NBA Live 06 is definitely a looker. If you go to any 360 Kiosk and watch the game in action, you will no doubt know the difference is between the current gen Xbox and the next generation Xbox 360. From the get go, you are treated to one of the coolest game loading ideas ever to hit the market. If you thought playing Pac Man or Galaxian while waiting for Ridge Racer was cool, wait to you get a glimpse of what EA has put together. The game opens with a very cool court building program that gives the feeling of being inside the CPU (for clarity, think TRON). Once the backboard has lowered, your player enters the screen in all the Xbox 360 glory you would expect from a next generation platform. The model is a spot on Dwayne Wade, include skin textures and sweat that look so real that you may feel the need for a shower. As the game is loading, you take control of the baller and you shoot, slam, and run around the virtual court for as long as you please. Even cooler is that you can have a second person join in the fun. At anytime you may push start to bring up your list of game modes and options.

Once you have set up your game, the camera will zoom into the arena where you are playing and your game begins. The arenas are spot on models of the actual arenas, from the parquet flooring in Boston, to the drab old Madison Square Garden in NYC. Even the lighting and floor reflections are impressive. The opening presentation really gets you into the game, the crowd is electric, the lights wavering, and the emotion is at an all time high. Once the game begins, however, it is a different story. Sure, the game still looks pretty, but the presentation is virtually non-existent, unless there is a time out or foul. Even the replays have to be turned on manually, and it’s only for your plays too boot. What’s even worse is there isn’t a manually controlled replay where you can enjoy the game’s beauty, the only replay you receive is by clicking in on the left analog after scoring. Also missing from the replays are flashy overlays telling the scoring drives and such. This information is present, but only at the top of the screen in a boring ticker style bar.

Even though the player models are excellent, with realistic sweat and accurately scanned faces, the animation stutters excessively and does not transition well, which makes the game look herky jerky. This is a shame as the animations are done quite well, it’s just the transition from one to the other suffers. It also pays to note that the framerate slows down and is inconsistent, which makes gamers wonder if EA has figured out how to utilize much of the system yet. When it’s all said and done though, the NBA has not looked much prettier than it does in NBA Live 06 on the Xbox 360.

Audio is also fantastic brought to you in glorious and rich 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Marv Albert and Steve Kerr bring you the play by play and do a spectacular job not only calling the game, and giving insight on players, but even keeping things interesting during a blowout. The crowd is dynamic and responds to everything that is going on throughout the game. The way they react to regular shots, versus clutch shots is amazing and really gets me excited about how next generation sounds are going to be in the future. The sound effects are realistic and subtle, so no more annoying and ridiculous squeaking from shoes. The use of the 5.1 sound really separates the high and lows providing the right amount of bass at the right time.

Gameplay is very much like it is on the current gen consoles. The pacing does seem to be better and less like an arcade game this go around. Gamers still have two shot buttons to choose from, which most gamers find confusing, but nothing is farther from the truth when you are in a double team position and you need to toss up a finesse shot versus a power shot. The control scheme allows for such decisions to be made. The right analog controls all your jukes, fakes, and crossovers allowing you to shake your guarding opponent out of his shoes. The free throw system has also changed. While they are mimicking what 2K has already done, and done well, EA’s system is a bit broken. The premise is to move the right analog back and then to the front in a fluid motion. The problem lies in the game not telling you how well you have done this move, leaving the free throws a total guessing game. This will end up making gamers frustrated when they go to the line, even with the most prolific free throw shooter. The CPU is very good and will block, post up, draw picks, draw fouls, and even intentional foul like a real life opponent. The A.I. also is unpredictable from game to game, much like the real sport, so even if you are going against the best team, if they are having an off day, it is to your advantage. This will leave gamers with the satisfaction that any game can be won or lost, and it pays to be at your best every time.

Like all of EA’s launch titles for the Xbox 360, they have given the game a new body and paint job, but have taken out the features. This is very true for NBA Live more than any of the titles, as you are only offered Season Mode, Create a Player, Quick Game, and Online Play. No Franchise, All Star Weekend, or Superstar Modes, which takes it quite a bit from the buy category. What hurts even more is that the competition changed the looks, yet did not make gamers sacrifice options for the new graphics. For gamers looking for strictly multiplayer action, there is plenty to enjoy with Live, but the single player experience is non-existent.

In the end, EA has definitely provided the “engine” that goes into a next generation title. The game looks great, the audio fantastic, but it is the flesh of the game that is weak. I am sure next season gamers will have no reason to second think EA, but this year if you are looking for the engaging single player experience, you at least have another option besides stepping backwards to the current generation.