Stage 1: Impressions |
Stage 2: Analysis |
Stage 3: Evaluation |
When the best part of a sports game is the commentary, it should be clear that the game has major problems. Welcome to NBA Live 08. Although Albert and Kerr set a new standard for voice actors in sports games, there is almost nothing else to like about this game. The shooting mechanic is broken. Defense provides no challenge. The AI on both sides of the ball is pathetic. However, a Slam Dunk Contest mode offers substantial enjoyment - and only because it doesn't involve defense, teammates, shooting or anything resembling professional basketball.
The Slam Dunk Contest is played with only the Wii Remote. Players pick an NBA superstar and a dunk they want to perform, and then use the Wii Remote to make motions that mimic those involved with the dunk. Some of the dunks, like a tomahawk, are as simple as lifting the Wii Remote up and then bringing it back down. But other dunks, such as windmills, will actually have players making windmill motions with their arms.
One of Wii's best mini-games.
Although players will master the necessary steps for perfect execution pretty quickly, the list of dunks is largely inspired. There are almost a dozen set-ups that players can use, such as throwing the ball off of the Jumbotron and catching it in midair, or sitting down on the court and bouncing it off the scoreboard. The list also features a number of famous dunks from All-Star Weekends past, including dunks from Vince Carter and Spud Webb.
The Slam Dunk Contest is among the best mini-games in the entire Wii library. It's quick, spectacular, get-off-the-couch fun. When a group of people are gathered together and really getting into the dunks, be it by passing the Wii Remote through their legs like a basketball, or by actually spinning in circles when it's time for a 360-degree dunk, the contest becomes a can't-miss party experience.
I'm tempted to give the Slam Dunk Contest our Innovative Design Award, but I can't for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, the otherwise fantastic concept of using the Wii Remote to emulate dunks is not employed anywhere in this game outside of the Contest mode. Second, there is no way I can justifiably recommend the single mini-game based on Live 08's 50 dollar price tag and the pitiful gameplay outside of this mode.
He's so shiny you'd think his jersey was made of leather.
Make no mistake, even though the Slam Dunk Contest is guaranteed fun in short bursts, almost everything else about this game is broken. This includes the game's recognition of jump shots, which is the most fundamental aspect of basketball. Whether a shot goes in or not is largely random - which is a shame considering that EA took the time to model many signature shots, including Kobe Bryant's fade away jumper and Tony Parker's teardrop layup.
NBA Live 08's Season Mode has one aspect that will hopefully find its way into the rest of the EA Sports lineup. "Simulation Alerts" will pop up during simulated games and tell you if a noteworthy event is about to take place, such as a triple double or a close defeat. You can then end the simulation, if you so choose, and play the game yourself from that point. It's a unique way to give players optional control over a simulated season. But given that the Season Mode involves playing consecutive games of NBA Live 08, and the gameplay has no redeeming value, there is absolutely no need to play this mode.
The game also features an online mode via EA Nation that is very similar to the one found in Madden NFL 08. In fact, players can use the same account information they set up with Madden in Live. Servers are stable and finding a match is easy. NBA Live 08's online interface is even better in print than Madden 08's, if only because this game uses better pre-set phrases for communication.
Unfortunately for EA Nation, the only reason to play this game online is because misery loves company.
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Superb audio commentary
Signature shots are nice
Graphics are glitchy
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Stage 2: Analysis |
Stage 3: Evaluation |
