:24 pm
Great review Dre, just added it to the NBA Live 2005 section over on the main site. Can't wait for part two...shame I've got a longer wait until I can get my hands on the game, but glad to hear I've got a lot to look forward to.
Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:51 pm
Great review Much much better than IGN or any other.
looking forward to your dynasty review.
Much much better than IGN or any other.
looking forward to your dynasty review.
Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:06 pm
Great review Dre. Change the thread title, i thought you where saying that there i no Dynasty mode at all.
DRE, is there a song on the playlist by "Status Quo", i noticed on .org a track named "Stat Quo - "The Best". Please tell me this is a mistake and if its not tell me you can disable songs like last year.
DRE, is there a song on the playlist by "Status Quo", i noticed on .org a track named "Stat Quo - "The Best". Please tell me this is a mistake and if its not tell me you can disable songs like last year.
Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:38 pm
It's "Stat Quo", and like all other songs, it's rap.
Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:46 pm
JohnnyKnoxville wrote:It's "Stat Quo", and like all other songs, it's rap.
ok, gotcha.
Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:15 pm
Isn't calling yourself "Stat Quo" some form of breach of copyright? I mean it's only 2 letters off, and while I'm sure both groups suck it's still pretty suspiscious
Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:42 pm
Great review Dre!
Man i have ages to wait until the PC version comes out in Oz!! Gonna drive me nuts!!! I need to induce a coma or something.
Man i have ages to wait until the PC version comes out in Oz!! Gonna drive me nuts!!! I need to induce a coma or something.
Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:03 pm
Awesome review and what I like about it that it is a subjective review, from a true NBA Live fan's perspective.
Too bad it seems that I will likely be able to play this game the earliest @ christmas since I got no decent gaming system
Too bad it seems that I will likely be able to play this game the earliest @ christmas
since I got no decent gaming system
Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:29 pm
thanx for the review Dre. that was insightful.
I have a few gameplay questions to ask, if anyone could answer it would be great
1. Do players run out of bounds- I noticed in 04 that players would be running out of court and if you passed it to them naturally it would be a TO
2. Does the CPU make long passes- In 04 the CPU would make long passes on the fastbreak that in reality would be easily intercepted
3. What are the ball physics like- 04 had some shots that looked like they would brick but end up going in
4. Does the CPU make Clutch shots like it did in 04 at the end of the shot clock
5. Do players take shots that they don't do in real life...eg: Glenn Robinson shooting hook shots
thx
I have a few gameplay questions to ask, if anyone could answer it would be great
1. Do players run out of bounds- I noticed in 04 that players would be running out of court and if you passed it to them naturally it would be a TO
2. Does the CPU make long passes- In 04 the CPU would make long passes on the fastbreak that in reality would be easily intercepted
3. What are the ball physics like- 04 had some shots that looked like they would brick but end up going in
4. Does the CPU make Clutch shots like it did in 04 at the end of the shot clock
5. Do players take shots that they don't do in real life...eg: Glenn Robinson shooting hook shots
thx
Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:54 pm
cyanide wrote:Good review
Yes, I've noticed a big difference in the animations in the IGN videos and what is in the final product. A major concern of several members were the "ballet-like" animations when taking it to the rack and adjusting shots. There are still animations like this but it isn't as prevalent in the final version. There are so many new animations while dribbling, off the ball, shooting, defensively, etc. that it really broadens the basketball experience.
Even those that wouldn't like the "ballet-like" animations would redily concede that it is tons better than the old "flailing about" animations of shot adjustments in 2004.
Cpu pausing after recieving passes? On a few occassions yes, but most times the cpu will break your ass down or read the defense and act accordingly. I'm impressed with the cpu intelligence in this regard.
durvasa wrote:How would you respond to some of the criticisms other reviewers have made. Like fastbreaks not being as fluid as they should, and the CPU "catchup" still being very annoying.
Also, from some gameplay videos I've seen of CPU vs CPU, the AI doesn't seem to really run plays very much. It's more of a freestyle offense where they pass the ball around for a while, and then shoot with a guy in their face. Did you notice this at all while playing the CPU?
Some have described the gameplay as merely a tweaked version of last year. Not substantially improved. You don't agree?
Fast breaks could be improved yes, but I didn't harp on this because it's way better than 2004. When you have a break it's a thrilling experience to beat your man to the hoop the way you should. The cons of the fast break occurs when guys inexplicably start walking instead of finding a lane, that still happens but you'll notice right away that it is indeed improved.
I noticed that too about running plays in cpu vs. cpu contests displayed in the video. I suppose that was an early beta version because these guys are so smart with knowing when to run the pick and roll and exploiting mismatches. Expect to have your worst defender attacked just like the NBA. I absolutely cannot agree with other reviwers assessment that gameplay is merely tweaked. Why? Because in 2005 more so than ever before ratings will directly translate to what your player can and can't do out on the floor.
