Games Database
Xbox
Sport: Basketball
| Also for: | PC, PS2, GameCube, PlayStation | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Third-person, floating camera | Genre: | Sport: Basketball |
| Media: | CD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts | Soft. Co.: | Electronic Arts |
| Publishers: | Electronic Arts
(GB) |
Released: | 29 Nov 2002
(GB) |
| Ratings: | 3+ | ||
| Connectivity: | Xbox System Link Cable | ||
| Accessories: | Xbox Memory Unit | ||
Video
Summary
NBA Live 2003 lollops its way onto the Xbox to trumpets of acclaim from legions of basketball fans around the world. Arguably the greatest videogame basketball series ever created, Live 2003 again brings a licensed festival of frenetic BB action to your TV set.
From the outset, the motion-captured players will not fail to impress all but the most finicky CG fans. The movement of the players, (which always looks funny due to their towering height) is as realistic a presentation of the athletic human yet seen in a game.
As we have come to expect from an EA Sports release, the whole game is fully licensed by the NBA, resulting in real-life stadia, teams, players and even coaches. Furthermore, all the action is fluidly commentated on by Marv Albert, the US's very own Des Lynam. Except he does basketball, not football. You get the idea.
The key point EA is pushing with NBA Live 2003 is the massive enhancements it has made to the core artificial intelligence engine that underpins the single player game. There is an immediate sense that the series has finally done away with the robotic, predictable computer character of yesteryear, replaced instead with balanced, realistic basketball gameplay.
There is a real feeling that you are playing against another person in NBA Live 2003. The computer will block your shot intelligently, and will punish you with lightning breaks if your offence fails or is sloppy. Furthermore, players have been given attributes mirroring their real-life counterparts, complete with passing styles and signature moves and shots.
A ton of extras have been squeezed in to appease the statistic-obsessed basketball fetishist. Players shot-rate, game time, score average are all calculated in real-time and accessible by the player at any point. Furthermore, players can swap around their team's kit, to "relive the glory days of any particular team." A nice touch.
And, there's a load of Ready 2 Rumble inspired unlockable characters including Busta Rhymes! True video gaming basketball happiness, accessible to both novice players and seasoned NBA experts.
From the outset, the motion-captured players will not fail to impress all but the most finicky CG fans. The movement of the players, (which always looks funny due to their towering height) is as realistic a presentation of the athletic human yet seen in a game.
As we have come to expect from an EA Sports release, the whole game is fully licensed by the NBA, resulting in real-life stadia, teams, players and even coaches. Furthermore, all the action is fluidly commentated on by Marv Albert, the US's very own Des Lynam. Except he does basketball, not football. You get the idea.
The key point EA is pushing with NBA Live 2003 is the massive enhancements it has made to the core artificial intelligence engine that underpins the single player game. There is an immediate sense that the series has finally done away with the robotic, predictable computer character of yesteryear, replaced instead with balanced, realistic basketball gameplay.
There is a real feeling that you are playing against another person in NBA Live 2003. The computer will block your shot intelligently, and will punish you with lightning breaks if your offence fails or is sloppy. Furthermore, players have been given attributes mirroring their real-life counterparts, complete with passing styles and signature moves and shots.
A ton of extras have been squeezed in to appease the statistic-obsessed basketball fetishist. Players shot-rate, game time, score average are all calculated in real-time and accessible by the player at any point. Furthermore, players can swap around their team's kit, to "relive the glory days of any particular team." A nice touch.
And, there's a load of Ready 2 Rumble inspired unlockable characters including Busta Rhymes! True video gaming basketball happiness, accessible to both novice players and seasoned NBA experts.
