Customer Reviews

NBA Live 2000

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The NBA Live series has been the gaming world's brightest ever since it caught some air way back on the Super NES. The transition to the PC was superb starting with NBA Live 95 and has become increasingly better with each year. Live 2K is no exception. From the introduction until the final year of your tenure as general manager of any of the 29 NBA teams, Live never fails to dish out the goods. Returning features from Live 99 are Exhibition, Season, 3-Point Shootout, Practice and Career modes. This season, Live 2K goes over the top with five teams consisting of the greatest players from each of the NBA's 5 decades of existance. For example, the 1980's All-Stars boasts the names of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, just to name two. The options don't end there. You can pick from any of the 300+ players and decade all-stars and pit them up against the king of "Air" himself, Michael Jordan, in a one-on-one streetball game. Personally, I found the decade teams and MJ 1-on-1 fun at first, but it has lost its luster and is dull at best now. As for the Career Mode, it is far improved over last year's edition and is easily the most fun to be had. After selecting your team, you pick the length of season, select from the real NBA divisional set-up or you can customize it the way you like, and whether or not you want to hold a fantasy draft. The most interesting part as GM is managing player salaries. Yes, that's right, salaries. Each player has his own salary ranging from the league minimum of $30,000 to the maximum of $300,000 (Kobe Bryant-like numbers), from a single-year deal to a seven-year contract. At the end of the player's contract, he becomes a free agent and will demand a salary that may be a great deal for you or an astornomical amount, or he may refuse to sign with your team all together. Some players may even demand a salary amount while accepting only a certain amount of years toward their contract. This feature makes NBA Live that much closer to real life. I had seasons where I didn't play any games, but just signed, re-signed and traded players. Another great feature of the Career mode is the Rookie Draft at the conclusion of the NBA Playoffs. Just like the real NBA, the teams that didn't make the playoffs are put into a lottery; the teams with the worst of the worst records have a better shot at the #1 pick. Each rookie has a scouting report listing their strenghts and weaknesses and just like the NBA, it's likely to be a gamble as to what player you choose because none of the rookies have initial ratings during the draft. Off the court options are all fun and dandy, but a truly great basketball game makes the cut on the hardwood itself. And NBA Live 2000 shines bright from basket to basket. The graphics are stunning. Each player has a greatly accurate cyber-face. Iverson and Sprewell have there dreads while Shaq and Garnett have their bald heads. After a monster jam, the camera may zoom to the player and catch him pumping his fists with high adrenaline. The courts are spectacularly emulated and there's even an on-cout ref that makes the calls. Like every other game, there are a few minor niggles that I must mention. When drafting players during a fantasy draft, it would have been a good idea to post the players contracts somewhere accesible, this way when it's neck and neck between two players, you know which player has the more lucrative deal. The game also may become to easy for seasoned veterans after awhile. The sound of the crowd and play-by-play is weak as it has been in all previous Live games. Even with the few flaws, the incredible graphics, great managerial options and funky soundtrack make NBA Live 2000 the most enjoyable Live ever and the best B-Ball game on the market.

PROS: Amazing graphics, nigh-perfect GM mode, pluthera of gaming options. CONS: Sound effects and play-by-play. OVERALL: 94%

this is an update.. still having loads of fun with this game--and I've just started the franchise mode which is very cool. I would highly recommend picking up a "gravis gamepad pro" for this game. it features four buttons on the front and two L (left) and two R (right) buttons at the top. This controller is desigined just like the controller for the sony playstation, which is very important. I've found that its a *necessity* to have the two L and R buttons because of all of the moves that require a combination of buttons in this game.. such as direct dunking, direct passing, elbow faking, turbo, etc... its rather hard to do all of this with the microsoft sidewinder controller which I owned previously.

NBA Live 2000 is the best effort to date. There are two primary reasons for this statement: 1) Michael Jordan; and 2) You can get in the game.

The Jordan feature is huge. How many of us spent time creating players with his specs and name in previous editions? I don't know what EA did to get him to participate, but thank you!

