One step forward, two steps back. That sums up this latest perversion of a once great B-Ball series known as NBA Live.
What drew me in was updated rosters and ratings (go Wizards!!) and the genuinely inspired features involving their ESPN license. In NBA Live '07 you can listen to real-life ESPN radio broadcasts, watch sports video news clips (from ESPN.com of course), and check scores on the nifty streaming sports ticker. There are also new game modes (well...not new, but "previously missing") that I frankly, never got around to, because I was too busy digging in the trash to find the plastic wrapper and security stickers I presumptuously threw out (Do you know how hard it is to make a game look like you never opened it? And good luck convincing the 16 year old girl at the returns counter of that fact).
With the newly included game modes and ESPN Radio tie-in, along with a slick presentation, EA, you may take one step forward. *step*
Now, to the heart of why this game blows chunks. What makes the experience so bad is mainly the unresponsive and choppy controls along with the very poor player animations. And clipping, lots of clipping. NBA Live '06 was no prize pony in this regard, either, but it was at least tolerable. Live '07 is worse. Attempting to pull off any useful basketball related maneuvering is frustrating to say the least. Shooting and passing are very stilted actions that just never feel right. Some maneuvers work well, especially the freestyle controls on the right stick. However, when you string together these moves along with passing and shooting, it become a struggle to control the action, as opposed to concentrating on the game itself. Not good.
EA only compounds the control issues with the gimmicky superstar controls. I've never liked them and I guess that is all I can say on that. I do like the control scheme, though, especially in the post. Hardcore ballers will appreciate the separate layup and dunk buttons (sometimes a layup is a better choice than a dunk, no matter how close you are to the basket), However, you can't take advantage of the choice given the frequency with which players miss dunks/layups. Quite frankly it is ridiculous. A 50% chance you'll miss a dunk? (guessing here) How often do pros miss dunks? Not 50%, I'll tell ya that much!
*(mini rant): A dunk is HIGH percentage shot! (So's a lay-up for that matter). That is why the dunk was invented in the first place! In an NBA season you could probably count on one hand the number of times a player misses an open dunk! This is not true in the land of NBA Live. If the A.I. doesn't like where you choose to dunk from, then it should be made into a missed layup attempt or a foul. There is no reason to miss a dunk with an open lane to the basket and a capable player.(/mini rant)*
With the horrendous controls and animations leading to poor gameplay, EA, take two LARGE steps back *step* *cry* *step*.
So where does that leave NBA Live '07? Well? Worse off than last years Live '06, for sure. An added and improved feature-set with a demoted overall game experience. I guess it really depends on what you think a basketball game should be. To me, responsive, intuitive controls are paramount in sports games. They make up the core gaming experience. If the core game experience (the playing of an exhibition game, let's say) is not playable or enjoyable, all the other features are a moot point, no matter how cool they may be. The game does have some value for some people like my friend. He likes to play dynasty mode and simulate season after season making trades and otherwise handling GM-ing duties. In that respect this game may have some value for you. Not me.
What it boils down to is; NBA Live '06 for XBOX360 was a plate off poop. NBA Live '07 for XBOX360 is a plate of poop with a cherry on top. Which would you want to eat? A cherry is better, no doubt, but a cherry on a pile of poop will only remind you just how bad that poop really is. "I'll take NBA Live '06 with some syrup of Ipecac please!"