NBA Live 08

PGNx Media (9 out of 10)

NBA Live 08 doesn’t add a whole lot of new modes, but the stronger gameplay goes a long way. The improved, more realistic gameplay, coupled with the excellent presentation package make NBA Live 08 a must-have for basketball game fans.

Gaming Age (B+)

If you were a fan of the series in the past, or are just sick of 2K and ready for something new, it’s time to finally give Live a try once more. The game has tons of options; it looks and sounds fantastic, and with a minor quibble here and there plays a great game that walks the line of die hard sim and casual baller. NBA Live 08 makes playing b-ball fun once again and I’m happy to see EA hasn’t given up on the franchise. I’m just curious to see what tricks are up their sleeves in future installments.

GameZone (8.3 out of 10)

NBA Live 08 is a big improvement over NBA Live 07 (or 06, for that matter), offering some great features and cleaner gameplay. If you’ve been waiting for the next-gen iterations to catch up with the current-gen versions, then this is one to get.

The Video Game Critic (B+)

The crowd is tame but looks realistic enough, and it's cool how you get occasional glimpses of players on the bench. Marv Albert and Steve Kerr deliver television-quality play-by-play, and they are simply the best in the business. There's no half-time show (boo), but there is a nice "highlight reel" at the end of the game. The saving process is inordinately complex, and many of the game's options are not explained well - if at all. Hey EA - that's what the instruction manual is for - use it! But even so, I have to credit EA for delivering the best-looking and best-controlling basketball game of the season.

Darkstation (8 out of 10)

NBA Live 08 is just a much better all around game of basketball than last year's experience, and yet it's still not perfect. There are some AI issues, especially in the area of rebounding, the game also still has some weird tendencies that make for a bit of a head scratching. But what it all comes down to is NBA Live 08's ability to make for an extremely enjoyable game of basketball. Whether online or offline, you're going to really have a lot of fun playing NBA Live 08.

Xbox World Australia (XWA) (80 out of 100)

NBA Live 2008 is a considerably decent basketball game. EA's efforts this year are much more noticeable than previous outings, as the game reeks of realism. The inclusion of 'go-to moves', and 'hot spots' only further emphasizes this focus on providing a game that rivals NBA 2K8. It's no longer a one game market for basketballers, as they've got two amiable candidates on shelves. Modes such as Scenarios, and All-Star Weekend will offer a lot of fun and will make long nights seem short.

Jeuxvideo.com (16 out of 20)

Entre une plastique irréprochable, une bande-son du feu de Dieu et un gameplay revu et corrigé, NBA Live franchit un palier. Toujours plus proche de l'arcade que de la simulation, il a les moyens de séduire les plus réfractaires à la série même si quelques incohérences demeurent sur le parquet.

GameDaily (8 out of 10)

To say this game shocked us is an understatement. We never expected NBA Live 08 to be this good, but in this case, we love being wrong. 2K Sports' NBA 2K8 will probably be just as sweet, if not better, but don't ignore Live in favor of the competition. EA pulled off something special that demands your attention.

GamesRadar (8 out of 10)

If you'd have asked us 12 months ago, we would have bet millions that Live 08 would be, at best, a pale comparison to NBA 2K8. What a difference a year makes, though. Live has won us over way before we ever thought it possibly could again, so deep were our scars from last season. While not perfect, it's immensely playable and just a bit more fun than its rival. Who woulda thunk it?

Gamernode (8 out of 10)

NBA Live 08 is in serious contention for Best Basketball Game this year. That just shows you how much improved 08 is after the disaster of 07. Who says EA doesn't listen?

Armchair Empire, The (8 out of 10)

“Real” basketball takes the court once again in NBA Live 08, bringing a much closer to real-life representation of the NBA, and even the world hoops scene, to the Xbox 360. It’s not just an up and down the court scoring blitz anymore in NBA Live, and those who truly appreciate Dr. Naismith’s game will be more than thrilled with the ability to finally get back to the basics of true-to-life basketball gameplay.

Gamers' Temple, The (79 out of 100)

In summary, NBA Live 08 for the Xbox 360 is a vast improvement over last year. The controls feel more natural with new additions like the Quick Strike Ballhandling and the Hot Spot feature being very welcomed. Graphically the game is god looking although there are some small hiccups with the animations. There are a ton of game modes and the online options are good. There are some issues with the AI and at times the CPU seems to be able to do the nearly impossible.

