Hey, don't waste your money on this game. Get the latest 2006 ones or get NBA Live 2000! This game is too mediocre.
You say what’s wrong this game? The graphics aren’t, they’re pretty good and smooth, and nothing on X-Box has bad graphics. But the game doesn’t have what it used to have, fun game play. The intro was really weak, a bunch of polygon made up players showing their moves. Not 2K2’s awesome heart beating real NBA players dunking and with Sega’s own rap tune blasting from your TV. Stuff like that just gets you pumped up before playing the game. Another weak aspect of Live 02 is the player introduction, ther is actually no intro. You only seen 3 guys walking out, apparently the other 2 is already on the court but you don’t see him, what’s worse is the announcer doesn’t even announce their names. It just doesn’t get you pumped up and it’s weak to the bones. 2K2’s lineup is kind of weak too but at least Sega has one. So after everything you’ve seen or heard, you’re feeling weak and depressed. Live is not living at all, it’s dead. I mourn for the basketball parts. Before we go on, if you have extra cash, have fun with Live 2002 on the PlayStation 2 or 2k2 on the X-Box or PS2.
The story here is always basketball, there basically isn't one. I know that this doesn't happen in all of the Basketball games, but a good idea for a story might be this:
A wannabe pro basketballer wants to be a pro basketballer (Well, duh!). He/she has to go throughout these bunch of levels, completing goals and stuff like that. When she completes them, she is ranked 13th or something like that. That would be better than no story at all.
Well, the graphics are good top notch and hardly any slowdowns occur. The graphics for this game a very good not quite perfect, but none the less good. The best part of the graphics I thought was the courts for they just look so realistic and shiny. All the paintwork is the same on the courts as in the real deal. They just look like they do to TV or court side. Another thing I found good was the crowd for if you play with Chicago Bulls the stadium is half empty but if go to La Lakers court it is nearly full although the crowd is a paper cut out they still look good compared to other games. The only grumble with the games graphics is the players sometimes appear a bit square which would have been expectable 4 years ago but not now. the players faces are kind of realistic, but don't be disappointed if you can't recognize your favorite player immediately.
The audio sucks. The songs suck and the songs even from NBA Live 1995 could have possibly been better. The crowd drowned the sound of songs and no songs could basically be heard. But the other stuff are good and that is why it scored a 5 im the Weirdy Scale. Here are the stuff; the games sound is of good quality for you can hear the announcer in the background, you can hear the basket ball type commentary (repetitive, as in every sports game what do you expect?) you can hear the good backing music everything about the music is okay. Including the sound affects like the ball bouncing or rebounding off the back board on the whole good.
Replay Value is pretty good, especially with the multiplayer. Multiplayer is the best, although, if you are a hermit or have no brothers, friends and that stuff, you could just play against the X-Box.
Now, here is the verdict. Should you rent? Or, should you buy. I say rent, but if you want to disagree with me and buy, well, that is your choice, not mine. Infact, I don't even know you. Anyway, I would recommend you to rent before you buy. Since this game is about 4 years old at the time of writing this review, the rent price should be AUS Dollars $1.25. That is what I rented it for. And, at the stores, this game should be about AUS Dollars $18. Half that, and you can buy this for $9 for those people who follow American currency. Not a bad price, eh?
This is run of the mill ordinary basketball game with nothing much new to offer than hitting yourself on the head once you've bought it because you could have brought a much better sport or different genre game instead of this repetitive uninspired game play.