'EA's NBA Live brings its "A" game to E3.'

"EA's NBA Live brings its "A" game to E3."

Spiffy:

New graphics engine; Freestyle control covers even more maneuvers; AI gets updated realism.

Iffy:

No real drastic changes announced; playing catch-up with ESPN NBA.

NBA Live hasn't reviewed as well as its Sega Sports rival, but it's consistently been the obvious people's choice for basketball sims. It's hard not to love the freedom that comes with the Freestyle control mechanic, which allows you to control defensive moves and ballhandling tricks. It also does an excellent job of capturing the "flava" of the NBA.

Last year's Live sagged in the graphics department. EA, of course, is never a company to let negatives linger, so this season's game is complete with a new graphics engine. It definitely shows. All player faces have been totally redone, to make everyone look much more like their real-life counterparts. It's going to take a lot to compete with ESPN NBA 2005 with its new "triple pass rendering," but Live 2005 may have the goods.

Freestyle has gotten even deeper -- something that barely seems possible. But now, it will also come into play on things like rebounds and blocks. Just use the right analog to angle your jumps and grabs. Rebounding and blocking have always been tough points for b-ball games to get right, and this may be just the boost they're looking for. Also on the menu for a Freestyle addition are put-backs and tip-ins. These will be a whole lot more user-controlled from here on out.

The AI has become smarter, meaning it will use the same Freestyle moves you can. It will also move more realistically, rotating to cover holes or open opponents. Last year's game was pretty difficult, especially for this series, but Live 2005 will be difficult in a more rational way. No more complaining that the computer "cheated." The only one to blame for your mistakes is you.

Of course, EA is being very tight-lipped about any major overhauls to the series. Are we surprised? Heck no; big announcements made this time of year could be implemented by the competition before the October release dates. However, an EA rep tells us there is something massive in the works -- as large and groundbreaking as Freestyle control was when it debuted years ago. We wait with baited breath.

Sorry if it's been posted before.

Wonder what this groundbreaking new thing could be, I hope they aren't reffering to free-style air. That would be patronization.

Well, I'm holding my breath.

Sorry for the short post, but

That makes me feel much better.

Hmm...so on defense...maybe "hands up" will be replaced by using up on the analog stick to jump, with diagonal up/left making you jump to the left etc. Then I guess down will still be defensive crouch and box-out.

I like that...

No more complaining that the computer "cheated."

The comp sucks @ cheating but yay.

The computer does cheat, only sometimes(if so it doesnt work)

Nothing to add, except to say sweet.

No more complaining that the computer "cheated."

It'll still probably cheat. Just in a more subtle way.