NBA Live 2005 [PS2]

Each year, fans buy sports franchise updates because they want new rosters and are hoping for new features. The 2005 edition of NBA Live proves to be one of those years with very minor feature additions. Now, NBA Live 2004 wasn't a bad game, so 2005 inherits all the good traits; but ESPN NBA 2K5 is priced at $20 and plays like new, giving it much stiffer competition.

On to the new features: Dynasty mode has been overhauled in much the same way as the other EA Sports titles. They've added a PDA that alerts you of happenings via email. Wannabe GMs can avoid direct player control and simply come up with week-to-week game plans and then simulate to see how things turn out. The schedule now comes up as a handy NHL-style color coded calendar and, if players are interested in seeing how the rest of the league is faring, they've made box scores easy to peruse.

The draft has been overhauled in an interesting way. Now you can invite prospective players to spar against your team, seeing how they play, rather than relying on stats. This costs dynasty points, and coupled with spending on scouting, it gives the draft a really interesting spin. The new dynasty mode is a winner; sadly, the the load times on the PS2 version are still too long.

Live 2005 also adds the All-Star Weekend with its expected slam dunk and 3-point shooting contests. Slam dunk works like the real deal: Pick a player and try to jam balls into the hole better than your competition. It's not as boring as it sounds. They've remapped the buttons and given players some options, including how to take off, what to do in the air, and how to jam it. The range of modification while airborne is impressive, almost Tony Hawk-esque, making it particularly fun in multiplayer. Run in at the angle you want, jump in the air, and use the buttons to spin, tomahawk, and more. All told, there are dozens of possible combinations. It's fun, but only for advanced twitch players.

3-point shootout isn't so much fun. Jump, shoot. Those are the controls and that's the gameplay, which makes picking the proper player the most strategic option.

All-Star Weekend also includes the All-Star game (which was offered before) and the rookies vs. sophomore competition, which is a lot more interesting to fans of wunderkind LeBron James, and the other first- or second-year players.

Other improvements include new animations and lots more variety to dunks and layups, which results in smoother play. There are also some answers to last year's more outrageous exploits. Players could use the "pro hop" feature to guarantee an easy two-pointer because the move pushed defenders backwards. Now, it results in a foul. This is more realistic but, nine times out of 10, this makes the pro hop useless. Dribbling freestyle is the only option for agile players, as trying to do it with a clumsy giant will result in him coughing up the ball.

Then there are the flaws that weren't fixed this year. For one thing, players still won't catch a pass on the run. They stop and then catch it and then start moving again. Of course, this is ridiculous and helps kill a lot of the momentum in a fast break. Second, players are still untouchable. Meaning collisions don't look right and aren't a strategic option. It's like everybody is coated in Vaseline. Doubtless, this is to prevent the AI players from getting caught on one another but it takes away a strategic option and it's still possible to slide an opposing player out of bounds in an unrealistic manner.

The sound is good, as always, and there are some new commentators to help stalwarts Marv Albert and Mike Fratello. TNT lends Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith to handle All-Star Weekend's festivities. All of which is solid stuff, but pales in comparison to Sega's excellent ESPN presentation.

PlayStation 2 online play is back and now the game works with Xbox Live. However, just like Madden, NHL, and NCAA, the experience is hampered by EA's matchmaking service. It's just not slick enough and the connections, though improving, aren't what fans should expect.

NBA Live 2005 is still a fun basketball title, but this isn't one of those "must-have" years, unless All-Star Weekend is something you absolutely can't live without. EA just didn't bring its "A"-game for '05.