NBA Live 08

Ask almost anyone who played it; last year’s version of NBA Live, NBA Live 07, was a mess. The game was well under par for the long-running series, full of bugginess and an overall lack of fun and compelling gameplay. EA Sports acknowledges this, and plans on making things better in this year’s entry to the series. NBA Live 08 will focus on becoming the closest thing to beating the boards ever, primarily by offering a realistic presentation and smoother physics. Players will be able to interact with each other on the court in ways never before done. At a press event at EA Canada, the company showcased the most recent build of the game. While most of the details were under wraps, EA showcased some of the reasons why NBA Live 08 could be the most authentic Live yet.

The first and immediately noticeable difference in NBA Live 08 is the camera. Last year’s game saw it defaulting to a behind the players type view. However, this year, it will default to a side-line presentation, making it feel a lot more like a television presentation.

The next most noticeable element is that the game will run at 60 frames per second. This lends a good deal of fluidity to the presentation, and it will most definitely run smoother than last year’s game.

NBA Live 08 will also feature smoother locomotion. The small details will be king this year, as the players will move and feel more realistic than ever. The player’s head will actually lead their body in terms of where they move, meaning that they won’t just immediately be able to turn around in the blink of an eye.

Players will perform signature running styles and shots, which will be much more noticeable this year since they were kind of lost in the shuffle last year. Dunks and lay-ups will be mapped to the same button this year, and the game will contextually choose which one your player will use based on the situation.

Another element that lends authenticity to the game will be player collision. In many previous basketball games, the defense was boiled down to stealing and shot blocking. However, in Live 08, your character will have a greater sense of weight. You’ll be able to collide with players either as you shoot or as they shoot, be it in mid-air or on the ground. This can change their shot fundamentally, and may affect whether or not the basket gets made. This also extends beyond shots, as you’ll be able to block your opponent’s path and slow them down quite a bit.

NBA Live 08 is shaping up quite nicely, and its “back to the basics” approach is much appreciated considering the progress of next-gen consoles and their abilities to create realistic and compelling experiences.