First Encounter
Slam, jam, thank you ma'am—basketball is serious business in NBA Live 06. Improving upon predecessor NBA LIVE 2005, the title's chief innovation concerns the addition of "Freestyle Superstars." This designation is awarded to key NBA players, who are grouped into specific character types such as playmaker, stopper, power, inside or outside scorer, and so on. Each category features its own set of special moves, which can be accessed via left trigger and button combos. Activating these commands allows celebrity athletes to perform as they would in real life, dominating the hardwood and setting them apart from the average benchwarmer.
Tricks are for kids ... and superstar athletes.
Pick a playmaker, for instance, and execute no-look or behind the back passes, setting up a teammate for a last second layup or three-pointer. Choose a power player and butcher anyone standing in the way of the backboard, throwing down an eye-popping dunk. By contrast, stoppers shut down the opposing team's offense with fleet-footed steals, killer rebounds, and blocks so vicious they imbue instant fear of rejection in rivals. Superstars further enjoy the option of using freestyle controls on both offense and defense. Luckily, the game automatically keeps track of who's sporting which abilities, although icons (such as a hand for stoppers, or wing symbol for high-flyers) located beneath their feet also offer an instant reminder.
Once your superstar takes possession of the ball, pop-up windows indicate the special techniques which suddenly become executable. To bring a freestyle maneuver to bear, just hold down the left trigger and press A, B, X, or Y. Players react instantly to prompting, slapping the ball out of competitors' hands, leaping high above adversaries' heads, or seamlessly weaving passes with spins, fakes, and fancy dribbles. Bonuses afforded by employing these abilities include improved shot accuracy, more effective defense, and nearly unstoppable slam dunks. Unless quickly countered, freestyle moves prove effective to a fault. Even if you do move to stop them in time, count on being crushed unless you're controlling an NBA superstar yourself.
Just hanging around ...
The effect of such enhancements is pronounced. In-game action is fast, fluid, and authentic. Coupled with a freshly revamped animation system, the net result is sharper pacing and a more organic experience. Pile on better collision tracking, smoother transitions, and greater interaction between players (bumping, shoving, and crowding are common), and it creates a compelling draw for both die-hard hoops enthusiasts as well as fair weather fans. In short, the outing comes across as a convincing simulation, yet simultaneously handles like an arcade game.
This year's list of upgrades also includes a fresh graphics engine, which ups the visual polish and polygon count on player models. Muscles ripple beneath flesh, shorts shine in the glare of spotlights, and faces are immediately recognizable. Don't be surprised if you spot Shaq's signature grin on an imposing giant of a high-resolution character model. Arenas such as MCI Center and Madison Square Garden are complete with wildly gesticulating fans and floor surfaces so shiny you could go blind staring at them. Audio assets get a boost too, as commentator Steve Kerr joins Marv Albert, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith on the microphone.
Athletes appear more realistic than ever.
Note the crowd reflections on the floor.
In addition, All-Star Weekend is back, once again offering top-notch amusements such as the Rookie Challenge, Three Point Shootout, Slam Dunk Contest, and the All-Star Game itself. Impress the crowd with your skills, or go the Hall of Fame route and write your name in the history books by digging into a surprisingly deep Dynasty Mode. Xbox Live® subscribers can even get busy online, chatting up friends, configuring tournaments, downloading roster updates, and shaming buddies over a broadband connection.
Pound for pound, it's a franchise whose performance continues to impress with each passing year. Rather than just spit out a simple seasonal update, the crew at Electronic Arts is making major overhauls to the time-honored formula. Could there be a championship in NBA Live 06's future? Lace up your virtual high-tops and find out.
Article by Chris Zimmerman
