NBA Live 2003 Review
NBA Live 2003 isn't much of a simulation, but it's still an incredibly fun game that should appeal to a wider spectrum of basketball fans.
The Video Review
GameSpot's Giancarlo Varanini sits down to discuss his thoughts on NBA Live 2003.
After the negative reception Live 2002 received last year, EA Sports reworked the NBA Live formula for 2003, and the result in a fast-paced game of basketball reminiscent of Live's 16-bit days. Instead of placing an emphasis on the slow and deliberate half-court set, you'll see plenty of fast breaks, monstrous dunks, fancy passing, and spectacular layups, much of which is made possible because of the new freestyle control system. This new control scheme lets you control your dribbling moves with the C stick on the GameCube controller, and surprisingly, it works quite well, giving you a sense of more control over individual players as they make their way to the basket. Ultimately, NBA Live 2003 isn't much of a simulation, but it's still an incredibly fun game that should appeal to a wider spectrum of basketball fans.
Live 2003 still offers many of the same modes found in previous games in the series. The franchise mode returns in 2003, and while it's not quite as in-depth as the one featured in Sega's NBA 2K3, you still get to perform all the basic functions of an NBA general manager. At the beginning of a season, you can adjust your roster by trading and releasing players and signing free agents. The trading system is similar the one found in previous games in that players are given point values. In putting together a trade proposal, the point value of the players you want to trade for has to be within a certain range, otherwise the computer will reject it. You'll also get to pore over different sets of statistics, including overall team stats, individual player stats, your personal user stats, and the league leaders in different statistical categories. Also included in the franchise mode is a GM's desk option that lets you go behind the scenes to the business side of the NBA. You'll see information on player contracts, injury reports, MVP candidates, player progression, and a list of upcoming free agents.
At the end of a season, the game will hand out awards such as League MVP, Sixth Man, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. The game will also name its All-NBA team, All-Defensive team, and All-Rookie team. While the off-season may be celebration time for some teams, for others, it marks one of the few opportunities to make significant changes. First, you'll see a list of retiring players, so you'll know what holes, if any, you will need to fill via the draft, free agency, or trades. You'll also have to take care of re-signing players if any of them are coming to the end of their contracts and you want to keep them on the team for a few more years. Unfortunately, when you make it to the rookie draft, there really doesn't seem to be enough information to make an educated choice. After completing the draft, you can sign any remaining free agents, make last-minute trades, and then begin a new season. Again, it's not quite as in-depth as NBA 2K3's franchise mode, but it also won't be as intimidating for some, and it seems to fit well with the new gameplay style.
The other modes in NBA Live 2003 aren't nearly as involved as the franchise mode. the game features straightforward exhibition, season, and playoff modes, as well as a practice mode that lets you move around the court with a single player. Live 2003 also features a one-on-one mode in which you can select any two players in the league and pit them against each other to see who's better.
Whichever mode you select, you'll undoubtedly notice how much faster NBA Live 2003 plays than the games that came before it--or, for that matter, any other five-on-five basketball games currently available. Though there are differences between them, every player on the court is relatively quick even when you're not using the turbo button, making it much easier to execute fast breaks or create a path to the basket.
The shooting percentages seem a little out of whack out of times, but not necessarily in the bad sense. With the default settings of the game, it's not unusual to have two or three players on your team hit at least four three-pointers over the span of a single game, and you'll rarely ever miss shots that are within five or so feet of the basket. When you increase the difficulty, the computer will score on almost every trip down the court if you don't keep a defender on each of its players.
NBA Live 2003 Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices
- GameSpot Scoregreat
Player Reviews
Critic Scores
- IGN 8.5 / 10
- GameZone 9 / 10
- Gameplanet 4 / 5
- Hyperactive 77 / 100
- Armchair Empire 9 / 10
- Game Vortex 9 / 10
- Game Raiders 98 / 100
- Game Over Online 86 / 100
*The links above will take you to other Web sites and are provided for your reference. GameSpot does not produce or endorse the content on these sites.
- Electronic Arts
- EA Canada
- Basketball Sim
- Release: Oct 8, 2002 »
- ESRB: Everyone
Games you may like…
-
NBA Live 2004
(GC) -
NBA 2K2
(GC) -
NBA Courtside 2002
(GC) -
NBA Live 2005
(GC) -
NCAA College Basketball 2K3
(GC)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
