NBA Live 2003 aims to improve upon specific areas of gameplay while an updated graphic engine allows for more player animations. Targeted areas include blocking, rebounding, dribbling, and the bumping and grinding associated with playing ball at an NBA level. New shot-blocking animations include swatting the ball into the stands as well as blocking off the backboard. Over 30 distinct animations for grabbing rebounds allow for more realism in capturing missed shots.
Player-specific dribbling, passing styles, and signature moves were also motion-captured and incorporated into gameplay, while post moves, pick-and-rolls, and charges were filmed using multiple athletes for more believable in-game player contact. Adding to the realism are sideline coaches, on-court vocals, new crowd animations, and classic jerseys for the complete NBA experience. Players can also feel the pressure of making a shot before the buzzer or a crucial three-pointer with their controller's vibration function.
Controls
OFFENSE
Left Analog Stick = move player
Circle Button = shoot
X Button = pass
X Button (hold and release) = give-and-go
Square Button (tap) = crossover
Square Button (hold) hesitation move
Triangle Button = spin
R1 Button = turbo
L1 Button = back down defender
R2 Button = alley-oop pass
L2 + Square Button = direct pass to Square player
L2 + X Button = direct pass to X player
L2 + Circle Button = direct pass to Circle player
L2 + Triangle Button = direct pass to Triangle player
L2 Button (tap) = pass to man closest to basket
Select Button = call timeout
Start Button = pause
D-Pad = call offensive quick play
Right Analog Stick = freestyle control
DEFENSE
Left Analog Stick = move player
X Button = switch players
Square Button = steal
Triangle Button = jump to block/rebound
Circle Button = take a charge
R2 Button = take a charge
R1 Button = turbo
L1 Button = faceup/boxout the player you are guarding
L2 + Square Button = switch to Square player
L2 + X Button = switch to X player
L2 + Circle Button = switch to Circle player
L2 + Triangle Button = switch to Triangle player
L2 Button (tap) = switch to defender closest to basket
Select Button = intentional foul
Start Button = pause
D-Pad = call defensive quick play
Right Analog Stick = freestyle control ~ Mark Hoogland, All Game Guide
Review
Ever want to break an opponent's ankles with a deadly crossover, take off from the foul line, and windmill a dunk over a helpless defender? NBA Live 2003 gives everyone the chance; it takes a modicum of practice -- about five minutes -- and a good player, like Tracy McGrady, but that's about it. The NBA Live series has always emphasized high-scoring arcade-style basketball, à la NBA Jam, and Live 2003 continues this tradition. Every player shoots with amazing accuracy -- Shaq can shoot 90 percent consistently, if you don't jack up threes with him -- and defense revolves around preventing dunks, whenever possible. The result can be a great deal of fun, provided everyone involved doesn't expect realistic basketball.
Live 2003's biggest coup is the brilliant "freestyle" control system, which allows players to perform spins, crossover dribbles, jab steps, steals, and lockdown defense. Since these controls are mapped to the Right Analog Stick, it's relatively easy to incorporate them along with the other moving, passing, and shooting controls. EA Sports deserves credit for finding a use for the sadly neglected Right Analog Stick (previously confined mostly to aiming in shooters). It's a lot of fun to plan a spin move during a fast break, or use a crossover dribble to create enough space to launch a jump shot. Most previous versions of video game basketball either ignored most dribble moves, or made them difficult to execute during normal gameplay.
EA's excellent "freestyle" system is overshadowed by the horrible passing and rebounding controls, however. Passing into the post is an adventure, passing around the perimeter is a nightmare, and fast break passes can be suicide. Unbelievably, Jason Kidd -- the best passer in the NBA -- is almost as likely to throw the ball away as someone like Mutumbo. This is not acceptable. It's possible to reduce the number of turnovers by carefully evaluating each pass, but the game will frequently pass to the worst possible person. Since a bad pass usually ignites a fast-break, it's infuriating.
The "freestyle" controls also make good ball-handlers (point guards) lethal. McGrady can dunk on everyone in the game, pretty much at will. Since McGrady is a perennial All-Star, this isn't too surprising. However, when Tim Hardaway -- a great player five years ago, now retired -- consistently lights up the scoreboard, it's not believable. But any point guard, used properly, is deadly because he can easily dribble his way to lay-ups.
The NBA Live series, of course, has never been believable, just high-scoring. This isn't necessarily a bad thing -- games can be a great deal of fun, especially with multiple players. Unfortunately, the passing problems and inconsistent AI make multiplayer a frustrating experience as well. Basketball, when well played, is a beguiling mixture of power, grace, unselfishness, and skill. NBA Live 2003, on the other hand, encourages domination by a superstar. Since passing is dangerous, it's safer to put the ball in the hands of your best player and let him dribble around until he finds a good shot. In practice, this leads to lots of ball-hogging, which is unfortunate (though, some might argue, surprisingly similar to an NBA game).
Given all its problems, it's surprising how much fun a game of Live 2003 can be. Watching your players execute a perfect fast break, setting up a final shot, or beating a friend in an OT game is great fun. Just expect the fun to be frequently interrupted by inexplicably bad passes, ball-hogging, and non-existent defense. ~ Mark Hoogland, All Game Guide
