NBA 08 PlayStation 2
NBA 08 Image
Metascore
59 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critics What's this?

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  • Summary: True NBA action once again returns to the courts with NBA 08 for the PlayStation 2. Featuring the third and final installment of "The Life" series, NBA 08 introduces "The Life, Volume 3", where players experience new challenges and storylines related to life in the league. In Vol. 3, NBA ’0808 focuses on Coach T.'s final season, the dynamic of team unity, and the journey to create a dynasty within the NBA. More than 60 different game scenarios are available in The Life, and players will have the opportunity to play each of the five starting positions, making The Life the most compelling addition to any NBA title to date. NBA 08 delivers all-new play-by-play commentary as well as improved artificial intelligence (A.I.), an updated user interface, and new on-court and crowd audio to enhance the overall gameplay experience. Returning features include the Smart Shot Indicator, to provide a visual gauge of defensive impact, and the Power Boarding System, an element that offers a 3D approach to position for rebounds. Additionally, "Showtime Gameplay" is back, providing players the opportunity to manage and balance a variety of game time elements including temperamental crowds, eager teammates, and individual basketball skills. [SCEA]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. PGNx Media
    73
    Sony’s NBA 08 is a solid basketball gamebut the actual gameplay isn’t as tight as its competitors. The lack of a franchise mode hurts the game and while The Life is still plenty of fun to play through, it may not be enough to pull the game up for most people.
  2. Gamers' Temple
    72
    The main reason to play NBA 08: The Life v3 is not to play a basketball game but to get involved with The Life. If you're wanting a good "basketball" game there are better options.
  3. NZGamer
    70
    In NBA 08, on the PS2, the controller response sometimes feels a bit unresponsive and the animation gets a bit jumpy, especially when switching from ball carrying to dunking.
  4. GameShark
    25
    "The Life" mode is intriguing, but unfulfilling, and although different, not worth the purchase price on its own. There are simply NBA games that look better, play better, and have more to offer fans than this game provides.

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  3. Negative: 1 out of 1
  1. JimH.
    3
    If you start this game playing "The Life", you'll be facing a number of various mini-games designed to simulate training camp, such as following your coach's commands, shooting drills, free throw drills, and scrimmages. You need to accomplish a goal to proceed to the next part. This part really interested me and made me look forward to the rest of the game. Unfortunately, this is the BEST part of the game. "The Life" starts to go downhill shortly after Opening Day, with goals such as "Outscore the Celtics by 12 in 3 minutes, making sure your power forward hits 3 jumpers, get 3 assists TO him, and don't allow the other team to score a post-up basket." Yes, you have to do ALL of those. And that's still not the worst. The A.I. in the game varies between insane and heavily flawed. If you trap a player near the baseline, he'll run out of bounds. If you move at all, he'll run by and dunk. Defense is highly aggravating to play, and you'll be finding the computer breaking your ankles and driving by for a dunk. Sometimes your players will switch off, and they will not switch back, regardless of what you do. And sometimes, you will switch to a defender and go to control them, only to find out that, although he's selected, you have NO control over him. SERIOUS programming flaw. Also, if a player is going for a dunk, good luck stopping him. I tried to block one and my center started the block animation, then stepped back under the backboard, waited a moment, and THEN went to block, WAY too late. And now we get to offense. When a team takes the ball out, all 10 players will just INSTANTLY teleport to pre-set locations, with one man inbounding the ball, the point guard standing near him, the opposing point guard near half-court, and everyone else down the other end of the floor. No fast break off a made basket! The offensive playcalling is PITIFUL, with only FOUR plays available: Call for a pick, cut to basket, cut to key, isolation. That's it. Controls in the post-up are half-baked with pre-set animations. There is no up-and-under style move, since there is no pump-fake from the post. And if you make a move and it's stopped, which results in you getting pushed away from the basket, you can just dunk then. Need a basket? You can just dribble around through the defense until they run into each other trying to figure out how to switch, and then you can take an open shot... or go for a dunk. Need a quick 2? Call for an alley-oop. As long as you can time the pass (and there's a good-sized window that you can learn from practice in Alley-opp drills), it's an UNSTOPPABLE move. No blocking the pass, no blocking the dunk, no defender stopping the cutter. I did not play NBA 07, so I can't speak about the A.I. comparatively to that, but if this is IMPROVED, then NBA 07 had to have no A.I. at all, seeing as this was the WORST A.I. that I have personally EVER seen in a sports game in my over 25 years of gaming. In fact, even with the parts that I liked about the game (mainly the mini-games and the idea of the storyline giving you an insight into the cameraderie of a full team), this is easily the WORST sports game I have EVER played. I do not recommend this game for ANYONE, as it was not even worth the discounted price I got on its rental.… Expand