For instance, the Lakers have no back up point so I attemted to use Luke at the one. Well, that experiment lasted all of a minute or so when he tried to cross up Jason Terry and the ball went off of his foot and out of bounds. I'd never been so happy to commit a turnover in my life! Also, in 2004 I could have Brian Grant passing out on the perimeter like a swing man, you'll get buried if you try that now. Defenders will even attack your big man out there and expect any last second shots to attract plenty of attention from the perimeter D. EA Canada deserves major props for listening to us fans and making the gameplay eons ahead of anything ever experienced in a basketball video game.
BluntMan© wrote:Great review Dre. Change the thread title, i thought you where saying that there i no Dynasty mode at all.
DRE, is there a song on the playlist by "Status Quo", i noticed on .org a track named "Stat Quo - "The Best". Please tell me this is a mistake and if its not tell me you can disable songs like last year.
I'm sorry about that Bluntman (I see that you're a Kevin Smith fan like me!
), I didn't mean to scare you only to have a disclaimer because frankly this is the most important part of the game and I didn't want to disappoint.Stat Quo is an MC from Atlanta Georgia who is actually a law student turned rapper. He was discovered by rapper Scarface and is the newest artist on Dr. Dre's Aftermath records. Talented kid, I hope he and Eminem will soon join forces for a song or two. Oh and yes, you can disable tracks in the jukebox located in your lounge.
Matt wrote:thanx for the review Dre. that was insightful.
I have a few gameplay questions to ask, if anyone could answer it would be great
1. Do players run out of bounds- I noticed in 04 that players would be running out of court and if you passed it to them naturally it would be a TO
2. Does the CPU make long passes- In 04 the CPU would make long passes on the fastbreak that in reality would be easily intercepted
3. What are the ball physics like- 04 had some shots that looked like they would brick but end up going in
4. Does the CPU make Clutch shots like it did in 04 at the end of the shot clock
5. Do players take shots that they don't do in real life...eg: Glenn Robinson shooting hook shots
thx
1. Ans: Thank the good Lord up above that they've stopped that nonsense! Nothing worse that having your two guard stand out of bounds for no reason just when you want to find him along the baseline, etc. GONE!
2. Ans: No long passes by the cpu, they seem to have went to great lengths to have the cpu play the way you do. They definietly seemed to have evened the odds.
3. Ans: As far as ball physics go I would probably need more time with the game to answer that. From what I saw so far, there were no made shots that looked like bricks at first. I'll make sure to get back to you on that one.
4. Ans: Clutch shots? GONE! That used to frustrate the heck out of me, for real. You play great D for a whole possession and all of a sudden it all gets thrown in the toilet witha shot just at the buzzer. They also stopped that nonsense of the cpu going for threes at the buzzer and if you defend you risk fouling. The game seems alot more fair, if you D 'em up good you reap the benfits.
5. Ans: So far, it seems like evryone plays like their real life counter parts. If they can't cross you up in real life they won't do it in the game, I haven't seen smaller players go for hook shots or do "big man stuff".
Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:13 pm
Dre Naismith wrote:cyanide wrote:Good review
Yes, I've noticed a big difference in the animations in the IGN videos and what is in the final product. A major concern of several members were the "ballet-like" animations when taking it to the rack and adjusting shots. There are still animations like this but it isn't as prevalent in the final version. There are so many new animations while dribbling, off the ball, shooting, defensively, etc. that it really broadens the basketball experience.
Even those that wouldn't like the "ballet-like" animations would redily concede that it is tons better than the old "flailing about" animations of shot adjustments in 2004.
Cpu pausing after recieving passes? On a few occassions yes, but most times the cpu will break your ass down or read the defense and act accordingly. I'm impressed with the cpu intelligence in this regard.
Excellent stuff! Thanks a lot. I'm glad EA responded to this initial issue. Now I'm really pumped for this game!
Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:32 am
I couldnt agree with u anymore Dre. I love this game because it makes the people that play cheap (especially online) play real. I'm 3-0 online so far, and when I played this guy who had the Rockets, he kept trying to pro hop with Tmac like it was Live 04. Tmac just kept losing the ball and I ended up beating the owner by 44 pts. After getting use to the game, I love it and I didn't expect the gameplay to be so realistic. I know how EA always say how real the gameplay is, but this year they really meant it. When you run a fastbreak, the spreading of the court is just as real as you can get. The only thing I see wrong with the game is the block shots which you can tone down with the sliders. Dre, what did you set your blocking sliders too anyway?
Another problem I see, is when you try to use offball on a fastbreak, sometime the player will stop and catch the ball instead of keep running. That's not a big thing, but I just wanted to point that out. The thing is, I have only been playing exhbition games, online and the dunk school. I looked at the NBA store too. So, I have alot more to experience with the game. I still have the regular dunk contest, 3 point shootout, freestyle challenge, and the dynasty mode. I've also played the Rook-Soph game which I like because the gameplay is realistic to the real rook-soph game and you can throw the ball off the backboard and dunk it like Tmac did in the all-star game. This game in-depth and I don't think I will ever get bored with this game because the cpu AI is very hard to play against on superstar mode.