Game Over Online (78 out of 100)

NBA Live 08 is a good game. It's not a great game yet. It has plenty of problems, and I must say it's still not quite on par with the impressive basketball simulation that is NBA 2K8. But the gap has closed this year. It plays, looks, and feels better than last year, and if it keeps improving, we'll have the great NBA Live series of old. If you're a fan of NBA Live, I recommend picking this one up, because it's on the rise.

Gaming Target (7.8 out of 10)

There's no need to keep talking now. NBA Live 08 is not as good as 2K's NBA 2K8, but at least EA's basketball series is catching up and giving 2K a run for its money. With new additions, 38 player online leagues and a realistic experience, basketball on Xbox 360 doesn't get much better than this.

Game Informer Magazine (7.75 out of 10)

It's good to see EA crawl back from the dead to deliver a Live title that actually resembles real basketball played here on planet Earth. No longer are the players and the ball itself subjugated to floaty or looping Moon physics.

GameSpot (7.5 out of 10)

If you're just doing a rundown of what features and modes are new in NBA Live 08, you might think the game's not all that different from 07. That couldn't be further from the truth. It still has a long way to go before it catches up with the outstanding 2K series, but all of the little tweaks, changes, and enhancements add up to one vastly improved basketball game. NBA Live 08 is worth a look, especially if you like your hoops games with a bit of arcade-style flair to them.

Game Informer Magazine (7.5 out of 10)

In all, NBA Live 08 is a vastly improved game that is nearly ready for primetime. With another year under its belt, NBA Live may be contending for the championship.

Lawrence (7.4 out of 10)

As much as I criticize EA, I consider them to be the premier developers of sports simulation games. Madden, NHL, and Tiger Woods are excellent (and more importantly, fun) recreations of their respective sports. I’m not sure if it’s EA’s fault or simply the nature of basketball, but I’ve never really had fun with an NBA simulation title. I’ve always felt the sport lent itself better to an arcade style such as the ones seen in NBA Jam or NBA Street. Regardless, there’s nothing specifically sub-par or broken about Live, it’s just not a terribly engaging experience.

Game Freaks 365 (7.4 out of 10)

NBA Live 08 doesn't improve on much else, so I chose not to mention a lot of returning features like the connections to ESPN (although they are STILL underused in-game) and the standard Live play. Still, it makes strides in its gameplay and as a result is a lot more fun to play. If you were impatient with NBA Live last season, it might be wise to skip it for another year—NBA Live 09 could pull it all together, but then again, I hoped the same for NBA Live 08.

Gamer 2.0 (7.4 out of 10)

This shot definitely goes in, but not before taking a few lucky bounces on the rim. It’s certainly nice to see that NBA Live’s on the fast track to good times for the series, but it’s probably not worth a purchase just yet. So you should definitely save the money and rent it first to see if NBA Live 08’s up your alley. Otherwise, it’ll probably be in your best interest to hold off and see what’s planned for the second step of this rebuilding process.

Gamesmania.de (73 out of 100)

Mit NBA Live 08 schafft EA es immerhin, den verlorenen Anschluss an die 2K Konkurrenz zurück zu gewinnen. Zwar kann auch der neuste Teil nicht mit der grandiosen Authentizität und Dynamik des Konkurrenten mithalten, doch dafür bietet es soliden und zugänglichen Basketball für Gelegenheitsspieler und Fans schneller Action. Dank umfangreicher NBA Lizenz, Onlineligen, einem Dynastiemodus, dem NBA All-Star Weekend und FIBA Nationalmannschaften stimmt auch der Umfang dieses Titels. Wem NBA 2K zu realistisch und kompliziert ist, für den steht mit der NBA Live Serie endlich wieder eine gute Alternative bereit!

Boomtown (7 out of 10)

In general, NBA Live has come a long way on the next gen consoles this year but it still has a long way to go for next year. The controls feel fluid and well designed. The animation and graphics are great. The gameplay is good but not great. If EA can fix these annoyances with the game then next year this could be the basketball game to own for the Xbox 360.

