NBA LIVE NEXT GEN

[redmann_5]

I played Live 07 on Xbox 360 and simmed to the end of the season to make sure the off-season was free of bugs. I don't know if you want to call this a bug or bull, but I went to sign someone (forget who) for about 2.5M and I was over the cap, and there was no MLE for me to sign him!!! Whats up with that???

Not a bug. You're requesting a feature.

[Playmakers]

I don't post much over here and decided to check out things. Didn't realize the 360 version was discussed much because last year not alot of people played Live 06 for the 360.

I did and the game needed tons of tweaks to get it to play better. I spent the time doing it and really enjoyed Live 06 after many had given up on the game.

As for Live 07 on the 360 this year it's a game that you will either grow to love or hate plain and simple. I truly like the direction EA is going with NBA Live on Next Gen. In fact for once they actually force you to call plays within your offense and not come down jacking up shots without setting your feet first. The days of dunking anytime you want is gone. The FSS moves aren't as easy as they used to be and the gameplay in general will feel "ALIEN" to even the most beloved Live fans.

Plain and simple the game has gone in a new direction for the 360 and most people can't handle not being able to do what they want all the time on the court. The game has flaws don't get me wrong. It doesn't animate as good as you want but IMO that doesn't make it a bad game.

There are sliders that were added this year in which I'm still learning as I tweak the game what impact they have on gameplay overall. But the more time I spend trying to find the right balance with the sliders the better the game has become for me personally than it was right out the box.

The CPU AI is the best I've ever seen any previous version of Live on both offense and defense. I started expanding each teams playbook for the 360 but they will run plays right out of the box. EA has nice plays this year if you enjoy watching outside shooting big guy's like Dirk and Rahseed Wallace play. The Signature shots are pretty sweet but you have to practice them and get a feel for all the players that have signature shots. Setting your feet and spotting up is a must that's for sure or else you'll throw off your entire rythm.

I don't get into reviews and things because I'm a pretty hands on guy when it comes to Live and most guy's that do these reviews don't tweak the game anywhere as close to what I do when I get my hands on it. But I understand because that's not apart of their job to tweak EA's games. I play on Super Star Level and it is very challenging as the CPU will utilize their "Go To Guy's" more often and if they get momentum they can really go on some runs and blow you out if you don't use your timeouts or switch up your defense to slow them down.

Live 07 isn't going to appeal to everyone especially if you didn't play Live 06 on Next Gen. Most people will hate the FT System and some will hate how the players actually do need to use foot planting this year. There is no more turning on a dime as your momentum can actually run you right out of bounds when going after a bad pass or making a move sometimes.

The camera's are better than 06 they don't give you many options but like I've stated at another site how many people use 40 different camera angles for gameplay. I only need one angle to work for me and that's the Press Camera. The speed is going to be a personal opinion because some people think the game moves to fast at the DEFAULT settings. I think the game moves to slow and I've Maxed out speed on the 360 version something I've never done before with any other Live game. I think it makes the players move much more fluid in the halfcourt game. They run off screens and picks much quicker and they can get to basket off the dribble much better if you try to play them up close. I love how guy's like Tony Parker or Allen Iverson will blow by you if you play them up close. Which is another reason why I prefer the Maxed out speed setting. On DEFAULT Speed those guy's don't seperate as much as they should from defenders.

The game isn't perfect but it's not like how most people are trashing it either. Usually it's a guy that has spent 2-3 days with the game. A guy like myself will spend atleast two weeks with the game if it has potential to play better and that is what I did for Live 06. Live 07 is better than Live 06 to me so this game has began to become addictive the more I pay. I can understand why some people will hate it. But I plan on playing this game until Live 08 drops. I think EA has set themeselves up for a monster game in Live 08 if they smooth out the animations and tweak the gameplay just a little more. They have laid down a solid foundation the 1st two years on the 360.

I'd say once you find solid sliders and adjust each teams playbook a little more this game can play some very good basketball. It's just a matter of you wanting to try and get it to work. If you don't have the paitience or time then I would just trade it in and go get yourself 2K7 which I own and it's a very good game but the more I got past the animations in the game it didn't look or feel Next Gen to me. I was fed up with the sliding in Live for Current Gen and it shocked me to see so much of it in a Next Gen product like 2K7. But it's still a good game I just think Live 07 is what I expected from my 360 in terms of how the players look, crowd react, arena's, coaches and sounds of the game. It's not as fluid as 2K7 but it does beat that game in all of the above catagories for me.

[Nel]

Its good to hear some peeps here giving live some credit. The problem for ea is that they keep on rewritting the script every year. They should do what 2k does. Don't do any changes and you'll definitely get a good score.

[The X]

another 360 review....3/5....probably a fair review....

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemranking ... wid=730906

[BigKaboom2]

Awesome post, Playmakers (though I'm still resentful that you switched over to the 360 when I was loving your Madden and Live current gen sliders ) I think Live 07 is a very deep game, and personally I feel that people haven't played it enough to comment so broadly on it.

If we PC folk do get our patch, I'll certainly play this up to release of Live 08 - so many new animations, and the gameplay has a totally different feel. I think all the reviewers were expecting the 3D version of NBA Jam like in previous years, and don't tend to appreciate the nuances of the game like we series veterans do.

Thanks for the commentary - an excellent read.

[FlipzLive07]

Great post redman and playmakers..this is how i see it

Live 06= EA takes a full year to create new player models,jerseys etc,gameplay is downplayed

Live07= Graphics are very next gen and improvements is made gameplay wise but leaves quite a lot to be desired and also terrible framerate issues

Live08= EA has a full year to cater only to GAMEPLAY and even better the ESPN integration..hopefully there will be highlights and recaps revolving around a players dynasty in the game

GREAT for me since ill be picking up the 360 by then, so Live08 will be the ultimate game...Graphics are definitely next gen,commentary has always been great since day one,atmosphere and all are on point and the gameplay will already be great by then

[tongefactor40]

Dude, I think EA just didn't follow through this year. I have had many games from EA over the years, but finally decided to switch to 2k7. So if you still want a good bball game then get 2k7, though gears of war looks really nice

[Voxel]

great post by playmakers, i used your sliders and playbooks last year too... and frequently visit OS and see how much work you put into this game and it's nice from you to share it with the community.

i don't have any trouble with realistic physics, no sliding, etc. in fact i think that's the most important in sports games alongside with the AI (which allegedly is still better implemented in the nba2k). my favourite sports game is WE/PES and those who play it know that it's a game that's so simple and at the same time so complex that you don't even need any special moves... just understanding the physics of the game and managing the speed, turns and cuts of the controlled player with the d-pad is everything.

i wonder if the physics in NBA Live next-gen apply in the same way to the user as to the CPU, cause in current-gen it seems that the physics part only affects the user controlled players. CPU players, mostly guards, cut to the basket blowing by you without breaking a sweat...

but even after all of this. there's no excuse for EA for literally destroying it's current gen fanbase with a game that's a compilation of weird bugs.