NBA Live 2004

"I said it to make it better, not make it worse."

Alright, here's the thing. NBA Live 2004 isn't the greatest basketball game out there. I tried NBA 2K2, and decided that it was alright, but needed a bit of work. Now, I try NBA Live 2004 (I couldn't find 2003 anywhere), and sure enough, they haven't improved it much. I figured so, but I thought they would at least learn from one mistake. NBA Live 2004 is a huge step down from an ok game.

Story-1/10

The fact is, there is no story in this game! Sure, there shouldn't be, but they should at least have some twists, like in Mario Hoops. If there was a story, it most likely have boosted this game's rating big time. However, the fact is that this game doesn't have a story, and that's that.

Game-play-1/10

There aren't many things the game-play gives, either. There are fewer things to do, and OH MY GOSH, you can't customize your own team! You'll have to trade players from the actual teams, but then that will just mess up the teams, for they have players that they never really traded.

Graphics-3/10

The graphics are way worse than the 2K2 game. The players are further away, and the court and audience look like a bunch of clay. The players no longer look realistic, and the game has just lost my interest. I don't know why they changed the graphics, but I think they should have kept them the same, for this game has lost its touch without it.

Control-1/10

The control is harder to learn than the other games. They added Z as a lay-up, or alley-oop, instead of just the waving hands move. The players are also hard to control, and the shooting is just plain difficult. You can't shoot very well, and the game has just lost its touch in this area.

Sound-1/10

The sound is now annoying, and I never want to hear it again. This game has horrible sound. The music is some sort of cruddy rapping all the time, and it just gets to you after 5 minutes of playing this game. There are no special sounds, and the ball sound on the select screen is gone. The crowd doesn't even sound like a crowd, and the dribbling sounds like some monotone thumping, instead of different sounds when the ball is bounced in a different way.

Difficulty-2/10

This game is far away from difficult. The opponents are sloppy, the players hardly guard, and you can just continuously alley-oop without the players trying to intercept you. Even the free-throws are easier! There is a little box moving back and forth on the back-board, and all you have to do is align the box with the basket twice, and you've made a free-throw! The only part in this game is the regular shooting, but there are alternate things you can do in its place.

Re-playability-1/10

No replay value in this game at all. The game is so easy, and is even easier when played again. There are absolutely no different plots, or twists, and the game gets easier and easier with each play. You'll know everything by heart with the 3rd play, so there's no replay value here.

Overall-1/10

I must say, I was pretty disappointed with the way this game turned out. I expected a revival from the 2K2, but I didn't find any. Next time, this game will hopefully do better, but I must say that this one was one of the greatest down-falls in NBA history.

Rent or Buy?

I suggest a rent. There isn't much this game will offer, so just rent it for a week, and you're pretty much through with it. Then, just return it, and look for a more interesting game that is worth your money.

Reviewer's Score: 1/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/06