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First impressions on NBA Live 08 Xbox 360 demo

Posted Sep 11, 2007 at 07:47PM by Glen D. Listed in: Games, Opinions & Analysis, NBA Live 08 Tags: NBA, EA Sports
Ó

We finally got our hands on the anticipated demo of EA Canada's NBA Live 08 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3), an iteration of the proud basketball franchise which series fans and developers hope will turn the tides of a brand showing its age. Is this demonstration indicative of a strong rebound for the most popular baller in gaming or is it a prelude to an extension of a losing streak which dates a few years back? Let's find out.

For this quick impression post, we tested the Microsoft Xbox 360 version which has a few distinctions to its Sony PlayStation 3 counterpart. Everything discussed here will be based on our experience with what the platform has to offer, therefore PS3 users may have a slightly different experience.

The demo gives you a mini-practice session at the get-go where you can test all the new individual animations and Go-To Basketball moves that you can pull off. This is followed by the demo proper where you'll be treated to a rematch of the last NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The quarters are at the shortest possible setting and the fun ends at the half, so don't be shy about not subbing out your stars.

NBA Live 08 - Image 1 NBA Live 08 - Image 2 NBA Live 08 - Image 3 

A certain bling to it

The first thing most gamers will scrutinize the moment they're able to launch NBA Live 08 is the game's overall look. Graphically, NBA Live 08 is as technically sound as most sports titles at this point. The aesthetic scheme used in the presentation is very NBA-like with the default box-view and familiar replay sequences. Player models look pretty lifelike at most distances, and the facial features are nicely detailed. Accessories, as usual, remain true-to-life, making anyone immediately recognizable even at first glance. That's something which can be pretty handy when running the break.

The touted 60 frames-per-second look of the Xbox 360 version was not immediately evident and wasn't a striking aspect to us non-graphics connoisseurs, but we did notice a certain degree of improvement on how the players moved. This was nicely appreciated in the Quick Strike ball handling sequences and the all-new crowd animations. The audience doesn't look anything like the flat, cardboard-ish mass of virtual people we're used to seeing in many sports sims. They now look as much a part of the environment as the players themselves, giving a nicer sensation of depth and dimensionality.

Overall, NBA Live 08 isn't the long-jump of technological advancement that some of us might have been expecting, but the changes are solid enough to set this title apart. Playing at 1080p should prove to be a very rewarding experience for everyone who's been waiting for this one.

NBA Live 08 - Image 1 NBA Live 08 - Image 2 NBA Live 08 - Image 3 

Big or small, learn to play them all

Another aspect we immediately looked for was the trumpeted overhaul in the gameplay which was supposed to breathe new life into the franchise. We liked the idea of the new hot spots system which ups the realism by color-scheming court areas to show you hardwood regions where a certain player is more likely to knock his shots down. This way, even good shooters will have to pick their spots to give them better scoring opportunities. This, we imagine, could scare off casual users who are just playing the game for a high-scoring shootout. If you're cold, you're cold, and that can lead to some serious frustration.

The Quick Strike dribbling gives all ball handling mavens even more depth to this aspect of the game with real-time strokes which can be tipped and deflected. This means that the moves aren't preset with untouchable animations that result in easy access to the lane. As dazzling as the playground ankle-busters are, you'd have to remain conscious with what you're doing at all times or else Larry Hughes will take the leather away and have an easy dunk at the other side.

One thing that seems to have remained the same is embedded in Own the Paint's offensive end which give you such trademark skills as drop steps, hook shots, and off-the-glass leaners. The caveat is that there's still a bit of unrealistic action as some bruisers tend to take off for perpendicular jams from virtual standstills under the hoop. Still, some of you may like it, so you decide.

Controls are still on almost the same scheme as its predecessors with play-calling on the D-pad, movement on the left analog and fancy dribbles on the right analog. Shooting, lay-up, jump, and alley-oop buttons remain where they were for that familiar, if not dated sensation.

NBA Live 08 - Image 1 NBA Live 08 - Image 2 NBA Live 08 - Image 3 

Sounds good

The audio environment in NBA Live 08 is solid and the amount of information dished out by Steve Kerr and Marv Albert will cause you to lose some sleep just trying to digest. PA sounds are right on the money and crowd reactions are pretty concurrent with what's going on inside the court. It's all going great as far as sounds go at this moment but one has to wonder how many games you'll play before the commentary gets repetitive. Let's hope for the best when the full game hits.

Worth a spin

While NBA Live 08 is a very good rookie in the making, it's not looking like it's going to be a quantum leap for the series like NBA Live '97 was for the 32-bit generation and NBA Live 2004 was for the last one. Basketball sim fans will have a decent time with it judging from what we saw in the demo, but if extras in the full game turn out to be killers, we'll see EA Canada keeping a firm grip on its spot as virtual hoops sales champ. 'Nuff said, download it and tell us what you think.

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7 Comments


Sort by:
   by Ceasar S. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-09-11
 » In the spirit of first impressions...
...first post?


   Re: Quixand - 2007-09-11
 » all hail Ceasar!!! (and no.. i did not come to bury you)
you beat Glen to it and he's the one who wrote this...

anyway, i downloaded the demo on my PS3... aside from being able to play the Cavs vs Spurs there are also two other teams you can play... the France and Spain International teams so i played them (i'm seek and tired of Lebron James this and Lebron James that so it's a "no thanks" to playing as or against the Cavs..

game looks good (as expected) and the way the players handle are ok... sadly i won't be getting this, i'm all for NBA2K8...

with all the gimmicks EA has put into their NBA Live series it has become too easy and unrealistic.

   Re: Quixand - 2007-09-11
 » sorry
i meant sick and tired

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Glen D. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2007-09-11
 » Bury...LOL!
We played the France/ Spain game for a bit too. Tony Parker was hardly stoppable. People liked the Spurs and Cavs game better for some reason. You're right about hype and unrealism, though
   by Unregistered - 2007-09-11
 » 60 fps
Does the PS3 version run at 60fps??


   Re: Quixand - 2007-09-11
 » yes it does
Peter Moore himself confirmed it.

   Re: Unregistered - 2007-09-11
 » sweet
cheers Quixand


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