Another new feature is that you can literally get into the game. You can upload a scanned image of your face and create a player in your likeness. It's not a perfect representation, but it's pretty close and makes for some added fun. The next logical step is to enable the announcers to speak your name. Hearing, "#99 is a consistent shooter" just isn't as fun as hearing my name, but oh well.

The graphics and gameplay are amazing. There's a lot of added emotion and it plays more like a real NBA game. More fouls are called, the defenses switch correctly, opposing teams make better decisions, the dominant players dominate, teams streak and go through dry spells and the benches perform well. Some of the likenesses are actually really darn close as well. Great soundtrack too. Rahzel rules!

The only drawback to the game is the ability to rack up an unrealistic ammount of points. I had 103 points 8 minutes into the 3rd quarter in one game and was leading by 40. This has always hounded EA and it's likely just part of the game one has to learn to accept, but it's disappointing to see my entire team leading the league in almost all statistics. Other nitpicks include the ease of blocking shots, breakaway dunks that turn into jumpers under the basket and the inability to handle play behind the backboard gracefully. Lastly, Reggie Theus just spews the same three phrases game in and game out.

However, NBA Live 2000 is still an action-packed, visually stunning game that is a blast to play. I never grow tired of it and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes basketball and sports games.

Halleluyah! EA Sports finally broke down and gave us some alltime teams. They even added Micheal Jordan. Now we can watch Jerry West go up against Allen Iverson in the regular season or the 90's Bulls take on the 60's Celtics in the NBA finals. Wait a minute. You say you can only access the alltime greats in exhibition mode? Whats the point of having the all time greats play if it doesn't count? Why wouldn't EA Sports....Ah crap.

This basketball game is fun, enjoyable, and more realistic than 99. In the 2000 version of NBA Live, there won't the 40+ steals a game like you had in 99.

Players also don't fly through their opponants on their way to dunking the ball from 10 feet out like in 99. The defense is very tight! Almost too tight. I can be hard to get by someone even if you are controling a much faster player, without doing several jukes and using the turbo button.

The only draw backs are the repeated close up animation that the computer puts you through everytime there is a foul shot, sub or slam dunk. You can press escape to skip it.

Another draw back is that they didn't add much variety in the way a player shoots. They have dozens of different dunks, but players shoot pretty much the same way even if they are right next to the hoop. The only variety is the layup the dunk, and the fade aways which are almost impossible to make.

Well, EA Sports has done it again with a great basketball game in NBA live 2000. It has great gameplay, graphics, and user control. There are many new options from 99, and there is a great online connection. I bought this game about a month ago, and i still playit everyday. This is amust have for all EA Sports Gamers

Well, every year you know EA Sports are going to have a newerversion of their sports titles and every year I have to go out andplunk down $$ for the newer title. This year is no different as now I own NBA Live 97,98,99 and 2000. For NBA Live 2000, I think it is a good basketball game, but if you are on a budget then get either Microsoft or Fox. This game has SOME features that makes it worthwhile to get...such as 1 on 1, 70's to 90's players like Dr. J and Jordan, tighter defense and no wild unbelieveable stuff like in 99 such as point guards blocking centers, little guys flying dunking like Vince Carter. However, the graphics still look the same, they look good, but not ground-breaking as before. The game for me is still TOO easy, even on the highest level, playing with the Clippers I can still beat most of the good teams. Anyways if you want to spend $$ only to have to spend (more) on next year's title then get this basketball game. My only gripe is that EA should just make a basketball game that includes EVERYTHING (like in 2000 they now have referees, why couldn't they do that for 99?) and have yearly upgrades...

Having not played the NBA Live series in a few years, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the depth that exists in the 2K version. At <$20 this game is a steal. Grab a copy now...

This is by far the best of the NBA Live series and definetly in the top 4 EA Sports games. The graphics are awesome and the face detail on the players is incredible! The dunks are cool,too. You can even make your own custom team! The Franchise mode lets you have a dynasty covering up to 25 years! If you love basketball, computer games, EA Sports, and great graphics, GET THIS GAME!

this game is off the hook! its just a true to life realistic simulation of nba basketball. youll actually feel like youre losing momentum when the opponent goes on a run. the game is lots of fun to play. very immersive with its gameplay and content! i love this game!