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?
. 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?
), 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.
