The NBA Live series has a deep history. Every console to be released since the days of the Genesis and Super Nintendo has seen some form of NBA Live. Each installment of the game saw the graphics improve slightly, the addition of a new feature or two and updated rosters. When the game made a jump to a new console, the graphics generally would get better but not much else would improve.
NBA Live 06 for the Xbox360 is not an exception to the rule. The game launched with the system and has some very nice graphics. However, there isn’t much else to the game. Sure, EA brought out a game with next-gen graphics – the problem is the game discarded most of what made the current-gen ones so fun to play.
Of course, the game does have some upsides. Once you turn on the game, you’ll have a neat menu screen. See, normally you would just go and pick your game mode and start from there. Not in Live 06, though! Now, you get a chance to practice with (at least, at first) Dwayne Wade. You can do normal practice-mode type stuff – shoot, dunk and run around the court. You can add in other players and let them practice with you. The game will even keep score. After you’ve picked the actual game mode you want to go into, practice will continue for a bit and then you’ll go right into the game.
The actual game plays well, too. While it is slower than it has been in years past, it was still pretty fun to play. You can call plays with the d-pad during play and when there’s a dead ball situation, such as a timeout or the ball goes out-of-bounds. Animations are smooth, be it a player going up for a shot or throwing down a dunk. There really weren’t any issues with control, either. Camera angles could get a bit crazy, but I found the default one to be good enough to use while playing. Outside of this, the game really doesn’t feel that different from Live 06 on the current-gen systems.
Get used to playing in these single games, however – there isn’t much to do beyond them. One of the modes that would keep me addicted to any sports game, the dynasty or franchise mode, isn’t present. Sure, there’s a single season mode, but where’s the fun in that? I always enjoyed recruiting players, finding ones that would be a good fit for my system and developing their careers. Making that trade that seems to be a dud for your side and then turning it around over the next couple of years is a thrill that a game with a good dynasty mode can provide – a mode that will be sorely missed. The slam-dunk contest and superstar moves are gone, too – while these weren’t that big to me, they were a problem with the bigger picture.
NBA Live 06 could have been a great game. The shell for an excellent game is here – the graphics are top notch, the menu system is cool and the gameplay, while not solid, is still good. The game, however, is missing anything to keep you playing for an extended period of time. No dynasty mode leads you to play through a season or two and then quit. Online play doesn’t have much beyond one-off games either. This is one game I would definitely recommend that you rent before you consider buying it. If you’re desperate for basketball action on the 360, this may be worth it. Otherwise, I’d recommend you pass this one up.
Hi. My name is Brian. I am a video game addict.
Of course, I actually do things other than game. Currently, I’m a full time college student at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where I am majoring in Mass Communications with a Journalism focus.
I’ve served as Managing Editor on my school’s paper and also written various editorials. I pride myself on my academics and work hard towards earning good grades – a few years of hard work will be worth it in the long run.
I’ve been gaming ever since my parents bought me an NES in 1985 (I was born in 1981). My favorite game of all time is probably the original Legend of Zelda but my currently played favorite game is a tossup between Madden 2005 and MVP 2005.
While I play a lot of sports games (which happens when you live with two baseball players), I also enjoy RPGs and RTSes. The first I’m actually good at and the second I’m not. I am also known to play the occasional FPS but will rarely make it all the way through one.
I’m also not a competitive gamer. I definitely prefer games that include co-op modes along with the normal competitive modes. Some of my favorite games in that regard are Legend of Zelda: Four Swords for the Game Cube and Fianl Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.
