As great as it was in the 16-bit era, EA Sports' NBA Live series always seems to be a year or two behind the competition since its transformation to 3D. After taking some sharp criticism the past few seasons, EA went back to the drawing board and has come back with a complete overhaul that the franchise is long overdue for. Falling just short of returning the series to its glory days, NBA Live 2003 is a speedy, arcade-styled roundball game that will turn off those looking for anything close to a balanced, realistic experience.

Up to Snuff

It may have taken a while, but last year's NBA Live finally managed to include a franchise mode. The same identical mode returns once again this year complete with the same overly simplified draft system. Trading is governed by percentages, so reasonable offers won't be rejected, while detailed stat tracking and ability to play continuous seasons give the game all the prerequisites. If you've got a few minutes to spare, you can keep an eye on the race for league MVP or check up on the latest league happenings. At the conclusion of each season awards are handed out for most improved, rookie of the year, sixth man, and more.

While the franchise mode can now compete with that of other games on the market, the one-on-one mode puts Live 2003 over the top. The late '80s version of Air Jordan against modern day Kobe is something most basketball fans would pay to see, and the combinations are truly endless. This is where the game's accurate player ratings make a huge difference. You can also play exhibition games against friends, play single seasons, go straight to the playoffs, or polish your roundball skills in the practice mode. The practice mode comes in handy because EA Sports has completely revamped Live's gameplay for this season.

No Right, No Wrong

The most obvious addition to the traditional NBA Live formula is what's called freestyle, which allows you to perform special dribbles using the right analog stick. What makes it different from what was already done in 989 Sports' NBA ShootOut 2003 is how the analog stick actions translate into dribbling. After entering commands commonly found in fighting games such as quarter-circles and half-circles, players perform well over a dozen different dribbles including ankle-breaking crossovers and behind-the-back streetball tricks. It's a refreshing change of pace, but it also makes the game seem more akin to NBA Jam than a serious simulation.

Making the game all the more like an arcade experience is the extreme speed at which players whip around the court. It's almost like watching a tape of an NBA game on fast forward. The extreme speed makes it especially difficult to play defense. You have a steal button at your disposal, but it only wants to work at random, and there's a worthless foot-planting maneuver that's supposed to draw charges but really only manages to take your defender out of position. Offensive players have no problems blowing right past a defender controlled by a human, and it's not uncommon to see shooting percentages in the 90s in head-to-head games. Being around the basket in NBA Live 2003 reminds me of being in the mosh pit at the old "Lollapalooza" festivals. It's a confusingly violent sea of humanity.


Max hang time.
If you've ever watched the NBA playoffs you're no doubt familiar with the concept of "Hack-a-Shaq." Because the big fellow has problems shooting from the charity stripe, other teams constantly foul him instead of trying to stop him from scoring down low. But when playing NBA Live 2003 online, the name of the game is "Hack-a-Lag." If the opposition realizes you're having problems with lag, they'll intentionally foul you because making foul shots online with any sort of lag is practically impossible. Online games quickly boil down to constant free throws until an entire team has fouled out or the game ends. The problem isn't as pronounced when playing with a broadband connection, but narrowband users beware.