Super Hooper
At A Glance
Like many Xbox 360™ games, NBA Live 06 doesn't just make use of the console's unprecedented audiovisual capabilities, it also uniquely utilizes the Xbox 360 Controller. The emphasis here, of course, is on presentation. Strange as it sounds, the team at Electronic Arts doesn't just want you to enjoy a cutting-edge basketball simulation. They want you to feel like you're actually standing on the court, looking down the lane, and driving for the hole. In keeping with this philosophy, the game uses an entirely different free throw mechanic than its current-generation cousin. Similar to the swing mechanism in games such as Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 06, you physically control the force behind each shot and where it's aimed by using the right analog joystick. Busting out free throws is as easy as pulling back on the stick and snapping it quickly upwards. As simple as it sounds, there's quite a bit of strategy behind mastering the system. Therefore read up—follow the below gameplay tips, and you're sure to begin sinking shots from the charity stripe more reliably.
Come on … foul! Timing is Everything To begin a shot, pull down on the right analog joystick until the shooter is cocked and aimed. You can tell by the way they're hunched over. As soon as they've reached this state, push up quickly on the joystick to fire and release. Here's the kicker, though—both steps must be accomplished in one even, continuous motion. Fluidity is the key to hitting nothing but net. If you hold down on the stick too long, or press upwards on it too early, you'll miss the basket. Accordingly, jerking the gamepad is a major no-no, as is dealing with the situation leisurely. Move the joystick toward yourself, then away in one swift, singular, and definitive gesture, as if you were flexing the joint of your thumb. Synchronicity is everything—watch how the player who's shooting moves on your TV as you perform these actions. If you can make the process look smooth and uninterrupted, you'll sink it every time. Be a Straight Shooter
Another satisfied shooter. Why? NBA Live 06 is sneaky—it actually tracks when or not you're aiming the ball in a straight line. Any deviation in your movement during the shooting process (say a slight, accidental slip to the left or right when you're pushing the joystick upwards) can be disastrous. As in the real world, every shot you take must be right on target. Make sure you're pointing straight ahead towards the basket when letting one rip. The ball goes where you tell it to, including either side of the hoop. Concentrate on aiming for the center of the backboard, and you're guaranteed a greater chance of hearing a satisfying swish. Learn Your Lesson If you shoot the ball and it goes too far, it's because you pushed upwards on the analog joystick too early and shot with too much power. If you come up short of the basket, it's because you held down on the joystick too long before pressing up and wound up putting too little strength behind it. Follow the reasoning? Good—then you'll understand exactly what's happening when the ball veers way off to the left or right. When in Doubt, Cheat If you're having trouble getting the hang of the free throw system, access the Settings option from the main menu, choose Gameplay Settings, then Skill Level, and ratchet things down a notch. Afterwards, just practice until your skills are up to par.
Miss, and you'll let down the crowd. Something else to keep in mind: The free throw shooting system is also player-dependent. Some athletes are better at landing shots than others, and are given more leeway as a result. Try and draw fouls against the players you know perform best behind the line. To do some research and see who's got the sharpest free throw skills, just pull up the Team Management menu. Select the Roster Management category and then the Rosters option. From there, you can browse players' attributes. Scroll over with the left analog joystick until you come to their free throw percentages. The rest is self-explanatory. |
