REVIEW: NBA Live 08 for Wii

by goGSW24 on Oct 13, 2007 11:41 PM PDT Comment 30 comments

When NBA Live 08 arrived, I was excited because it's the first NBA game on the Wii. I had been waiting for a while to play a nice game of basketball with the Warriors. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed with this game. It's not terrible, but it has a lot of flaws.

The first thing I did when I got NBA Live was to choose Play Now for a single game. The controls weren't hard to get used to, but they also didn't work every time. I've played other Wii games where the motion control works perfectly. When you want to take a shot and nothing happens, it's disappointing. Overall, though, the gameplay was okay, but there are some issues. I have yet to find the timeout button in the pause menu (or the timeout motion, if there is one. Zorgon, I know you have the game, can you help me out?). I know there's a way to call one because someone I played against online did it. Also, it's way too easy to hit a three. As long as you do the motion correctly, shots almost always go in. I'm going to up the difficulty level, but I would expect the game to be more realistic even on a low difficulty.

I've heard from someone that EA is going to update the rosters over the internet pretty soon. Unfortunately, the default Warriors roster isn't great. The starters are fine: Baron, Monta, Stephen, Al, and Andris. Off the bench, they have Brandan Wright, which is good. Then there's POB, which is okay. But, the only others are Sarunas and Foyle, who aren't even on the team. I was really disappointed in the fact that there's no Marco. Marco was drafted the same day as Wright! He should at least have been in the free agents if he hadn't signed by the time they last updated the rosters. The only way I was able to use Marco was to play a game with the Italian national team. Fortunately, I was able to sign Pietrus, Croshere, and Barnes through the free agents.

Another weird roster glitch I found came when I played the Rookie-Sophmore game in the All-Star Weekend mode. I substituted Brandan Wright for the Rookies and he was wearing a Bobcats jersey! He's on the Warriors default roster in the game and he was only a Bobcat for a few hours on draft day, but EA weirdly put him in a Charlotte jersey. That was strange.

The online play was fine. It's the first Wii game I have so far with online, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I was easily able to sign up (goGSW24 is my EA Nation name if any of you have the game!) and play a game. I thought it was okay for my first online gaming experience.

The graphics are obviously not HD, it being the Nintendo Wii. I didn't have any big problems with them. I wasn't really looking for anything special.

I haven't used all the modes (Season and Playoffs, for example), but I got a good general idea of the game. I'm glad I can play basketball with the Warriors. I was able to look past the flaws and have some fun with this game. However, it is obvious that EA did not put enough effort into NBA Live 08. I'm hoping next year's offering will be good. I have faith in EA, but I do hope 2K Sports puts NBA 2K9 on the Wii so Nintendo fans will have another option.

Anyone else who has the game, what is your take on it? If you have it for another console, what do you think?

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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dghsdgh

"I was able to look past the flaws and have some fun with this game. However, it is obvious that EA did not put enough effort into NBA Live 08."

That says it all right there.

I've never done the timeout motion...i've been having trouble between the dunking and shooting motions lol! I'm realy bad at it, its fun, but no Dynasty or anything...jeez. I can't wait until I get 2K8 for 360. Anything and everything EA Sports puts out now is almost a joke. EA also. They need to die. Oh, how I miss NBA Live 98....and Need For Speed II.....Sigh.

Tony.psd = Da Man

http://adonalobsessed.blogspot.com/

by Zorgon on Oct 13, 2007 11:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea

I also own NBA Live 08 for the Wii and it just pisses me off how I make a great pass to an open shooter, but then I can't get the guy to take a shot! There's also no turbo button so there's no way to run a fast break or to defend against one, which is totally ridiculous considering the Warriors' style of play. It's also really difficult to stay with your man on defense and he'll just drive past you and dunk almost every time. Sometimes, it's just easier to give the opponent room to shoot so they won't dunk on you and there's at least a chance of missing. And worst of all, there's no Buki! The online play and graphics are not bad, but sadly, everything else is. Btw, the timeout button is the number 1 on your controller.

The J-RICH show is on his way out...=(

by dajrichshow on Oct 13, 2007 11:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

the shot thing sucks.

New strategy: Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3! Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!Dunk dunk dunk dunk dunk 3!

Tony.psd = Da Man

http://adonalobsessed.blogspot.com/

by Zorgon on Oct 14, 2007 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Thanks for giving me the timout button. Why isn't it in the booklet!?!

Also, I didn't mention the no Buike. That sucks!

And, on a fast break, you're practically walking because there's no turbo!!!

Get well, Monta!

by goGSW24 on Oct 14, 2007 12:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sounds like

another garbage NBA live.

by Proof on Oct 14, 2007 12:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

no doubt

even gamespot gave it a 3.0/10

The J-RICH show is on his way out...=(

by dajrichshow on Oct 14, 2007 12:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

its ok but

ya the wii only reacts to your motions about once every 2 or 3 times. the players still "slide" a lot instead of walking and they still dunk from the back of the rim through the backboard. if i played this with my gamecube controller i wouldnt see much difference between this and 2k6 besides the rosters. its still fun but i wish the remote would just work better.

has any1 noticed that when you dunk instead of moving the wii remote towards the rim (as if moving the ball towards the rim) you move it the opposite direction? it confuses me like hell. if i move it towards the rim he does some crappy weird layup. ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THAT??

by twelve years on Oct 14, 2007 1:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ima be comple

I'm going to be completely honest with all of you --- The Wii sucks. Get over it. They are never going to make any good games for it. Shoulda spent your money on a 360 and be playing Halo 3 Live online allll night instead of trying to move your hands up and actually work to score a basketball on some Pong-type graphics all night.

by jtoj on Oct 14, 2007 2:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're being ignorant and you're a hater

Hating on the Wii is like pokin' fun at my momma- you're disrespectin'! The Wii is probably one of the best inventions of our time. What other console will bring together my 86 year old grandma, my 64 year old mom, my wife who hates video games and my 4 year old nephew together for family fun? That's what the Wii is- no matter how old you are- anybody can pick it up and play. Try asking your Grandma to play Halo 3 with you... You don't get that same feeling... Kick ass graphics and violence isn't everything, I'd rather party up with the Wii at my crib than play with unknowners any day on the xbox. You're just mad coz you still can't get a Wii. It's always sold out.

by Tony.psd on Oct 14, 2007 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Don't disrespect the Wii. There are going to be some good games, especially the ones directly from Nintendo. They know what they're doing.

