NBA LIVE 97' for Sony's Playstation
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Overview:
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Have you been pissed off with last years offerings from E.A. and Sony,
in which each game excelled at the other games failure (great graphics
with no gameplay or visa versa). Well, _finally_ a b-ball game that
has combined the best of nearly all worlds in one package is here,
Live 97'
You want slick fluid polygon graphics, with great camera angles along
with gameplay that is nearly as deep as the real game itself, along
with options and stats galore, look no further, this is you're game.
..
Graphics:
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Live features well textured large polygon players which animate as
smooth as silk. Each player's face/head is detailed anywhere from
stunning to decent. For example R. Harper and Rodman look like there
real life counterparts while some other players like Ewing, leaves a
bit more to be desired. It's not like the faces are comprised of very
many textures, because there not, it's just that they are done
so..damn good, you _will_  notice almost every player by looking at
his face. Very good use of multiple textures in a limited V-RAM is
evident here.
And unlike Shootout's players, these players are more textured
throughout the rest of the body..not only the face. 
The uniforms are detailed as well as the real NBA ones, along with the
players name and number clearly seen on its back.
However, while the names are noticable, they are _very_ small and can
only be made out from _very_ up close.
The animation of each player is really a sight to behold as they move
as smooth as silk..but that's not the best part.
The best thing is the _huge_ ammount of types of dunks/steals/alley
opps/spin moves/put backs/ect.. all done with superb realism.

My only gripe is when many players are together the action slows
down..sometimes like slo mo, as it's probably because eithier the P.S.
is not fast enough / bad E.A. coding/ or too many frames of animation.
Or all of the above.
However it is not _nearly_ as bad as the slow motion player shots in
NHL 97'.
(But don't say i did not warn you :)

And unlike last years version the players _do not_ skate around the
court, you see when they stop, they stop on a dime.

Now each court is rendered exactly like the NBA's, with the same
details, and done so with superb clearity.
Reflections and player shadows add a nice touch, also.
The ball, backboards and net are rendered as detailed as you will ever
see, and both the net and ball animate very smoothly.

All in all from the player graphics to the detailed _real_ courts, to
the smooth player animations, it's realy a sight to behold, and ranks
as one of the top graphical sports games ever.

However, there are some missing features that would have added more of
an enviroment to this..for instance, having a ref on the court/ side
benches/ and a shot clock above the backboards.
Why E.A. choose to only have an icon appear when the shot clock gets
below 10 seconds, instead of a actual shot clock above the backboard,
is simply mind boggling.
Also, the fans..well they are the same generic non-moving crowd, we
have all too often seen in these 32-bit sports games.

These few flaws aside, the graphics and animation are very well done,
and are top notch.

Graphics/Animation Rating: 89%
(would have been higher without the sometimes slowdown, and more
court objects)

Camera Angles:

Yes this should _always_ get it's own catagory in a sports game, as
it's so damn important to suit any game players needs.
And Live has 8 seperate angles, along with 9 types of zooms for each,
_along_ with preset options, a reverse angle/closeup in the key/ and 8
types of freethrow camera angles.
Plus you can even set up you're own custom view, and save it to the
memory card.
This is by far the best selection of camera angles _ever_ in a sports
game, and each is done with stunning clarity.
Plus, you can get as close up to the ball as you could want, which
makes the passing hard :) , but the realism, terrific.

Camera Rating: 99%..(only a true ball cam is missing)

Gameplay:

Okay, enough with the eye candy, so how the heck does it play, right?
One word, Awsome, Baby! (Sorry Dicky V. :)
First off, the strategy that Live 96' had is here and more, as you can
customize up to _8_  offensive or 2 defensive plays to just a
combination of the L2 or R2 button and one other button. So you can
have multiple plays at the flick of a couple buttons, _during_
gameplay.
There are 17 different offensive and 2 defensive quick plays to choose
from during gameplay.(ie...on the fly play calling)

There is also 36 different offensive and 5 defensive set plays
(sideline called plays) available and all are shown in in an animated
on screen diagram, to show you exactly what they do.(in case you
forget)
For the sake of reading, see below of all the set play options
available in this game. 
And in case you forget and you're not sure which play you called, just
toggle the "play notification" to on, to display an overlay on the
screen.
Along with this you can choose many options from a stategy menu which
includes crashing the boards,different defensive sets,different
amounts of pressure,ect....

Now that you realize this game is deep as far as stategic elements are
concerned, lets get down to the different gameplay features.

When you shoot, you press the button to jump and release it at the
time you want at that players arc.
Tapping the shoot button will fake a shot, and pressing another button
will call for the cpu player to shoot.
Tip ins and put backs are very frequent and are done quite
realisticly. As is, an ill advised pass that will go out of bounds.