Could someone please tell me how to edit the players in the game. I went into the dynasty mode and I could edit a player then, but I can't find a place to edit the player in regular game mode.
Another problem I see, is when you try to use offball on a fastbreak, sometime the player will stop and catch the ball instead of keep running. That's not a big thing, but I just wanted to point that out. The thing is, I have only been playing exhbition games, online and the dunk school. I looked at the NBA store too. So, I have alot more to experience with the game. I still have the regular dunk contest, 3 point shootout, freestyle challenge, and the dynasty mode. I've also played the Rook-Soph game which I like because the gameplay is realistic to the real rook-soph game and you can throw the ball off the backboard and dunk it like Tmac did in the all-star game. This game in-depth and I don't think I will ever get bored with this game because the cpu AI is very hard to play against on superstar mode.
Could someone please tell me how to edit the players in the game. I went into the dynasty mode and I could edit a player then, but I can't find a place to edit the player in regular game mode.
Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:37 am
SbHZmAFiA wrote:I couldnt agree with u anymore Dre. I love this game because it makes the people that play cheap (especially online) play real. I'm 3-0 online so far, and when I played this guy who had the Rockets, he kept trying to pro hop with Tmac like it was Live 04. Tmac just kept losing the ball and I ended up beating the owner by 44 pts. After getting use to the game, I love it and I didn't expect the gameplay to be so realistic. I know how EA always say how real the gameplay is, but this year they really meant it. When you run a fastbreak, the spreading of the court is just as real as you can get. The only thing I see wrong with the game is the block shots which you can tone down with the sliders. Dre, what did you set your blocking sliders too anyway?
Another problem I see, is when you try to use offball on a fastbreak, sometime the player will stop and catch the ball instead of keep running. That's not a big thing, but I just wanted to point that out. The thing is, I have only been playing exhbition games, online and the dunk school. I looked at the NBA store too. So, I have alot more to experience with the game. I still have the regular dunk contest, 3 point shootout, freestyle challenge, and the dynasty mode. I've also played the Rook-Soph game which I like because the gameplay is realistic to the real rook-soph game and you can throw the ball off the backboard and dunk it like Tmac did in the all-star game. This game in-depth and I don't think I will ever get bored with this game because the cpu AI is very hard to play against on superstar mode.
Wussupo SB, I'm still tweaking sliders here and there but for blocks I've temporarily settled on 30. I'll monitor the stats for a while and continue to tweak if necessary.
So right about the realistic gameplay, it's everything I've ever dreamed of. Perfect? Of course not and I'm sure with extensive play I'll find holes/gripes etc. But this gameplay has seriously raised the bar for basketball games much like Madden '93 did for football games.
Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:40 am
Dre Naismith wrote:SbHZmAFiA wrote:I couldnt agree with u anymore Dre. I love this game because it makes the people that play cheap (especially online) play real. I'm 3-0 online so far, and when I played this guy who had the Rockets, he kept trying to pro hop with Tmac like it was Live 04. Tmac just kept losing the ball and I ended up beating the owner by 44 pts. After getting use to the game, I love it and I didn't expect the gameplay to be so realistic. I know how EA always say how real the gameplay is, but this year they really meant it. When you run a fastbreak, the spreading of the court is just as real as you can get. The only thing I see wrong with the game is the block shots which you can tone down with the sliders. Dre, what did you set your blocking sliders too anyway?
Another problem I see, is when you try to use offball on a fastbreak, sometime the player will stop and catch the ball instead of keep running. That's not a big thing, but I just wanted to point that out. The thing is, I have only been playing exhbition games, online and the dunk school. I looked at the NBA store too. So, I have alot more to experience with the game. I still have the regular dunk contest, 3 point shootout, freestyle challenge, and the dynasty mode. I've also played the Rook-Soph game which I like because the gameplay is realistic to the real rook-soph game and you can throw the ball off the backboard and dunk it like Tmac did in the all-star game. This game in-depth and I don't think I will ever get bored with this game because the cpu AI is very hard to play against on superstar mode.
Wussupo SB, I'm still tweaking sliders here and there but for blocks I've temporarily settled on 30. I'll monitor the stats for a while and continue to tweak if necessary.
So right about the realistic gameplay, it's everything I've ever dreamed of. Perfect? Of course not and I'm sure with extensive play I'll find holes/gripes etc. But this gameplay has seriously raised the bar for basketball games much like Madden '93 did for football games.
Thanks, I'll try that out when I get home because right now I'm in keyboarding class once again
I can type fast so I'm finished with all my work anyway.