NBA Live 06 Review - Xbox 360

Like a high school senior looking to score a coveted Division I scholarship, the NBA Live series continues to work on its game. Yet while most athletes try to improve on specific deficiencies to become a more complete player, NBA Live 06 instead focuses on its strengths: intuitive control, fast-paced action, and flashy moves on both sides of the hardwood. The result is a game with heightened athleticism, where moves such as behind-the-back passes and 360-degree spins can be as commonplace as off-season arrest warrants for NBA stars.

Live and Let Fly

The freestyle controls in last season’s game have improved considerably, as they now take into account the player and his role for specific moves. Each superstar player is classified as one of six types: power, high-flyer, playmaker, scorer, shooter, and stopper, each with signature passes, dunks, or other characteristic moves. You’ll witness Steve Nash’s no-look passes, Garnett’s fade-away, Shaq’s reverse pivot and two-handed slam, Duncan’s bank shot, and more. Moves are a snap to perform, requiring players to hold the left trigger or shoulder button while tapping one of the face buttons. Inbounding controls have also been tweaked, with players able to push off or perform a swim move with the right analog stick, or call for a screen by pulling the trigger.

Heads-Up Play

The new freestyle controls have required more animations, but the game runs smoothly without the stutters and jitters typically associated with basketball titles. The pacing has even improved to the point where fast breaks and the transition game are no longer endangered species. While the animation impresses--with a noticeable difference between stars and “ordinary” athletes--the player models are still behind those found in the NBA 2K series. It seems the developers have focused their efforts on delivering more realistic-looking player faces, which has the tendency of swelling an athlete’s head--not because of an ego, but rather because facial mapping technology requires a larger surface to adhere to. The end-result is big-headed players with comparatively spindly bodies.
 
On Familiar Ground

One of the chief complaints with NBA Live 2005 is its lack of bonus features or game modes. Unfortunately, NBA Live 06 is a little light on its feet here as well. There are technically no new modes of play in this year’s game. Instead, the developers added a few new wrinkles to franchise play and the gimmicky NBA All-Star Weekend. The franchise mode now lets you hire assistant coaches and trainers as you base your decisions on salary, age, and specialties of experience. You can then begin a training camp to help improve each player’s skills.

The franchise mode is still a strong point, allowing players to participate in a fantasy draft, follow an actual or random schedule, and manage roster transactions through 25 seasons. There is still, however, no option to create a team, arena, or league. The NBA All-Star Weekend is also back and can now be enjoyed online. Joy.

Keeping it Real

While the modes are essentially the same from last year’s game, there is an improvement in the computer AI during regular season and franchise modes. Teams play to their strengths, whether relying on passing the ball and setting up screens or leaning on their star players to control the tempo and offense. The addition of superstar freestyle moves adds another layer of strategy, as you’ll have to find ways to stop players like Kobe Bryant or Allen Iverson from tearing up the court. Surprisingly, you won’t see the same things from the computer each game, which brings a sense of realism to the competition. The default settings lean toward an arcade-style game in terms of pace, but sliders are still available to adjust just about every facet of play outside of the freestyle controls.

NBA Live 06 also continues the same physics engine as in past NBA Live games, which means the players don’t feel “heavy” and move as if they were gliding atop the court or skating instead of jogging. Since this has been a “feature” from the early days of the series on 16-bit systems, it seems the developers are either unwilling to change this aspect or are simply unable to. Is this a game-breaking flaw? Perhaps for some, but those who have enjoyed previous games will not care.

Worth a Shot

NBA Live 06 does not have the finest graphics, atmosphere, or a wealth of play options. On paper, it barely seems like the developers added anything meaningful at all. Yet playing the game tells a different story. NBA Live 06’s seemingly small additions have improved the on-court action immeasurably, making it one of the best entries in the series to date. Whether the emphasis on stylish moves detracts from the game is a matter of personal preference, but after spending quality time behind the controls, it’s hard not to be entertained--unless, of course, you’re playing as the Atlanta Hawks.