NBA Inside Drive 2003

"Meet the new ball, same as the old ball."

Inside Drive 2002 was a nice foundation for what could have been a thriving hoops franchise. It was a little thin, but played well. A year later, the series has packed on a couple of off-season pounds, and gets left in the dust.

I'll start with what works. The create-a-player has a wealth of intangibles, and the progression in Season mode is right on. I liked the achievements, which awarded you for good performances. Also, the announcers really mix well together, and the banter is the best I've heard for a 2003 game. There are options to dictate how well steals, blocks, and the like work. The general flow of gameplay seems on par with where it should be. This is minor, but I like how the ball kisses the glass on bank-shots.

With that out of the way, I can do some venting. Stealing in here is like taking cany from a baby (much like it is in NBA Live 2003 as well). I was consistently shooting too high of a percentage from the field. Where are all the dunks? I didn't see a faction of the 100 promised. The graphics, which looked crappy last year, do nothing for me now. Live has freestyle control, and 2K3 has new moves. What does Inside Drive have? Um, analog switching? I really don't know. The play seems like the same as last year, which puts it far behind the all-stars in the genre. Welcome to Sophomore Curseville. Population: this game.

BREAKDOWN -

CONCEPT: It sold okay last year. Let's do it again!

GRAPHICS: What was once at the peak is now inferior. Models are expressionless, and just don't look right.

SOUND: The best commentary team in hoops games, especially with the addition of Kenny Smith.

PLAYABILITY: I still say Xbox's controller is ideal for basketball, but there aren't any new moves here.

ENTERTAINMENT: Not as flashy (or good) as Live, not as realistic as 2K3. Inside Drive has to work a little harder next year.

RENT OR BUY?: I'm not sure if Live or 2K3 are on the Xbox, but if they are, then why waste your time on this game? Nothing new here. The only reason one would buy this is if they REALLY love basketball and buy every basketball game that comes out.

OVERALL: When you stack up Inside Drive against other basketball games released this year, it almost feels like as though you've stepped into a time machine and traveled a few years into the past. The play is smooth, but it's generations behind where we're at today. The defensive AI doesn't know how to stop a drive, and the fantasy options are almost nonexistent.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/27/03, Updated 02/27/03