13-Aug-2001 Apparently, white men can't jump. Some days, Steve Hill can barely stand.
Judging by the proliferation of games carrying it, the NBA licence would appear to be freely available at the moment, albeit at an extravagant cost. EA Sports have had their hands on it for a while, and generally knock out a basketball game this time every year, to the extreme delight of Americans, and the blind indifference of the rest of the world.
The NBA Live series is widely regarded to be the best of its kind though, and this millennial instalment is no different. It provides a comprehensive simulation of the hooped game, with little recourse to the gimmickry that blights a number of other efforts. The graphics are predictably excellent - from the reflections in the court to the facial animations of the players, and the authenticity is second to none. The trademark EA Sports polish is clearly evident, from the seamless commentary to the numerous video clips, accompanied by the obligatory music of black origin, including such big names as George Clinton, Run DMC and Naughty By Nature, not to mention the estimable talents of Rahzel & The NBA Live Orchestra. There's even an option to view a half-time cheerleader show, with an array of scantily-clad all-American gals shaking their booties in a most vigorous and suggestive manner. Which is nice...
BASKET CASE
As for the gameplay, it's largely the same as last year, and in all honesty, a cheap copy of NBA Live 99 would offer no less fun. EA generally stick to the old adage 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,' and this would appear to be no exception. It's still a superb rendition of the sport, with all the spins, feints, shimmies and slam-dunks anyone could reasonably expect. A degree of manual dexterity is required, with pretty much every button on the joypad utilised in some fashion. However, with practice it becomes second nature, and you can soon be pulling off fancy moves like there's no tomorrow.
What NBA Live 2000 does bring to the party is five different All-Stars teams from the last five decades. Clearly nobody in this country will recognise more than one or two of the players, but can take solace in the fact that the 70's side sport some particularly risible afro haircuts. There's also an option to take the game back to the ghettos and play out a one-on-one match on a street court. This option carries some kind of vague Michael Jordan endorsement, although the chances of multi-millionaire Jordan appearing on a street court are slim, to say the least. And yet there's more - a three-point shoot-out mode against the clock, essentially a glorified round of It's A Knockout.
Entire seasons can be played out, as can a 25-year career mode: never gonna use it, at least not this side of a prison cell. The real value comes in the playoffs, as you attempt to take a side to the ultimate prize over as many games as you choose. Clearly, this being basketball, it's only the last few minutes of any game that counts, but it's those minutes that make NBA Live 2000 a game worth playing.
// Overview
Verdict
Same as it ever was
Uppers
Extremely authentic Shedloads of options Realistic crowd Half naked cheerleaders
Downers
Same as last year Bewildering statistics American-oriented
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Extremely authentic
