Customer Reviews

NBA Live 07

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Been a loyal costumer of EA's NBA Live series for many years, but that may change after this year's NBA Live 07. The much-hyped free-style controls are incredibly difficult to master, and if you're playing against the computer, which I often do, you might as well throw in the towel. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, it is extremely difficult to make any kind of open shot (and this is in rookie mode), while the computer CAN NOT miss. I played one game as the LA Lakers vs. Atlanta. The 1st half score had the Hawks beating me by 45, and I'm no novie to how video game basketball is played. Josh Howard is NOT good enough in reality to score 33 in that half (anyone who follows the NBA knows what I'm saying). Also, had Kobe on 3 open-court fast breaks, no one around him; he missed 3 consecutive open dunks. That doesn't happen in reality. Enough venting, I'm off to pick up NBA 2K7.

Have you ever watched a basketball game where your team was down and you thought if they'd just make a few adjustments, they'd come back and win it? I have. I've also played a series of basketball games that mimics this very well. It's called NBA Live. It's a basketball franchise that has always been that one step behind, missing that one little touch that would make it an excellent contender. I was excited to see that the 2007 might be the year that EA Canada really came out on top. I visited the studio back in early August and got a glimpse of NBA Live 07, and at the time I was slightly less impressed with its next-gen offering than its current-gen one. Flash-forward almost two months, and as I write this review, I feel the same way. NBA Live 07 dropped the ball in so many ways in its second next-generation season that it's almost more disappointing than last year's abysmal Xbox 360 launch title.

NBA Live 07 isn't a great basketball game in any way, really. In most categories, it just falls flat. It's like watching Shaq have a ho-hum game in the Playoffs, only to end up fouled out on the bench. It's quite sad, really, after seeing all of the work that went into so many different areas that ultimately don't make the most important factor of a basketball game: its entertainment value.

On the court, NBA Live 07 just doesn't perform. It performs so badly, in fact, that I'd almost consider it unplayable. Where EA Canada strived to deliver a feeling of momentum, they created an awkward and uncontrollable feeling of control that is actually too difficult to describe, so I'll quit trying. It just feels like crap, to say the least. Having dunk and lay-up buttons was a stupid decision, and I simply thought it was the most annoying thing in the world to watch a professional like T-Mac clang a dunk off of the front of the rim on a fast break. Similarly to 2K Sports' competition, NBA 2K7, the CPU in NBA Live 07 lacks any sort of awareness. Your players will simply watch as opponents hop up and down and all around for loose balls and rebounds. Rebounding controls are nonexistent. I can't say I enjoyed watching the CPU score more second-chance points than I thought were possible. On defense, the right analog control system is completely out of whack. It used to be a fantastic system that quickly allowed you to squat down low, swat at the ball, or even hold your hands up to defend the pass or close-range shot. Now it's sluggish and more frustrating to use than anything. In reality, telling you how badly it feels to play NBA Live 07 on the Xbox 360 is hopeless. It's such an embarrassing flop of a control system that it should simply be played to be understood.

Visually, NBA Live 07 would be a lot more successful if its animation wasn't as awkward and sluggish as its gameplay. While the character models are quite good and feature a ton of detail, they animate so poorly that it's almost funny to watch the players move around like robots. At least the commentary is good--and by good, I mean great--Marv Albert and Steve Kerr can really go at it in basketball chatter. On top of fantastic on-court chatter and realistic crowd effects, NBA Live 07 is definitely entertaining to listen to. It's just too bad it has to be done while playing a game of basketball that isn't much fun to control.

In terms of features, NBA Live 07 is loaded. It's got everything you could want out of a basketball game (sans the smooth animation and good controls). It's got a Franchise mode that is chock-full with deep options like hiring a staff that actually affects on- and off-court gameplay and managing funds. It's got the NBA All-Star Weekend mode that lets you play the high-flying Slam Dunk Contest and even the Rookie Game. It's even got ESPN Integration that lets you hear headlines and news clips in the sports world every single day as well as several other things. This ESPN integration is fantastic, and I'd say that it's the strongest addition to any sports game so far this year--but having this integration with a solid basketball title would have been nice.

