NBA LIVE 06

The NBA Live series has always been slightly problematic for serious basketball fanatics. It seems like every year the developers implement certain features that really add to the depth and fun factor, but for some reason the series just can’t match the on-court realism that is offered by its competitor. With the release of NBA Live 2006 for the PSP, however, EA has a chance to prove that they’re indeed king of the court, as only Sony’s portable basketball game stands in the way. Although the portable version resembles its console cousin very closely, it’s very apparent from the start that the developers opted for fun instead of realism, and it couldn’t have turned out any better for them.

However, just because the main focus was to make the game fun doesn’t mean that hardcore fans can’t find most of the bells and whistles here that made the console version enjoyable.  Even without the in-depth Dynasty Mode, NBA Live is still able to offer enough variation to keep basketball fans busy for months to come. The Season Mode, although not a replacement for depth, still has enough customizing options to make it enjoyable. Just don’t expect to tweak salaries, relocate your team, or give fans a break on beverage prices, and you won’t be too disappointed.

For those of you looking for a slightly less time-consuming commitment, don’t worry, Live has you covered here as well. The All Star Weekend Mode allows for a nice diversion, and the dunk contest, rookie all-star game, and 3-point contest are perfect for quick playing sessions. Throw in the PSP exclusive Superstar Challenge, which lets you relive the clutch moments from some of last year's games, and you’re left with more than enough variety in game modes. Of course, all of this would mean nothing if the controls didn’t allow for some enjoyable action, but even without the coveted second analog stick, NBA Live manages to play better than you’d might expect.

In order to convert Live's complex control scheme to the PSP, a few shortcuts have been taken, but thankfully, nothing turned out too cumbersome. Shooting the rock has now been mapped to one button, instead of the normal 2-button layout that consolers are familiar with, which definitely adds to fun factor a bit. In addition, the new “playmaker” ability has been streamlined, and despite the missing second analog stick, it turns out to work pretty well.

Anytime you’re controlling one of the leagues superstars, just holding the left-shoulder button in conjunction with one of the four face buttons will result in a snazzy pass, shot, or rim-rattling dunk. Although, most of the moves are unrealistic, they do help separate the superstars from splinter collectors, which certainly add some personality to your roster. Stutter-steps and ankle-breaking crossovers have also taken a slight beating control wise, as all the moves now take place by pressing the square button. Pulling these off is not entirely complicated; it’s just that you have little control over the direction of the dribble, and you never really feel the sense of accomplishment after pulling off a great move. However, most of the game controls like a breeze, which is quite an accomplishment considering the amount of the buttons the developers had to work with.

The other notable feature that I’m sure fans will be looking forward to is the multiplayer. Live features both local and Internet matches, and after playing through both more than several times, it’s safe to say you will find little disappointment in either of these. The only problem that existed was when playing over the Internet, as you must pay a one-time fee of $2, or succumb your e-mail and home address to the advertising of certain companies.

The visuals in Live are right on par with other EA Sports titles, and look extremely nice on the PSP’s vivid screen.  While it’s clear that a few corners had to be cut in the player model and arena’s department, they are in fact hidden well enough to be overlooked at first glance. The sound is also exactly what you would expect, as the soundtrack is filled with the appropriate tunes, and the play-by-play of Marv Albert and Steve Kerr is remarkably realistic.

NBA Live for the PSP may not be as realistic as some of its console competitors, but when it comes to the handheld department, Live locks down the fun factor, and plays it to perfection.  Even with its share of problems, missing this game would be a big mistake for both basketball veterans and newcomers alike.

Gameplay: 8.2
The lack of a second analog stick hurts the control scheme a bit, but still turns out to be enjoyable. A little more refinement on the defensive side of the ball could serve next year's game well, and some new offensive moves would definitely be a plus as well.

Graphics: 8.5
EA is notorious for having slick visuals and top-notch presentation, and NBA Live is no exception to that rule. The player models look good, but could always be better, and the arenas and crowds look slightly washed out, but still manage to provide a suitable background to the action.

Sound: 7.7
The soundtrack, although filled with mostly rap and hip-hop, suits the style of the game perfectly, and play-by-play - which is handled by Marv Albert and Steve Kerr - is outstanding as well. A little more variety in the music could have helped, though, as people who aren’t particularly interested in rap and hip-hop will be sorely out of luck.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.6
Live features some very intriguing gameplay modes, but it really doesn’t offer too much out of the norm.  

Overall: 8.1
NBA Live for the PSP is a no-brainer, especially for hardcore basketball fanatics. Although displaying its fair share of problems, the overwhelming fun factor of the game more than overshadows the lack of realism.