by
Ted Kritsonis
Faze Video Game Editor

After a solid outing last year, NBA Live 2005 continues the franchise’s delicate balance of what I like to call ‘arcade-flavoured simulation basketball.’ In previous years, Live had become somewhat of a comical rendition of the NBA with outrageous scores and a lack of defensive options. That changed significantly last year with an overhaul of everything from the AI to the control scheme. The name of the game this year is most definitely “Freestyle.”

The big change this year has everything to do with the freestyling options you have with the ball-carrier on the court. Crossover dribbles, crazy dunk moves and even signature sets from the likes of Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant have been added to the game. You can even show up the opposing team with backboard pass dunks and other showboating spectacles.

But the coolest new feature has to be All-Star Weekend with the 3-Point Shootout and the Slam Dunk Contest. EA poured a lot of ambience into these two events, and it’s hard not to get into it once you start playing. This is one of those features that is perfect for a party atmosphere because it’s all about who can put on the best performance. A slick set of dunk moves are at your disposal through a series of button combinations, and even some dunks that might be impossible in real-life are pulled off here.

As per usual, the overall visual and audio presentation is fantastic, with great sounds on the court, a very realistic portrayal of the crowd and excellent play-by-play by Marv Albert and Mike Fratello. The game’s soundtrack isn’t bad, but it takes a back seat to all the sights and sounds throughout the game.

There are some drawbacks, however, and they include defensive AI that is a little too tough sometimes. Driving to the lane is too hard too much of the time, no matter what special moves you pull off, and fast break points are tough to execute because the defense is back in position so quickly. While this is fairly realistic of NBA basketball, the best players in the game usually find ways to get to the basket, and that’s unfortunately not always the case here.

NBA Live 2005 is a solid effort by EA and one that a lot of hardcore and occasional basketball fans alike will likely enjoy. The All-Star Weekend segment is definitely a huge addition and the Slam Dunk Contest will probably be the most popular aspect of the game.

Publisher:
EA Sports
Developer:
EA Canada
Platform:
PS2

Rating: 9/10