Eurogamer.de (7 out of 10)

Nach zwei mageren Jahren befindet sich die NBA Live Reihe definitiv 'on the Rebound'. Es gelingt zwar auch dem 08er Update nicht, zum großen Konkurrenten NBA 2K8 oder auch nur 2K7 aufzuschließen, aber der Vorsprung schrumpft deutlich. Sollte EA noch ein wenig mehr Augenmerk auf wichtige spielerische Details wie das seltsame Dunk-Verhalten oder die generelle Spieldynamik bei schnellen Richtungswechseln legen, steht Basketball-Fans für nächstes Jahr Großes bevor. Schon jetzt glänzt das Spiel nämlich mit einem Umfang und einer stilistischen Sicherheit, die - auch ESPN sei Dank - auf der ganzen Linie überzeugt.

Eurogamer.fr (7 out of 10)

Voilà, un bilan somme toute mitigé, Electronic Arts a bien relevé le niveau mais il reste du travail. Les bons points sont vraiment plombés par des défauts lourdingues et à répétition. C'est beau, fun, intense et j'ai beaucoup aimé y jouer, malgré mon lot de critiques. Dommage, le plaisir est là et les amateurs de basket s'y amuseront malgré tout. Ceux voulant davantage de simulation iront sans doute chez la concurrence, il est donc important de tester le titre sur une démo, histoire que chacun trouve basket à son pied...

V2.fi (70 out of 100)

NBA Live 08 on rasittavan pedantti koripallosimulaattori, joka aiheuttaa satunnaispelaajassa peli-ilon sijaan ahdistusta. Sen viat ja tahalliset ärsyttävyydet saivat kokeneemmankin peliarvostelijan tuntemaan tuskaa ja raivonpurkauksia. Myönnettäköön, että osa pelin rasittavuudesta johtuu myös koripallon ilmeisen hölmöistä säännöistä, jotka antavat pallon haltijalle liki diplomaattisen koskemattomuuden, jota kuitenkin myös tekoäly rikkoo mielellään. Vaikka en mikään urheilupelien suurkuluttaja olekaan, olen silti aina tykännyt ottaa silloin tällöin matsia avomielisesti lajin kuin lajin peleissä. NBA Live 08 lukeutuu kuitenkin niihin harvoihin peleihin, joita en halua koneeseeni konsanaan syötettävän.

Cheat Code Central (3.5 out of 5)

Focusing on next year, NBA Live 08 has set up a solid foundation for the developers to progress on. Rabid EA Sports fans will find a lot to like, but may better be served by letting this title dwell in the developmental leagues. It is not quite ready for the big time, but at least it is not the Sam Bowie of video games like Live 07.

GameSpy ( )

NBA Live 08 is an improvement for the series, but still lacks in enough areas to keep it out of the All-Star game. With improved defensive play, a fixed free-throw system and perhaps a couple innovations thrown into the mix, we can expect bigger and better things from future iterations of Live. If you're a basketball fan, you're going to want to rent all the different options available this year, and purchase the hoops game that is most fun for you to play. Live 08 is still more of an arcade experience than a straight simulation, so be warned if you're a realism purist.

Video Game Talk ( )

"NBA Live '08" offers fast, sleek-looking gameplay, as graphics are impressive in almost all regards. A wealth of modes (both online and offline) ensure that players will find a lot of depth and replay value. However, some issues are seen with gameplay, including too many easy shots being missed and AI that could be a little more "on the ball". Overall, the game plays well and I had fun with it, although there are areas where there is room for improvement. The game falls short of a "Highly Recommended", but does earn a recommendation.

Daily Game (7 out of 10)

Not a bad game, but not a great one either. Online modes and the loaded dynasty mode are sure to keep players busy for another year. A solid soundtrack fills out the smooth animations to make for a pleasing presentation.

NZGamer (7 out of 10)

The atmosphere in NBA Live 08 is impressive. It's also a great way to annoy the crap out of your flatmates as every foot on the court produces an authentic squeak of rubber on wood. Trust me, it seems to be ten times louder for anyone not playing the game within ear shot. All of the sound effects and music fit the game perfectly though. The soundtrack is your typical hippity-hop and dance mix that people seem to instantly associate with basketball. It includes respected artists like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mark Ronson, Kid Beyond and even adds a bit of R&B with Joss Stone thrown in for good measure. The voice commentating is some of the best yet and when mixed with the highly detailed player models and animations, the game looks and feels like the real thing on your TV. Shame it just doesn’t quite hit the mark with the playability.

