NBA Live 09 Demo Released, Impressions Here 360 & PS3

[thmst30]

OK I've trashed Live many times over the years and have hated where the game has been going, BUT I just played the demo and I'm very very impressed. I've played Live and 2K every year since 2K3, but the last Live I actually bought was 2004. I've hated this series ever since then and I've been a big NBA 2K fan since 2K5. Last year I didn't buy EITHER game, I played both of them and 2K was miles better but they both bored the crap out of me. I can honestly say after playing this demo that I will be buying at least one NBA game this year. I believe 2K will bring the goods this year for sure and so two purchases are very likely, but I'm 99% sure that I will get Live for the first time in 5 years. Yes there are still some problems and annoyances, BUT the improvements from last year are immense. I'm just really enjoying the hell out of this demo. I've seen things that I have NEVER seen in Live before, the animations are vastly improved, the game is graphically as beautiful as ever, everything just looks really vivid and crisp, the new NBA academy is damn cool, the Live 365 deal is very in-depth and has awesome potential, the sounds are solid, etc. If you played Live 08 and 09 side by side, most of the game would be unrecognizable. It really is a giant step forward from what I can tell. Now I just want to get my hands on the Dynasty mode to make sure its not buggy as hell. Still waiting for 2K to actually show me something other than a few videos, but no matter what I do believe the competition between Live and 2K has been taken to astronomical heights this year. Going to be the absolute best year for NBA gaming ever! Guaran-sheed.

Also, its been said that NCAA Basketball 09 is going to run off of Live's engine plus the extra time they get to work with it! I'm going to miss CH for sure, but that excites me. March Madness has truthfully been even more dreadful than Live the past couple of years, but for once it may actually turn out better. It needs to, seeing as its our only choice now.

Now some negatives:

• No importing draft classes
• The passing sucks nuts, way too many times I will press one direction to pass to a player and instead it pass the completely other way, either all the way down court or completely across the court. Created way too many turnovers that never should have happened. Also caused me to miss some wide open players driving down the lane.
• The players models aren't horrendous, but they aren't right either. Needs some work for sure.
• Having to hold down the left stick for the DNA/hot spots really sucks. Its damn hard to move players while pressing down on the stick.
• Time after time after time, I thought I had a three pointer only to find out that my player always takes an unnecessary step forward and steps on or over the line 50% + of the time.

Thats all for now, but overall the most solid effort put forth on Live in half a decade.

[slvicick]

My favorite part of the demo is the unpredictability of the cpu. They run all around on offense and on D. I hated in 2K that after a while you could pretty much predict what the cpu was gonna do, how they would rotate, who they will double team...

[phant030]

On perimeter D, instead of pressuring the ball handler up close. Which leads to easy penetration as IRL. U should play D at an arms distance away. So when u see a player driving, you can cut him off at an angle. Known as beating him to the spot. Thats good D. Works on human players as well....realistic to me. Also, try playing D by pressing right analog down. Defensive stance button.

[blingballa333]

Have you guys noticed that sometimes you can step out of bounds but they won't call it. It happens mostly on the baseline. Sometimes its subtl but other times it's downright blatant. Anybody else seen this? I think 2k8 had this problem too???

[Jano]

Yeah it happens a lot I think EA allows it to happen because if they didn't there maybe to many turnovers for stepping out of bounds. Though I think there's a boundary slider you can adjust if you want the game to recognize it more.

[HMcCoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by slvicick

My favorite part of the demo is the unpredictability of the cpu. They run all around on offense and on D. I hated in 2K that after a while you could pretty much predict what the cpu was gonna do, how they would rotate, who they will double team...

So true. Live feels fresh and new.

The blocks need to be addressed, but at least Live rewards you for anticipating a shot, instead of simply letting the ball phase through your hand in 2K.

[Jano]

Quote:

The blocks need to be addressed, but at least Live rewards you for anticipating a shot, instead of simply letting the ball phase through your hand in 2K.

Haha so true I remember I lost a game on college hoops because of stuff like that.

[sirjam]

Does anyone know how close to the final build this demo is? There are just a few things that keep this from being one of the better bball games I have played. So I am hoping that since its a demo they wont b in the final copy.