NBA Live 96

It doesn't get much better than this. 29 NBA teams, including the Grizz and the Toronto Raptors; the ability to create players (and put in real NBA players that couldn't be in this game because of licensing agreements); on-the-fly play calling, including animated diagrams of the plays and a whole new appreciation for the smallest details of the best sport on the planet, like charted shot summaries, rebound tip-ins, cross over dribbles and power slams. I've said it before and I'll say it again (even though I'm not getting a penny from the NBA), "I Love This Game!"

Der Streetball-Boom ist vorbei, NBA Live bleibt: Einen gut ausgestatteten PC vorausgesetzt, verwöhnt die jüngste Produktion von EA Sports mit überragender Spielbarkeit, atemberaubender Grafik, Power-Sound und einer perfekten Präsentation. Wer auch nur einen Funken Interesse an Basketball hat, braucht NBA Live 96 - das gilt übrigens auch für Besitzer von NBA Live 95.

The NBA Live series got its start on the Genesis, but the SNES edition of NBA Live 96 is clearly better, thanks to sharper graphics and clear sound effects. In addition, holding in the shoulder buttons to initiate turbo is much more convenient than the awkward Genesis controller scheme. In terms of gameplay, NBA Live 96 offers nonstop action and realistic gameplay. It's a huge step up from NBA Showdown. With the five-player multitap, you and four friends can even control an entire team! The only thing I don't like about the game are its terribly pixelated hardwood floors. Otherwise NBA Live 96 is a slam dunk.

As it stands, NBA Live 96 is a worthy addition to any fan who loved 1994's game but wanted greater flexibility in team management. It is difficult to recommend this game for the casual fan who already owns NBA Live 95, however. The differences aren't that drastic to make you want to upgrade the game. On the other hand, if you passed on 1994's title and want the best SNES basketball game for 1995, you have no excuse not shake and bake over to the store and slam your money on the counter. It doesn't get much better than this.

For the true NBA fans who can't get enough of a good thing or the first time b-ball sim buyer, this game's a must. Those who already have Live '95 should rent this cart first to make sure the added options are worth the '96 season-ticket price.

The furious pace along with NBA realism and a noticeable improvement over Live '95, make NBA Live '96 the only worthy basketball game for SNES hoopsters.

Apart from that one disappointment, this is still the best game available, but the competition's really heating up. Games like NBA in the Zone have raised the ante and though EA can regroup and develop something special for '97, you can bet that everyone else will too.

Between the Super NES and Genesis versions, it's business as usual. The Genesis suffers from fewer bouts of slowdown and the lower color palette actually gives the game a more realistic look. With its bright, almost pastel, colors, the SNES iteration looks more like a cartoon. Both have the same AI issues, but that doesn't mean this isn't the best 16-bit basketball game ever made.

Alt sammen fungerer glimrende, og efter et par timer gik spil, computer og anmelder op i en højere enhed. EA Sports laver gode sportsspil. NBA LIVE 96 er et EA Sports sportsspil. Ergo er dette spil godt!

EA Sports has once again displayed an unprecedented level of excellence in it's first basketball game for the next generation systems, NBA Live '96. A host of options, real 3D stadiums, realistic monster dunks, and that patented EA Sports game play lead the way into the best basketball simulation to date. PlayStation sports buffs will finally get a chance to play something other than NFL GameDay on their PSX.

Though not a graphic masterpiece, EA's Live '96 has just about everything else a growin' boy needs. Most importantly the game plays better than anything currently available. These developers are truly masters of this genre. With games like Live '96, EA may again reign supreme. Then again, the competition is becoming increasingly furious.

NBA Live '96 is simply the best. As far as the game itself, it could have been better in some aspects. As a whole, realism hits this game right in the bull's eye, but the realism in gameplay need some touches. With the game's new look, these standards will be hard to beat.

Virtual Stadium hin und her - zwingend ist der Aufstieg von NBA 95 zur 96-Version nicht. Die Verbesserungen sind nicht so dramatisch wie bei den Neuausgaben von FIFA Soccer oder NHL Hockey. Liebhaber des Genres können natürlich zugreifen; NBA 96 ist das Beste, was Basketball-Fans auf einem PC-Monitor zustoßen kann.

Add to this new function the stellar gameplay comprehensive stats, play diagrams, shot charts, trades, and player photos and comparisons (you can pick any two players and see how they stack up against each other in every conceivable way), and it's clear that EA has done this sequel right, making a good game much, much better.

The vast array of options and features make Live the most versatile and complete basketball game yet. That doesn't mean the game's perfect - it's far from that - but until something better comes along, it remains the king of console hardwood.

Overall NBA Live 96 is a great basketball title for the Sega Genesis. The inclusion of so many players is really an incredible feature. A few improvements in sound, graphics, and computer defense would be useful but they don't hurt too much.

Sammanfattningsvis kan sägas att NBA Live 96 är ett mycket bra spel utan större fel, men det når ändå inte riktigt upp i samma klass som dess föregångare.

Also, using the Virtual Stadium technology, the gameplay will up itself a couple of notches, adding more camera angles and that certain something that we players can't put a finger on, but which is definitely there (is that too technical for you?). This is a must-have for sports fans.

You already know what to expect from the graphics and playability --- it's still all there. It's the new features that have enhanced this game.

A equipe esportiva da Electronic Arts continua fazendo um bom trabalho de marketing, quando diz "Se está no jogo (real), está no jogo (de computador)", NBA Live 96 não foge à regra.

Live '96 has more depth than In the Zone, but everything that Live can do, NBA Shoot Out does better. Live may play well on it's own, but for gamers deciding which b-ball title to buy, it fails to make the cut.

The new "digitized" crowd noise that's so loaded with pops and static that it's practically unbearable! Even the soundtrack sounds coarse and unpleasant. Otherwise NBA Live 96 offers the same fast, frenetic action as its predecessor, although the framerate seems a bit less smooth. The players look slightly more refined, and new moves include a spin move for more agile players. Other minor additions include more play strategies, trivia questions between periods, and the ability to create your own player. One reader informed me that the create-a-player feature has an "easter egg" of sorts. Should you try to create an unlicensed player like Jordon or Barkley, their statistics will "magically" appear. Other than that there are the usual quirks, like the CPU's uncanny ability to toss up full-court three-pointers as the clock winds down. NBA Live 96 provides the same up-tempo style of basketball fun the series is known for, but I prefer the 95 version.