NBA Live 2001

"Doesn't look as good as it has on playstation....But still one of the best baskeball games out there for the PS2"

NBA Live 2001 the apitamy of basketball games, One of my favorites of all time. Nothing can measure up to it, so when I heard that it was coming out for the PS2 I just had to buy it.

When I got it I heard the opening I got to the main screen. I was very dissapointed about some aspects they didn't have about the game. One there i no franchise mode which really hurts the game. Two there is no fantasy draft which was a favorite for me. So I started a season and I played the game. The graphics are spectacular for the opening cinemas of when you come on to the court and when you wish everyone a good game. But when I started to play it I noticed some flaws right off the bat. offensive rebounds are quite frustrating when the opposing team them about 5 times in a row about all the time when they shoot, your guys don't box out and they are never near the basket which makes for too many of them. another flaw that adds to frustration is when you shoot the ball it bounces off the rim in an oddly fashion. You shoot it close up and the ball bounces over your head and to the free throw line. This makes also for a lot of offensive rebounds. One of another small flaws is that fouls are called in places you never even were. Still the game was fun, the graphics were great and the shoots looked good.

Graphics 7/10
Just about the graphics you would expect from a PS2 and a little more with the cinemas. But theres still more boundries the PS2 can reach.

Control 8/10
COntrol is fine. Buttons are easy to figure after a few seconds and it doesn't take away from the fun of the game. Can still do some cool moves and pull of those hellicopter dunks.

Audio 6/10
Great sound for he cinemas but bland anouncers that often repeat themselves tones down the games ovreall fun and after a while it can get irratating.

Gameplay 6/10
This game could of been a great it if they spent some more time fixing up these flaws in it which really hurt the games overall fun. Still it was a top notch game that was fun to play.

Replay Value 6/10
There's no franchise mode to play forever and ever but you can just start season after season wih the same team, but that sound really lame and stupid.

Rent or Buy:
Well I would have to say this game is the best PS2 basketball game out there right now, but you may wan to save your bucks until a better basketball game come out or when NBA Live 2002 comes out which I hope they make better.
If you just want to have a basketball game in your PS2 liabrary then get it, or rent it first to try it out to see if you really like it.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 02/20/01, Updated 02/20/01