Get well, Monta!

by goGSW24 on Oct 14, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Theres a grip of great games on 360

don't get me wrong... but on Wii- games like Resident Evil 4, Metroid 3 and Zelda has me puttin' on my thinkin' cap. Some of those games are way more difficult and challenging than some 1st person shooters where you just click and shoot... (Bioshock on 360 on the other hand is mad dope) but when Wii sports is on at the crib- the challenge is beatin' my mom dukes in bowling and watchin' Grand mama break 200 at the same time !

by Tony.psd on Oct 14, 2007 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

im sorry

have fun playing with your grandma.

by jtoj on Oct 15, 2007 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have fun playing with yourself...

by ThermoElectro on Oct 15, 2007 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You guys

Have no class.

by Tony.psd on Oct 15, 2007 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Azubuike or Belinelli

It sucks that there's no Belinelli and Azubuike. Azubuike has played on our team since early this year and Belinelli was drafted on the same day as Wright but they're not in the game. I am in the UK and I've ordered Live 08 and I am currently awaiting it to arrive. But here, 2K8 doesn't come out until October 26 so I'll have to wait a while until I get that, which will be better than this.

by zaki on Oct 14, 2007 2:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Last year

Live was pretty good, but 2K was the way to go. I think they messed up on 2K8 in the fact that certain players miss shots that they would never miss in life.

Don't tell me Baron is going to miss an easy layup, or 3 3pt shots in a row with noone guarding him. Last year, you could be a low ranking team, (Warriors) and beat those chode-monkeys that always choose the Spurs. And the AI on defense is terrible. I'll still play until next year because unfortunately, there is nothing else.

Beli or Bust

by danielholl on Oct 14, 2007 10:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I didn't mention this

The ratings for teams are very strange. I should probably look at every team and see where the Warriors rank, but they're one of the lowest rankings on the game. I don't know if they just kept their rankings from last year, but even a regular 8 seed that loses in the first round deserves higher. I think the Warriors were a 79. Lots of terrible teams were higher.

Get well, Monta!

by goGSW24 on Oct 14, 2007 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss em' too

I have the game setting set at hall of fame and every shot counts... I don't think they did it on purpose, I think its based on how soon you release the shot stick on the control pad. I'm strugglin' too- I'm at 4-5 with GSW.

by Tony.psd on Oct 14, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

The Wii is great despite what that one tool said above...but I leave the simulation type games for the big boy consoles like 360 of PS3 (even though I don't think PS3's price is justifiable).

Live is ok, but I'm more than happy with the 2k8 game. They finally gave Baron the respect he deserves with the overall ranking of 93 and the steals at 96! They kind of beefed up Monta too much and Belinelli, his ranking for 3's is at 80 and Harrington is at 86, but I can still light it up w/ Marco so easily even on Hall of Fame.

On a bright note about the Wii... can't wait for Smash Bros Brawl to come out December 3rd, its gonna be hot.

by david240z on Oct 14, 2007 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea Man

Graphics and all that HD sh!t is mos def gonna be on the 360 and PS3's side... that's a fact... but what heads didn't expect was how much the Wii blew up and took a chunk of microsoft and sony's share... Wii's are outselling both 360 and Ps3's and are constatntly on demand.., the way I see it, it's replacing the karaoke machines as family fun! And that what the Wii's all about- FUN! Xbox's and PS3's are fun too but are limited to certain ages- My nieces and nephews parents have second thoughts about buyin there kids anything but a Wii... would you let a 4-13 year old play Dead Rising or Saints Row?

by Tony.psd on Oct 14, 2007 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

it got delayed until february =/

by disguy on Oct 14, 2007 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

fyi

If you want to play as Belinelli, you can try him out on the Italian National team. And the Warriors rating is low because they have too many empty roster spots (I think 6). Sign some random free agents and the Warriors' rating will automatically go up to around 85.

The J-RICH show is on his way out...=(

by dajrichshow on Oct 14, 2007 2:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

fdsa

The few times I've ever actually played the Wii it was alright but nothing great. Usually if you're going to play video games you probably don't want to sit around all night swinging your arms all over the place. I still think the Wii is the gaming industries way of making fat video game nerds lose weight through weird exercise.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Oct 15, 2007 9:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL!

I hear ya on the tubby tip of things- play Metroid Prime, it's amazing. Plus If you're not into long hours of gaming, and u ick up the Wii for indoor rec time with friends, it's quite appealing and fun... something to pass time within an hour or two of play. Try Wii Boxing or even Tennis, I find myself mad sweating.

by Tony.psd on Oct 15, 2007 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well like Tony.psd said

the Wii caters to a wider range of audience. It's meant to play with others. You won't buy a Wii to sit down and play by your self for hours uncovering some deep storyline. Like Tony.psd said, it's more for some good 'ol family and friends party. I mean, we got a good crack just making everybody's Mii the first time we played with some people really looking like their counterparts.

It might be a turn off to the hardcore, all-night type of gamers. But really, wouldn't you want to take a break playing some 15 yr old brat who just keep yelling pwned and puts backstreet boys on his mic.