Graphically, EA Sport's NBA Live 2001 is smooth and detailed. Belonging to the players to arenas, all things are lifelike. However, NBA Live is not the jaw dropper that NBA 2K was. Very nicely detailed, lack the distinguishing characteristics, which NBA 2K has, though the players. The likes of players'tattoos and hairstyles, free throw mannerisms…things that went beyond, and made players real. Also, unlike NBA 2K, the players don't show any emotions (smiling or looking angry when dunking, bench players reacting to the condition of the game), that takes away from the games atmosphere. The crowds, once again, as with all EA Sport's games thus far, are flat. They're not very lively, which hurts the game, taking away from home/away atmosphere,. That's what's worse. Last, the digital camera angles, particularly the default, side view is not really too friendly. It's not easy to distinguish the depth/position among the players on opposite baseline. However, this can be fixed by changing to the more playable NBA 2K camera style.
Now, let's see the PS2 does with it's superior sound f/x. Right over bat…well you notice nothing new. At the conclusion, you see nothing new. It's seems and indeed feels as though EA has done nothing to utilize the PS2 much stronger hardware when it comes to sound f/x. The commentary totally appear to be an equivalent exact replica because of its predecessor, NBA 2000. The crowds are dead, very rarely would they chant, then when they certainly do, it's nothing like NBA 2K, from reacting to game situations.
The single thing that NBA 2K lacked, in comparison to EA Sport's NBA Live series to date, was if it came to options. This still holds true. NBA Live is packed with season, options…exhibition and playoff 3 pt. Shootout, 1-on-1 with Michael Jordan, Practice, NBA Draft…Unfortunately for PS2, and particularly the different die hard sports fans which stayed faithful to Sony and didn't shop for a Dreamcast, EA's NBA Live 2001 falls short when compared to NBA 2K series in most elements of game play.
Mas jugados 855 Juegos de Terror
First, let's focus on A.I. I'm trying to be as nice as possible, but only stupid, retarded, and dimwitted come to mind. Because the CPU players are totally unreactive to any game situations, maybe comatose or dead would be a better representation. In lowest difficulty, a quicker player can blow right past the slower defender and dunk or lay-up without the need of one of the defenders into the paint react. The defenders don't even react late. They just remain still, like mannequins, only answering their counterpart about the opposing team. The only thing that happens, is the CPU players become faster and quicker, and they seem to triple and double team the ball handler all the time, as you increase the difficulty. Now, you can't just zoom past them, forcing that you pass toward the 2 or 3 wide-open players. From this situation, it's seems easy and logical to pass to the open players for an easy basket, but it seems that the players move faster then the ball. As you pass to the open player, 2 or 3 defenders enclose the player even before he receives the pass. As difficulty increases, the CPU shooting % raises greatly, as far as offense goes. Now, this is not because they play better, or smarter. They only shoot an increased percentage. Whether they're covered or wide open, it actually doesn't matter, they merely make more baskets. This too is true of Free Throws…when you might have Shaq going 8-8 on the line, you are aquainted with something isn't right. Alternatively, you miss more shots, again, whether open or covered doesn't matter. Often 3 times a game, even though repeatedly I have missed fast break lay-ups and dunks, not once in a while. This may not be just stupid, but totally hurts this game, removing from its realism (whatever little it might possibly have).
Next, let's take a peek at playing the game itself. First, all players have the same special cross over move, but so did the 1st NBA 2K. Also, like NBA 2K, one has some control, calling picks, double teams, ally hoops, etc. You can even have the easy 1-button directional passing option, or pass to a specific player. The only problem with passing to a specific player is that, unlike NBA 2K, the players specific button passing is not static, always changing from X to O to Square…First, this makes it harder to use that option, b/c you have to look to see what button a specific player is first, before you make that pass. Secondly, and even more importantly, it requires beyond the flow this game. Another lacking aspect of the game is the post-up move. Alternatively, lack there of. You can't back down the defender, or do any special move like a hook, although in NBA Live you can post up. All you can do is turn your back, as well as a change shot, that could be pretty weak, and rather useless option. Last, and maybe the worst component of game play, rapid break dunk/lay-up. For a bit of unknown reason, EA Sport's has it therefore you can't use turbo to run up and complete a dunk. That is, you can use the turbo to run to, but have to release turbo, before attempting a dunk. If anyone played the game, they would realize that once again, the flow of the game would stop, although maybe they didn't realize this.
I couldn't believe my eyes, as i saw the following flaw by the game. In the matter of Free Throws, it appears that the for those who foul a player, the 3 players nearest the basket are the ones placed on the line to rebound. When you repeatedly have Damon Stoudamire standing where a Center should be, next to Shaq or David Robinson, you know your in trouble, even though this might seem funny. The rebounding in general is a farce…you seem to have the best chance of rebounding if you stand right outside the paint. Apparently through your players box out, it only helps the players boxed outside of the paint to rebound.
There are probably a lot more things wrong with the game that I haven't mentioned or realized yet, just because I got tired of wasting my time playing this sorry excuse for a basketball game. For all the hard-core sports fan, this can't be also referred to as Sim. I know that EA, just like everybody else has been hurting from the stock market, but I can't believe they would hurt their name and reputation but releasing something like this. In wrapping up, Michael Jordan's presence can't even help this game, and if he had played NBA Live 2001, he would probably have refused to be associated with such a joke.
0 comments:
Post a Comment