NBA
LIVE '98
A few years back,
Electronic Arts put together a little basketball game
called Lakers vs. Celtics that tipped off an unrivaled
franchise on the consoles. Until now, EA has been unable
to match that console success on the PC. But NBA Live 98
surpasses my expectations and blows away its console
counterpart.
This title engulfs you in
the NBA experience with its elevated levels of gameplay,
graphics, and realism. It’s been completely
redesigned with stunning new slams, cross-over dribbles,
and support for a little thing called 3Dfx. It brings the
NBA experience alive on the PC.
NBA Live 98 is the second
EA Sports title (NHL Hockey 98 was the first) to support
the 3Dfx chipset. This allows for some of the most
stunning graphics I’ve seen in any sports game to
date. New 3D polygonal, high-resolution player animations
add an unparalleled level of reality to the players’
moves on the court. Real photos of the players’
faces are modeled onto their polygonal counterparts,
adding individual details down to haircuts and beard
trims. For example, Dennis Rodman sports a different-colored
’fro in every game, and Carl Malone’s ever-so-gleaming
bald spot still shines. In 3Dfx mode, the crowd comes to
life with stunning detail, giving the home team that
extra sixth man. The 3Dfx support also brings EA’s
patented Virtual Stadium technology to the PC with all
the NBA stadiums modeled identically to the real thing—including
championship banners hanging in the rafters where
appropriate.
In the clutch of the action,
this game gives new meaning to the term control—an
issue that’s plagued past PC NBA Lives. Full support
for multibutton joysticks (finally, EA!) allows for a new
feature: direct passing. This allows each button to
represent a different player on the court, which
translates into full control of your passing lanes. That’s
not all. We have direct-dunking: You control the movement
of the player’s shot, from his new fade-away to the
classic in-your-face slams.
You want more? Well, what
about player-lock? You are now able to lock control of
one player and use him throughout the game. It took me
awhile to become used to the actual touch of shooting
from under the basket to shooting from the outside, but
that level of realism is what kept me playing for hours.
EA’s also improved
individual player movements—all the moves look
extraordinary. The cross-over looks like a cross-over,
players lean into defenders when driving, and front-court
players execute smooth post-up moves on command. If you’re
a hard-core basketball fan, you’ll love these added
touches. Illegal defense violations are in the game now
too, which makes it impossible to pull off that zone
defense you used so well in past NBA Lives (you can
disable it).
The usual three play modes
(Rookie, Starter, All-Star) are augmented with a new
Superstar level. A three-point shoot-out mode has also
been added, which allows you to pick your favorite three-man
and go for it—just like in the All-Star game.
If stats are your thing,
NBA 98 gives you a GM mode. You can choose franchises,
draft players, and play customs seasons. (Let’s not
have any $100 million salaries!!!) Building up your
franchise wouldn’t be complete without adding
yourself as the star. NBA 98 allows you to make your own
custom player.
With the play-by-play
commentary from Verne Lundquist and Ernie Johnson of TNT,
expanded Virtual Stadium environment, 3D accelerator
support, and multiplayer competition (via modem, serial,
and LAN), NBA Live 98 is necessity for hoop fans.
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