NBA 06 Hands-On

989 Sports hit paydirt with the career mode in MLB 2006, and with the upcoming NBA 06 for the PlayStation 2, the developer looks to expand that successful first-person game mode into a sport other than baseball. In NBA 06, currently due for release in October, the idea of taking on the life of an up-and-coming NBA rookie is exemplified in an entirely new gameplay mode for the series, one that is more akin to the sort of story-driven models found in action and role-playing games.

SCEA presents: NBA 06, a film by 989 Sports. NBA 06's story-driven first-person mode plays out like a Hollywood blockbuster.

Focusing on the complicated on- and off-court life of an NBA rookie looking to make a name for himself on his team, as well as in the world around him, this mode (dubbed NBA Life Vol. I) features story-driven cutscenes that detail the follies and foibles that all hoops newbies face upon entering the league. There's more to living the NBA life in NBA 06 than playing a few games and then watching some cutscenes, however. This year-in-the-life story of an NBA rookie is told in linear fashion through a variety of methods, including minigames, training and drills, and a variety of in-game missions. What's interesting is that many of these linear story elements play like boss battles in RPGs in that the story of your created player's career won't continue until you finish a minigame or succeed in a particular mission.

So how do you begin your path in NBA Life Vol. I? Upon starting up the mode, you'll be asked to pick your favorite NBA team, a decision that will naturally alter which teams you face in divisional and conference games, as well as the rival teams you'll face during the season. Once you've chosen your team, it's time to create your player. The character model you build to represent yourself on the court will be the same model that appears in the cutscenes, though it's unclear if you'll be able to choose from a variety of voices for your virtual baller.

There are some restrictions in this first-person mode, including the ability to only play the point guard position. Once you've created your character, you'll jump directly to spring workouts, which consist of a series of drills and minigames that let you earn attribute points for your virtual PG while you learn the game's controls at the same time. Once you've spent some time getting the game under your fingers, it's time to meet your agent. Of course, he's on your team to make sure you earn top dollar as a pro athlete by hooking you up with endorsements, advertising shots, video game covers, and all the other perks.

The next stop in your NBA 06 experience is NBA Draft night in New York City. Lo and behold, the team you chose at the beginning as your favorite is in search of a point guard, so it will call your number in the draft. Once drafted, it's off to the summer pro league, where you'll hone your skills with the rest of the pine-warming scrubs on the team. The final stop before the season begins is training camp, where you'll encounter more drills, minigames, and so-called "crunch-time scenarios." In training camp you'll be looking to further enhance your skills and attributes. And if you've got the skills, you'll win the starting point guard position on your team.

When is Latrell going to realize that his ponytails just don't work?

It's here that the first real conflict arises in NBA 06. You see, just as you jumped off the bench to win the starting PG position, you knocked off the old first-string PG. Management decides to take it a step further by trading away your rival to a team in the opposite conference. Animosity is sure to follow this move, thus setting the stage for a season-long drama. As a result, you can expect to face your rival multiple times throughout the year, including an ultimate showdown in the NBA Finals.