Originally Published: October 14, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

With basketball season right around the corner as the pre-season has gotten underway, we take a look at EA and 2K’s continued slugfest for sports gaming dominance. Unfortunately, this would be similar to a highly anticipated Pay-Per-View bout you regret days later that you actually paid to watch because the most recent entry into these franchise’s respective libraries has finished off the bloodbath.

Traditionally the 2K games are very strong when it comes to basketball, and compared to their effort in the hockey realm, this is worlds better. The graphics are sharper, there are no glitches I can think of, and the pre-game movies of real game footage are a great touch. After that, this game takes a nose dive. Think of Wile E. Coyote when he keeps running off the edge of the cliff, but doesn’t fall until he recognizes there is no solid ground underneath him. That is what this game is. The game starts up and all the bells and whistles disguise it as a solid game, then you actually begin to play the game and you just plummet.

You end up being afraid to shoot the ball because there is no way of knowing what could or could not go in. Ridiculously impossible shots drop in for the opposition and you can’t even make a simple lay-up. It’s a frustrating experience at best. And don’t even get me started on the miserable defensive controls set up. If you miss a single shot you will lose every time because the computer will make a ridiculous 90% of their shots. Even with an okay franchise feature, all the bells and whistles make this a rental at best. What good is a franchise feature anyway with such horrible gameplay?

After another sorry entry from the folks at 2K, EA had a chance to deliver the knockout blow that would end what was supposed to be this heavyweight masterpiece. EA did not waste their opportunity. EA’s NBA LIVE 09 may not look as pretty as 2K’s offering, but everything else about it is amazing.

First, the newest and most amazing feature is called NBA LIVE 365. As long as your system is connected to the internet, your game will receive a feed every 24 hours updating rosters, player hot/cold streaks, injuries, and player development. This means that the team you play with will be as accurate as if you were playing with the actual team. If Tony Parker is more likely to pass to his left in a particular situation, you can bet it will happen in the game. Every shot you take is given a percentage of if your player is likely to make it or not before you press the shoot button so even if you don’t know anything about basketball, you know you had better not be shooting from three point land with someone like Eddy Curry (or anywhere for that matter).

Additionally, if you want to play a game from back in the season that happened in real life, maybe to give your favorite team a chance at revenge, it will use the rosters and hot/cold streaks back from that point in the season. All part of the new LIVE 365 package.
Even aside from LIVE 365 making this the most accurate sports game ever, the gameplay is solid. The controls come easily and quickly for even the most novice sports gamer. Defense is intuitive and you can call your own plays on offense. Free throws are difficult, but not impossible, and the overall feel of the game is just smooth. Add in a strong dynasty feature and you’ve got a winner on your hands.

The only down points are that the graphics aren’t as polished as you would like for the current generation of consoles and you would like a superstar feature possibly like in Madden or NHL 09, but the LIVE 365 feature is more than enough to satiate any diehard basketball fan.

You hear that sound? That’s the sound of Wile E. Coyote hitting the bottom of the canyon. Or if you’d prefer, 2K hitting the mat as they go down for the count.

*beep beep*

-Ray Carsillo