4Players.de (70 out of 100)

Es geht aufwärts, es macht wieder für ein Match zwischendurch Laune, aber das reicht nicht! Dieser Basketball kann trotz der Fortschritte gegenüber der Katastrophe des Vorjahres nicht begeistern. Es gibt wie immer einige Highlights in der Präsentation, das Publikum geht lautstark mit, der Umfang stimmt mit Online-, WM- sowie Dynasty-Modus und manche Dunks sehen klasse aus. Aber unterm Strich wird spielerisch gerade mal ein befriedigendes Niveau erreicht. Und man weiß nie genau, ob man jetzt eine Simulation oder Spaßbasketball spielt - irgendwie ist NBA Live 07 weder Fisch noch Fleisch. Es fehlt einfach der Flow, das Krachen, die Faszination. Es fehlt das Gefühl, die Spieler wirklich präzise steuern und den Ball mit Timing und Auge wirklich optimal werfen zu können - hier reicht ein Knopfdruck! Immerhin stehen die neuen Dribblings, das taktische Aufposten und einige coole Superstar-Bewegungen auf der Habenseite.

IGN (6.9 out of 10)

At the end of the day NBA Live 08 is most certainly improved over what we suffered through last season, but that still doesn’t put it on the same level as other offerings that are out there. The bulk of the basketball still doesn’t feel natural with canned animations taking the control out of the user’s hands a bit too often. The game does have its shining moments though, and we’ll definitely be expecting next year’s game to return the series to prominence.

Worth Playing (6.5 out of 10)

EA games never fail to impress with the overall presentation on any of their sports titles, but sometimes it seems like that's all they were focused on when developing the game. Sadly, NBA Live 08 falls into this trap. Although it dropped some of the issues from last year's game, NBA Live 08 sprouted its own grocery list of new problems. There are too many inconsistencies in the gameplay, such as bugged mechanics, abusive cheap online and CPU tactics and AI miscues to keep anyone happily playing for very long. In a genre where gameplay is king, NBA Live 08 doesn't offer the best experience available. If you're a longtime fan of the series, you're going to buy the game no matter what anyone else tells you. Those wondering at which basketball title they should throw $60 this year should consider NBA Live 08 as another sorely missed opportunity at greatness.

Console Monster (65 out of 100)

As you can probably tell by now, I’m pretty much a virgin to basketball, but NBA Live 08 was a pleasant experience for me, but unfortunately it’s not a game I could constantly play as I don’t enjoy the sport enough. Basketball fans will no doubt enjoy the modes on offer as well as the online play which includes online leagues for you to battle it out with family or friends, or just random people. It’s fair to say that the game is a solid game of basketball that I’d recommend to basketball fans and those who are interested in getting into the game—so long as your expectations are a bit tempered.

PAL Gaming Network (PALGN) (6.5 out of 10)

After last year's effort, it’s good to see the franchise back on track. There are still plenty of areas where it could improve and there is lots of refinement to be done, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.

TeamXbox (6.5 out of 10)

So, when the final whistle blows, just how does this year’s addition to the Live franchise stack up? Well, the new game obviously improves over last year’s debacle by leaps and bounds. Still, when put head to head against other games on the market, such as NBA 2K8, it’s plain to see that EA still has a ways to go to capture the console championship. NBA Live 08 isn’t necessarily a bad game, but it’s just not that good either. Of course, as the saying goes: “There’s always next year.”

Official Xbox Magazine (UK) (6 out of 10)

You won't go wrong with NBA Live '08, but it's really not giving the 110% you want for your money.

Gamestyle (6 out of 10)

The usual game modes are there as well, career (in the form of “Dynasty”, what basketball has to do with a line of Chinese emperors is beyond us), quick play, online and offline multiplayer and such. It all makes for quite a competent basketball game, but ultimately there’s little to draw in anyone who doesn’t enjoy the sport in the first place, unlike EA’s brilliant Fight Night Round 3, which was one of the best early Xbox 360 titles. So basically, if you like basketball, it’s a good game. If you don’t, there’s not really anything for you here.

Game Shark (C+)

While NBA Live 08 is still not a game for the hardcore hoops fan, it is a decent and much improved game that less-demanding players can get a lot of enjoyment out of. If EA Sports can smooth out the gameplay, continue to improve ball physics, do something (please!) about the game’s load times, and hold onto their edge in the presentation department, they’ll have a game that can truly compete with NBA 2k8, something that would’ve been unthinkable a year ago.

1UP (C+)

In the end, while Live 08 is definitely looking better in every respect (gameplay, graphics, and online), the series still needs more time in the gym.