Midair passes are also possible at the flick of a couple buttons.
Players will make behind the back passes(cpu random determined), over
the back passes, long bomb one arm passes, alley opp passes,, bounce
passes, and many others. 
One real sweet feature is the ability to play give and go with two
players just by holding and releasing one button.
Crossover dribbles and Deke moves are executed with a flick of one
button, and seeing the fluidlity of these different animations and the
variety is _so_ realistic.
Of course you can reject shots..heck even play volleyball (like Oakley
on the Knicks :) against the backboard with a press of one button.
Damn, even _hand checking_ is possible, and there's even a _hard_
hand check (ala Knicks..) button option.
Naturally you can steal at the press of a button, also.

Now here's a real nice feature, you can flagrantly foul a player or
them you .which results in two foul shots and possesion.
And you can get fouled during the shot(yes!..and it counts) and get
the customery extra free throw.

All infractions are included including illegal defense calls / 3 in
the key/ 5 second violations/ ect..., and each can be turned off
independently.

You can substitute manually or have the cpu do it for you, call
timeouts, have injuries during play also :)

The game plays smooth as silk, and you'll notice many types of
passes/dunks/signatue moves(even though the manual does not say
it..heck i seen Mr. Robinson's Tomahawk many times..and Jordan one
handed from the foul line dunk, also.) And don't expect players that
nomally can not dunk (ie..Oakley) to dunk..this is no arcade crap.

A couple things did bother me such as there are too many bank shots
when close to the basket(facing diagonal)..heck i could see Pippoin
doing it, but not almost everyone!
And some animations of a right handed shooter looks like he's pushing
the ball instead of letting it "flow".
One other thing, is like in last years version, when you foul a player
intentionally, he will almost tackle him..which is _far_ from
realistic. ( Come on E.A. !)

But there are so many positives..heck even spectacular features like a
player throwing his elbows..or ripping the ball down _with
authority!_, that these couple minor flaws can be _well_ overlooked.

Also the A.I. is very good, as if you have a breakaway, the cpu will
foul you're teamate, to stop the easy basket. (Nice)

Damn, the gameplay is superb :)

Gameplay Rating: 97%

Control:

Pretty damn good, as last years "skating" has been almost _totally_
wiped out, and when a player stops..he _stops_.
Passing is crisp..sometimes a bit slow in the up close view, but fast
in the other views.
There nothing bad to say about the control..it's that good,  and you
can get used to it in 5 minuties, it's that easy, plus with the amount
of offensive/defensive/"on the fly" plays asigned to almost _all_ the
P.S. buttons, it deep as well.

Control Rating: 98%

Sound

O.K., here's my biggest complaint, as there is no damn play by play
announcer..uhh, you would think having a cd system this would be a
_given_, instead too many games simply forget it.

One other problem is the lack of crowd noise when you beat the
visiting team, at the end of the game. It's like they all left the
arena (ala.. L.A.)

There is a good deal of superb sound effects however, and a P.A.
announcer, which is done well by TBS's Ernie Johnson and a few others.
Ernie does the sound bites between the action.

Sqreetching(sp?) sneakers, whistles, the "swish" of the net..and
"bang" off the glass, the crowd _really_ getting into it in the fourth
quarter, the crowd appropiatly booing and cheering when you expect
it..but not loud enough(imho), and a terrific PA announcer calling
everything from the amount of fouls on a player/who the foul is
on/player who scores and who assisted/telling who's at the foul
line..and for how many shots, ect...especially the announcer
emphasizing one player per team player (ie..the Bulls "Luuuuck"
Longley) with a resounding voice.

Little arena sounds are also evident such as music in Chicago(few
seconds), but the game could have used more(imho)

Overall, the sounds effects are very crisp..., when they are done, but
you would expect more with a cd system, _especially_ a play by play
announcer.

Sound Rating: 74%

Overall, this is as solid a sports game as i have _ever_ played on a
console system, with great graphics/smooth animation/terrific
gameplay/great control/ option's and stats galore / and decent-good
sound.
it's _easily_ the best b-ball game out on consoles..and probably the
best overall sports package out now. (note,i did'nt try NBA ITZ 2 yet)

Overall Rating: 94%

Here's a rundown of most of Live's features;

Rosters updated as of Sept 25th

12 man rosters and the ability to trade/sign/release players and also
create as many as 40 players.

