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The "Live" series has been the B-Ball cornerstone on the PC with little competition to challenge it. That is probably the reason for the "slacker" attitude put towards this year's version. Sure the visuals are prettier than before, but the gameplay just feels dated, not to mention the absence of bells and whistles to boot. What we have here is a game that feels no different than previous versions, which is a shame. Here's what you can look forward to if you are new to PC Basketball games, or just in need of that roster and visual upgrade. Graphics are the biggest leap this year for the "Live" series. New polygonal models add more detail and flare to the game. basically giving the engine a more polished look. Courts still are fantastic, and the added animation to the crowds is a big plus visually. (Much better than the color patterns from previous years) Outdoor courts are also recreated beautifully. The game simply just looks more refined and detailed. Character models are less blocky and shaded wonderfully. Attention to detail wasn't skimped on here. Live 2001 look fantastic!
Audio on the other hand features the same old samples from years past. If you're familiar with the sounds of the "Live" series, nothing shocking or magnificent has been added to this year's version that stands out and makes you go... oooh! Play by play is uninspired and drab, and I've actually gotten to the point where I just listen to the stadium announcer. He actually gets me into the game more. Sound effects are done well, and the crowd seems to get into the games when they are exciting, and hush when there's a blowout. All in all, sounds are better than average, but is nothing new when it comes to the "Live" series. Game play, if anything, is worse than ever. Which is shocking to say the least to this reviewer. For some unknown reason there is a slight delay when you enter a command, which totally can throw your game off something fierce. It is something you can get used to, but it is very distracting at first. Other aspects of the gameplay include simplistic controls, which is great for rookies although monotonous for novices and above. While the game doesn't play poorly, the controls should have been tweaked a bit more. Options are few and far between in this year's version. Multi-Season, Season, Exhibition, and One on One is all that is offered in this year's Live. Why was the three-point shoot-out eliminated? Why no addition of the ever promised Slam Dunk competition? Finally, why do I have to play NBA Hoopz from Midway to get a game of 21? (Kudos to Midway BTW for bringing this mini game to consoles.) EA has always been known for their bells and whistles, but this year they just fall short of making any noise. Overall the game isn't bad; actually it's pretty good. I'm just waiting for EA to revamp all their games and give sports fans something new. Until then, you guys might want to change your catch phrase to... "EA sports, it's still the same."
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