GAME STUDIO DESCRIPTION: Be an NBA superstar and own the court in NBA LIVE 06, which captures the emotion and intensity of the complete basketball experience like no other pro hoops simulation on the market.
The evolution of the EA SPORTS™ Freestyle Control continues with all-new EA SPORTS™ Freestyle Superstars. Users now dictate the actions of the top NBA stars with full user control over dazzling passes, rebounds, dunks and steals within 5-on-5 gameplay. With the superstars of the NBA playing like their real-life counterparts, Playmakers deliver fast break Freestyle passes on the fly, Stoppers control the paint, and Power players dominate the opposition with powerful user-controlled dunks. An enhanced transition game yields an up-tempo, fast-break, and physical brand of basketball that features players running the lanes and awaiting the open pass.
With the NBA LIVE 06 advancements in gameplay and enhanced player graphics, the NBA’s superstars look and play more like their real-life counterparts than ever before. A rich collection of game modes adds to the deepest offering of NBA LIVE ever – including Dynasty Mode™, EA SPORTS™ Online, and NBA All-Star Weekend.
Key Features
* EA SPORTS™ Freestyle Superstars: NBA LIVE 06 puts users in control of the NBA’s top players with all-new EA SPORTS Freestyle Superstars. Star players perform like their real-life NBA counterparts based on distinct character types, including Power, Playmaker, Stopper and more. Playmakers dish out no-look and behind-the-back passes on command. Stoppers block shots, steal and rebound like only the best defenders in the NBA. Power players have a dizzying array of thunder dunks found only in the top NBA All-Stars.
* Authentic 5-on-5 Gameplay: The NBA LIVE 06 all-new animation system helps to visually present the up-tempo, fast-break brand of basketball that makes the NBA thrive. NBA LIVE 06 also features an improved transition game and a more physical brand of play with collisions and dunked-on scenarios.
* New Player Visuals: A new graphics engine increases the resolution on player models and body types to unprecedented levels. Players not only play and act like their real life counterparts, but they look the part with striking detail and realism.
* The Voices of the NBA: Joining Marv Albert is new color commentator and former NBA star Steve Kerr. The on-air TV partners call the 5-on-5 action, while Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith bring their own unique flavor to the Slam Dunk Contest and 3 Point Shootout in the popular NBA All-Star Weekend mode.
* NBA All-Star Weekend: Back and better than ever, NBA All-Star Weekend allows users to create new jaw-dropping dunks as they compete in the Slam Dunk Contest. Also featuring the 3 Point Shootout, the Rookie Challenge, and the NBA All-Star Game, All-Star Weekend is available as a stand-alone game mode as well as within Dynasty Mode.
* EA SPORTS Online: Now available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and on Xbox Live™, EA SPORTS Online allows users to play online* against opponents from anywhere in North America and gives gamers the opportunity to meet, greet, chat, set up tournaments, download roster updates, and play head to head.
PLAY: The biggest plus this season is something that had been in the early basketball but in one form or another disappeared; great players. I remember when Tecmo released their basketball game and Michael Jordan dominated. The bad players were bad and the great were great. Makes sense.
The problem over the years is that the emphasis was on being a great team and working plays. That is great but you started losing the ability to drive the lane and dunk on anyone who got in your way. We know Kobe can drive the lane on anyone in the NBA but when he faces Ben Wallace we know chances are less so. In previous years that wasn’t always true. Kobe looked more like Joe Guard. EA has fixed that with this year’s version of NBA Live.
Every player you know has certain things they do great and NBA Live 06 has built those skills into the game. Drive the lane with Dwayne Wade or take over the game with Lebron. There are some issues however particularly when your superstar dominates too much. Certain players qualify as a Superstar and have different abilities. They can be; High flyer, power, playmaker, scorer, shooter, and stopper. Sometimes your shooter seems unstoppable and your stopper might be too much of a glove. There are other times when it seems like you can’t buy a bucket. There are hot and cold streaks seem to happen too often. Most good players are constantly good—not on a game to game basis.
Dynasty Mode is fantastic. There is the usual depth you expect from an EA Sports game. From drafting, to hiring coaches, and developing your player’s game you have a lot of sim play for a game that is mostly built like an arcade game. Dynasty is where you’ll spend most of your time.
Also included is All-Star Weekend. The dunk contest hasn’t been interesting since the early ‘90s and it isn’t here either.
GRAPHICS: The Xbox looks better than the PS2. Neither looks great. We are starting to wonder if EA is spending this year working on the Xbox 360 release and leaving the franchise games with last year’s graphics. The players don’t look much different. The only new graphics appear to be the animations.
SOUND: Marv Albert and Steve Kerr are good commentators. It’s nothing new to hear that these get monotonous and you hear much of the same things over and over as you progress through the season. The good thing is their voices are two of the best. The comments however border on cheesy.
FRANKLY: I can’t wait for the Xbox 360 version. But if you can’t wait buy this even if you own last year’s version the playmaker addition makes it worth owning.
+ Richie Wright
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