NBA Live 06

It's late in the fourth quarter and you finally get your pick and roll to work.

NBA Live 06 opens with plenty of flash and style in a main menu interface that just makes you go "wow!" But while your team looks pretty, it's what happens on the court that tells the tale.

Playing Lean and Mean
If you're a hardcore fan of the Live series then the PS2 or Xbox versions might do you quite well, thank you. Especially if you're a features hound, know that the Xbox 360 Live list of modes is a trimmed down version of the current generation games. Basically it has season mode, but absent are some fun extras like All-Star Weekend, Dynasty Mode, Freestyle Challenge, 1-on-1, and others.

At least, the eye candy is impressive from afar, and you can tell by the lush, detailed 3D modeling that the graphics in this game are going to carry plenty of potential into the upcoming seasons. When the gameplay is in motion, Live 360 looks great although the gameplay animation is noticeably slower than current generation versions, which makes the pace of your games feel much more mild.

But when the activity stops the crystal clear visuals tend to emphasize just how much the player models don't quite look like the actual guys. Also, they look too shiny and sweaty, like the air conditioning in the building is turned off, and the bodies and arms are on the slightly elongated side.

Controlling the Flow
The controls, however, help pick up the pace substantially. Joystick moves are smooth and clean, and you can make killer crossovers and slick step-back or dip forward moves, too. Free-throw mechanics are improved by eliminating the criss-crossing bars and using a more intuitive pull and push technique with the right stick. The on-the-fly playcalling controls remain tightly mapped to the directional pad, but now during timeout you can also pull up a slick coach's drawing board so your playbook diagrams in motion.

NBA Live 06 for Xbox 360 looks sexy and plays like pro, but it's just not the polished veteran that you've come to expect with PS2 and Xbox. At least it's clear to see that with a little more seasoning, this game should be in fighting shape next year.

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