Overall, NBA Live 07 makes improvements on its awful next-generation predecessor. It's an Xbox 360 basketball game that is missing a few very important touches, like playability and streamlined animation. EA Canada has some great ideas here. They've got the ambition, they've got the ideas. They've just got to execute. Like any rookie in the NBA, you can't just have the heart, you've gotta have the game to make it big and run with the competition. In the end, you won't be cheering for NBA Live 07. In fact, the chant will be, "DISAPPOINTMENT (Clap, clap, clapclapclap!)"

The game has unbelievable graphics, you feel like you are there. I love this game and don't ever get tired of it. There are many different settings you can play on the game. The game can be challenging depending how good you are and how hard you want it to be. So much fun!

I have purchased the NBA LIVE franchise since it's inception. So, I was really looking forward to this year's model with it's improved graphics and with the aid of the Xbox 360. The graphics and presentations are first rate. But it appears the gameplay was intended mainly for the Xbox Live segment. At any level, playing against the computer produces only frustration. Trying to score on the inside is almost impossible while the computer scores at will. There are other gameplay changes that have ruined a game that in the past was the best. Save your money.

You should really.... NOT buy this game even though I did not buy the game on Amazon, I'm trying to help all of you who are trying to decide hmm should I get NBA 2k7 or Live well it right now is a prety obvious choice NBA 2k7. Live is ment so much for those with live for those without live. Such as u need Xbox live to activate ESPN integration, yeah like anyone ever told me this. So if u are trying to decide wich one get 2k7. Lives graphics are good but 2k7's tops it and the jumpshots for live are'nt that good. And the dynasty mode is not any cooler with the more depth draft and team practices. Live 2003 was good but Live 2007 SUCKS. Also I know I am but don't be fooled by all of the comercials it is nothing like them so stick with 2k7 and u will be happy with your choice for months to come.....

This game had a ton of hype surrounding it, as EA has dominated in the basketball video game realm for the last decade. Being a staunch follower since Live 95, it was natural to pick up Live 07. Unfortunately, this year's game is HUGE let down. Never have I seen a video game franchise move backwards, but this is apparently the case. The graphics are great as always, but the framerate is unbearably slow and hard to get used to. On top of that, the gameplay itself is weak...the AI exploits the same defensive weaknesses over and over, and because you have little control over what it is your team is doing, this can happen for an entire game. And don't get me started on online play...you might as well be playing over dialup.

This game is going up for sale on Amazon's Marketplace later this week, though it's a shame the value of this game is already nearly halved. Looks like 2k7 is the way to go from now on!

Look, this game is pretty addicting, especially when you play online. Shots are not impossible, and the computer is pretty easy... When you play online it is really fun. I don't know how the guy a couple reviews below me lost by 45 to Hawks,...he must not be very good. THere are a few couple missed dunks, but this only happens when a guy contests the dunk, and the offensive player is not a great dunk.Just press the y button for layups those almost always go in, yes they don't look as good, but they get the job done. This game is really fun, go get it.

The graphics in this game is great but its wayyy to easy..I'm playing a sesaon in superstar mode and lost only 2 games the whole season, then sweep every team in the playoffs and my wins was like by 30-40 points...06 was at least a little more close to hang with me, this game is totlly way to easy to play

I have been playing NBA Live since it was first released, and I can honestly say that this year has been a huge disappointment for me.

NBA Live 07 for the Xbox 360 looks next generation, especially in high-def. But most of the time it still plays like current-gen, or even to a degree--much worse. The in-game camera is too shaky! The players twitch and dunk through other players, including the backboard. Bad programming, folks! And unacceptable, EA! I'm disspointed in this addition. EA Sports really needs to control the lag time for Online play, which is basically unplayable. There should be no excuses this year. The game producers have had enough time to smooth everything out from Live 06. Most of the reviews here have vented all the messy game mechanics and awful programming, which is glitchy and unplayable. Sure, the addition of ESPN is pretty cool, and EA has added a Dynasty mode to the 360 this year, but who cares! This game plays awful! And I think everyone out there (who has access to HD television) will enjoy what 2K Sports has done with their rendition of an NBA sim. The producers for NBA Live 07 need to step down, let some other folks take over to re-energize this game. I will keep my NBA Live 07 game for now, until College Hoops by 2K7 comes out, and then trade the game.