NBA Live 2003 is a fast paced and entertaining basketball game, even with its many gameplay annoyances.
The game engine has changed in NBA Live 2003, and that's a good thing. No longer are all made shots swishes, now shots can bounce around on the rim before they go in. The graphics have received a major overhaul as well, and it's a different style than the last two NBA Live PC games.
In addition to the usual exhibition and season modes, the one on one mode returns, as well as a practice mode.
Once you start playing a game, you'll notice that a few gameplay aspects are exaggerated, most noticeably the speed of the players and blocked shots, which always seem to go into the stands. On offense, in addition to taking jump shots, you can post up your big men, and execute turn around jumpers, hook shots, and drop steps in the paint. On defense, it's pretty difficult to keep your controlled player on his defensive assignment, and often the computer will be able to score with this guy. With the D-pad, you can call set plays on both offense and defense. For example, with your point guard, you can call for a pick and roll, and your big man will come up and set the pick, which you can use to drive to the basket for a layup, or pass back to the big man for a shot. These plays are extremely useful, and you'll be using them frequently on the higher difficulty levels, when it's just too hard to simply go through the defense with one player. One really useful play is the isolation. Either you get a guy like Tim Duncan to execute a drop step to get a clear path to the basket, or have a quick point guard like Allen Iverson shake his defender with crossovers, and take the clear path to the basket.
New to the series is the addition of the freestyle control. By moving the right analog stick, you can execute crossover moves, jab steps, spins, and hesitations. In the post, you can execute pivot moves, and on defense, you'll be able to steal, contest shots, or assume a crouching stance. It's a great innovation to the game, but it's still extremely hard to drive past a CPU defender, and just like in NBA 2K3, you'll feel that there's an invisible wall even when there appears to be a clear path to the basket.
As you play more of NBA Live 2003, the more irritating gameplay nuances will stick out. For example, on the harder difficulty levels against a good team, the CPU will never fail to execute a successful fast break after every missed shot you take, often with outrageous dunks and alley oops. This makes catching up extremely difficult, as the CPU will put together a 7-0 run or so literally in a matter of seconds when you start to panic. Star players are too overpowered, are able to take over the game, and are totally unstoppable, no matter what you try to do. Another example is on offense, your players will take their time in moving upcourt, even in a close game. Also, at the end of a close game, and you have the lead, the CPU will not foul you in order to stop the clock.
Another frustrating part of the gameplay, which is apparently in every other basketball game, is the disproportionate number of missed layups and dunks. They happen more frequent than necessary. Also annoying is that sometimes your player will inadvertently step out of bounds for the most odd reasons, either while you're trying to dribble around a trap, or you decide to back down the defender. The CPU seems to be in love with the three point shot, and will take it too often. You can anticipate the shot coming, and move a guy out to block the shot.
And finally, there are two severe bugs with regards to inbounding situations. Sometimes in inbound situations, the camera will be in a position so that you don't see any of your on court players. The other bug is that the CPU will start inbounding before you even realize it, and without the whistle to indicate it has done so.
Although there are many gameplay annoyances with NBA Live 2003, it's still a fast paced and entertaining basketball game. If you can put up with the problems, you'll still be able to have an enjoyable experience.