The pick-up-and-play control scheme, vibrant visuals, and improved action will appeal to those who feel the NBA 2K series is too complicated. Many of the game's new features lack depth, and the frame rate also needs some work. Couple these issues with the same nagging bugs that have plagued the series for years now, and player DNA isn't nearly enough to get this series back to the championship game.
NBA Live 09
EA Vancouver · Oct 7, 2008
About
NBA LIVE 09 is back, promising a fun, long-lasting and satisfying experience with new features of gameplay. New features like Pick and Roll Control, Defensive Lockdown Control, Signature Playcalling and Quickstrike Ankle-Breakers will make the NBA LIVE experience fun from beginning to end. For those in need of some extra coaching, NBA LIVE 09 takes you to training camp with the NBA Academy that gives you a chance to hone your skills.
Trailers & screenshots
Scores by platform
7.6
Critic reviews
- 7.5While it's a little disappointing that Live 09 isn't a drastic step forward, it is an improvement over Live 08 and a very solid basketball game. Dynamic DNA isn't going to change the way you enjoy a basketball game, but effective pick-and-roll mechanics and intuitive playcalling certainly will. If you want a basketball game that's fast-paced with easy-to-manage controls, NBA Live 09 is worth a look.
- 8.0If pro hoops was a one-man video game gang this year, we’d be pretty happy with Live. Luckily for us, though, competition is king and Live falls a couple of free throws short of the superior NBA 2K9. There’s plenty to like, though, and we’re looking forward to winning an NBA title or two in both games. After all, variety is the spice of life.
- 7.0NBA Live 09 is definitely a step up from last year and a leap ahead from 07, but it definitely needs further improvements when it comes to how you actually play the game. Though EA is doing all they can to create a realistic basketball sim, there are far too many blatant errors in their formula that make it far from perfect. The inclusion of new online features may not be enough to make up for repetitively frustrating mechanics.
- 6.5While the concept of NBA Live "made fresh daily" is a good one, there are plenty of elements that make the gameplay feel stale or incomplete. The low post play and pick and roll features work great, but they're countered by a lackluster lockdown defense and odd tempo issues that hamper gameplay.
- When it all boils down to it, NBA Live 09 is a great example of a series on the rise and it gives fans of the sport and franchise something incredible to look forward to next year. Until that point, Live falls shy of being the premiere basketball title, but it came far closer than anyone expected.
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