NBA 08, Playstation 3, Rating: 4.5/5
WHEN it comes to basketball games, most players love or loathe each of the three licensed developers. Sony, EA and 2K Games aim to be different and all offer an NBA product which appeals to different types of gamers. NBA 2K8 is often associated with hardcore gamers and NBA Live 08 with those wanting an arcade-like quick fix.
Both have strengths and weaknesses. 2K8 is ultra-realistic but can sometimes feel overawing and Live 08 lacks a degree of technical finesse.
Sony’s NBA 08, however, strikes a sweet balance between lifelike and fun.
Addictively simple, NBA 08 is pick up and play gaming at its best, yet sports enough features to keep you coming back for more.
The title is fully licensed, is presented in stunning 1080p and bounces onto your screen at 60 frames per second.
But forget the ultra-sharp graphics and the funky retro styling, on the court is where NBA 08 shines.
Whether you’re attacking or defending, calling a play is as easy as pressing the directional pad.
When defending, for example, down means play tight and pressing up forces a double team of the ball carrier. It’s simple and it works.
On offence, the game becomes even more enjoyable.
Players with the ball can sprint faster than defenders, meaning you can always work your way into the paint (key).
It feels a little like the Super Nintendo classic NBA Jam, which can only be a good thing, and stops the game from getting bogged down in tight defence and forced shots. The shoot meter is circular and you must release the button in the sweet spot to nail the shot.
As your player increases his points count, the sweet spot grows larger.
Player creation is as good as it gets, online gaming is fast and fluent and a bevy of mini games keeps the fun flowing when playing with a mate.
One criticism is the use of the motion sensing Sixaxis controller.
Shaking it wildly to put your character’s hands up and down when defending is trivial and it’s too tricky to control dribbles on the attack.
