My Brief Review and opinion on Live 09

[Loyal2Live]

First, I've been faithfully playing Live since 95. I even go back as far as Lakers vs. Celtics and the Team USA (when Jordan's signature dunk was a two handed up and under the rim slam from the baseline, remember that?) Anyway, needless to say I am an EA fan. I've watched the game grow every year for 14 yrs and although some years were not as good as others, Live has been a great basketball game throughout the years.

In 14 yrs of day in and day out playing Live, this is my first review on any game, on any forum, at any time. The reason for this.....NBA Live 2009 is OUTSTANDING!! Granted, it does have its problems, but the goods far outweigh the bads.

Presentation
Regarding presentation, there are certain things that are far more important than others. For example, the player introductions, the highlights, the TV style gameplay, and commentary are at the top of the list. This unfortunately is the area where Live falls short of glory. In 2009, they show the star player then the team getting hype in the huddle. In previous years, the players were introduced individually (and were "crunk" as they ran out) and the crowd responding accordingly. It was an event just to see the players come out. Think Chicago Bulls during the championship years. This year even with cheerleaders and the view coming out of the locker room, it still does not get you hyped about playing the game.....The highlights at the end/halftime of the game is a welcomed recently added feature, however 2k9 has this area on lock. I'm a bit dissapointed about EA's highlight reel although it has gotten better. How about the top ten plays? Or player interviews? Something better?.......The TV style gameplay. If you didn't know you were playing a video game, it would look like the NBA on NBC. Enough said........The commentary. Marv and Steve are awsome. Again, the NBA on NBC, just wish there was more of it. I do realize there is alot more that goes into this but again those are the first things I look for regarding presentation.

Gamplay
The best in 14 yrs! Looks smooth, feels smooth, plays great. The post moves, which are basically the same last year, look much better. In addition, they are harder to complete due to the reaction based 2 player animation, which makes for a more challenging post-play experience. Signature-shot styles look authentic and are fluid. There is far more team activity this year, where players are running around trying to get open or setting screens. The play-calling system, down-right awsome. The user can actually edit plays to taylor to specfic players on the team, and you have 8 plays to choose from. Pick-and-roll system....I think the NBA Live community has agreed on its success. Job well done, EA. Quick-Strike Ankle breakers I must admit are a bit difficult to pull-off, meaning its not as responsive as it could be, however definitely its going in the right direction. I've seen players fall down after getting "shook". Sometimes though the player you are controlling will get stuck in an animation by the defensive player when trying to get free, but still much better than previous years. There is much more to be said good and bad, can't dive for balls and can't tip-dunk, but overall I'll just say again.....The best in 14 yrs!! This year EA holds true to its slogan. "If its in the game, its in the game."

I am yet to play dynasty mode. So nothing to say there.

Now here is the area that is not discussed that often especially in console forums, however it is very, very, important to those who cherish this feature. Create-a-Player

What EA has done this year with CAPs....OUTSTANDING!!! The only gripe is there needs to be more tattoos, and some of the facial hair selections needs to be more apparent. Now that that is out of the way, lets begin.
To incorpaorate the new DNA system with CAPs is an overlooked stroke of genius. Now you can create a player and designate percentages as to how the player will respond, as well as determine what plays are best for him. You can designate preferences thru the players DNA to Post-Up, Isolate, Off-the ball screens, Pick and roll handler or rollman, Spot up, or Cut to the basket. This in itself is unprecented, but wait there's more. Gamers can now choose custom animations for their CAPs. For example, John "CAP" Doe, can have Lebron's shot style, Kobe's go-to-move, the free-throw routine of Rip Hamilton, the free-throw shot style of Carlos Boozer, and the Dunk style of Andre Igudala. And there is multidue of selections to choose from. I mean damn, it doesn't get much better than that for CAPs or for Live fans. Job well done, EA. Only 1 concern, if you put a created player on a team, how will that be effected by the 365 updates. Will we lose those players, will they be in free agency or what? Guess we'll see. But I would almost be willing to sacrifice the updates to keep my created point guard for the Lakers. ALMOST. But wait it gets better. This created player can be used in NBA Academy. He can run all the drills and go thru Team Practices....WOW!

Due to a lack of time I'll have to suspend this review until later, but please let me know what you think.

[SublimeAnarky]

nice read thus far.. keep it coming. i'm running on reviews from the community before i pick this baby up

[Cleveland wins]

I actually love the game although for the ps2 i haven't been able to access the dynamic dna or that nba academy unless the academy is the practice mode thing. But gameplay is great as far as i know. I've gotten plenty of steals for example with my cavalier dynasty. I made a trade for jr.smith and in the game he got at least 2 steals and even wally got a steal. Its hard to get blocks though and it seems that in simulation stats that there are more steals than blocks even as you play the game its more steals than blocks at least that's the case when i played. How is it when you guys played? I'm happy that they have several rookies that i didn't expect them to have and here are some of the ones that i didn't expect them to have, mark casol and roy hibbert. In my memphis dynasty casol's overall is improving nicely. I enjoy live 09's gameplay more than 08. I was suprised though that eric gordon is a free agent and i think that it was the la clippers or some team that always signs him. And anybody can improve even veterans, i don't usually train veterans but to keep them from declining i've trained ben wallace, zydrunas illgauskas and wally although wally didn't improve. Almost all of these rookies have excellent potential even a player like hickson who starts at 63. In fact his speed is 76 and he's kind of quick to and his blocking stat is 71. I give this game an a.

[Patr1ck]

There is no dynamic dna or nba academy in the ps2 version. There is an enhanced practice mode, though.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the review, Loyal2Live. CAP is pretty good this year with the ability to assign all the different styles, I like that they didn't just limit it to picking a single player's style for all aspects (Go To Move, Jumpshot Style, etc) and instead we can pick and choose those attribute independently, definitely a good move doing that. Providing players as templates for created player DNA is also quite helpful.