Creating a player is done quite well, with options for facial
hair/hair color-type/facial expressions/height/weight/skin
type/shooting and/agility/dunking/passing/shooting/stealing/blocking..
and so many more.
Damn, you can even pick from a variety of colleges for that player and
years in the pros

Most or all players are in the game(for instance all three new rookies
are on the Knicks roster),  Shaq, Jordan and Barkley are in the
starting lineups, but with different numers and without there name
being announced. (Jordan is just named Player)
However both are textured (facially) correctly. :)

An overlay on the screen will appear when a team goes on a "run"
(ex.. Knicks on a 10-0 run)

You can turn on/off score overlays/slow motion dunks/and keeping the
score close

Players fatique and have injuries

A fmv 10 second "halftime show" is included (no big deal)

Full 82, or 56, 28 game, season modes

Rosters can be shuffled or viewed from main menu

3, 5, 8, or 12 minute quarters

Loading Time to start a game can be up to 45 sec..uhhh

Playoff length can be set for different # of games

A Feb 20th trading deadline can be declared

FULL Stat tracking..but takes up an additional 2 mem. blocks.
(if no stats, 2 blocks are used for a season)

Starting Lineups are shown in pictures and names before game..not
announced

You can configure ANY button on the controller

Shot control can be manual or auto

Player movement can be absolute(default) or screen relative

There are 36 total offensive sets:

7 types of motion plays / 3 high post plays
4 3 point plays / 5 isolation plays
6 box plays / 5 inside triangle plays
6 sideline triangle plays

5 types of defensive set plays
Full court /  3/4 court / half court trap 
/ half court press / quarter court

17 Offensive quick plays (on the fly):
baseline drive / middle drive / post entry low
post entry high / ds accept / ds reject
ds fade / ds curl / ds slip / dribble entry
hand-off / back-door 1 / back-door 2
pick and roll / pick and fade
pick and slip / timeout

2 types of Defensive quick plays (on the fly)
intentional foul and double team

These quick plays can be assigned, up to 8 different buttons at one
time (ie..8 plays during gameplay)

3 type of pressure defences low/mid/high

Auto substitutions/ sub. notification/ and play notification can be
turned on or off

Option to crash the boards

The 8 different camera angles include:
Behind  / Classic / Sideline / Press
/ End / Sky / Overhead / Autoselect

9 types of zooms for each of these angles
(Damn, that's 72 different camera angles)

8 user custom camera angle presets (saved to card) or 8 defaults
presets

8 types of free throw camera angles:
random / behind / side / diagonal
low / high / facing / facing close

Reverse angle and closups in the key, options..

Change Defensive matchups and double teaming 

Intentional fouls and Flagrent fouls

User /player/ and team stats

20 Types of Team Stats:
points / bench scoring / field goals / field goal % / 3 point FG's /
3 point % / free throws / free throw % / offensive rebounds /
defensive  rebounds / total rebounds / blocks / steals /assists
/turnovers/ fouls/ team fouls / timeouts / longest run /
scoring drought

17 type of Player stats:
fatigue(1-9 rating) / points / field goals / field goal % / 
3 point fg's / 3 point % / free throw / free throw % / 
offensive rebounds / defensive rebounds / total rebounds / blocks /
steals / assists / turnovers / fouls / minutes played

15 types of User stats:
points / field goals / field goal % / 3 point fd's /
3 point % / free throws / free throw % / offensive rebounds /
defensive rebounds / total rebounds / blocks/ steals /
assists / turnovers / fouls

(is that enough stats?)

Substitutions-manual or automatic

Timeouts (7)

12 second (or so) Instant Replay which includes:
Slow mo / reverse / fast rewind / forward / fast forward / 
varitable zoom in and out / highlight one player

Mid air/behind the back/long bomb/bounce passes/put backs/
tip ins/ many types of dunks/ ...ect

Crossover dribble/dekes/ and two types of hand checks

Hot Streaks..NICE!, the players icon will flash when so

Icon also shows when a player is tired

A pretty damn good A.I. (got beat 123 -28 with the Bulls in hardest
setting...12 min. quarters)

Up to 8 player support which includes user records

Arcade/Simulation/Custom play

Season/Exhibition/Grudge matches/Playoff options

Announcer/sound  effects/crowd/music all are adjustable

Stereo or Mono sound

Able to set how often replays are shown

Three types of difficulty levels

Able to adjust the offensive and/ or defensive frequentcy of fouls
with up to 9 settings

Able to set foul out from 2-8 or off

Can turn off/on out of bounds/backcourt
violation/traveling/goaltending/3 in the key//inbound clock/illegal
defence/Half court  clock/shot clock/fatique/ and injuries

NBA on TBS logo always on (good or bad?)

Ernie Johnson of TBS does the pre game/ between quarters/ and end game
commentary...not in fmv, just in sound bites.

TV like updates on rebounds/points/ high scorers/ ect... , on the
bottom of screen during play

TV like upper left corner team / points /quarter /and time left that
is easy to read, but small enough to not get in the way.

Speed bursts

D. Rodman has green hair  (heh..).

I think i just about covered all options..whew 
(now on to _finally_  get some sleep :)
( I'll review Fifa 97'  tomorrow,  ..hopefully)

I hope this all helped,

Phil...

*** Note, please forgive any spelling errors or bad grammer as i had
to rush this review so all you can get an idea if it's worth
buying.****