Games

Best of 2008 | 07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

NBA Live 08

EMAIL PRINTpc

3.7 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 5 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 12 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Canada

Genre(s): Sports, Basketball

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 30, 2007

Summary

Taking a page out of NBA Street Homecourt's book, NBA Live 08 introduces Quickstrike Ballhandling. This intuitive gameplay mechanic is mapped to the right analog stick and gives you the direct responsiveness you need to perform a full repertoire of ankle-breaking ball-handling moves that let you dominate on the perimeter. Pass the ball inside and win the battle in the post with all-new 'own the paint' post play for the big men down low. Use the new shot-countershot control to string together combos of fakes and shots to fool your defender into committing and create space for the game-defining bucket. NBA Live 08 introduces hot spots, where real NBA shot data is used to illuminate the locations on the floor where your players are most effective. Couple this with all-new signature go-to moves that capture the essence of the NBA's best, and you can now play the game on a console like you see it from the stands. [Electronic Arts]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: NBA Live 07

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

PC Gamer UK

With no clear improvement in graphics, it's hard to see this as more than last year's game with this year's roster. [Christmas 2007, p.95]

Play (Poland)

This series evolves even slower than FIFA and it’s equally spectacular at the expense of realism. The computer opponent’s play is based on repetitive sequences that are easily predicted. There are a lot of errors, like throws from behind the back line hitting the backboard, the ball teleporting into the hands during rebounds, stupid AI losses, outs and missed lay-ups. The graphics don't look good even at the highest detail setting. But all this is suddenly dismissed when I score three points after a 20-second sequence of seven passes ending in a masterful feint. Cool! [Dec 2007]

Jolt Online Gaming UK

It’s a little simpler to play than the 2K series, and more fast paced, but it’s also just not as good.

Read Full Review >

PC Format

Until EA decides it's going to port the 'next-gen' versions, it's sports titles, such as NBA Live 08, are always going to be a huge disappointment. [Christmas 2007, p.67]

MEGamers

Some nice new additions on the defensive end and down low in the paint, but still feels awkward overall.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 3.7 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jim B. gave it a0:
Extremely buggy. For example: - The gamepad configuration isn't always the same, it seems to randomply change sometimes. - When the CPU is shooting free throws, you cannot move your players to rebound!!! - In dynasty mode, you cannot see salaries when making a trade. - In dynasty mode, you cannot change your starters, it just automatically picks them!!! - Balls go through people, bench players sometimes are sitting on the court, coaches walk through the scorers desk, and other fun graphics glitches. - In dynasty mode, really weird stats happen, like centers leading the league in assists constantly. - Rookies have really weird ratings, like Alando Tucker is way higher than Kevin Durant. Etc, etc, etc... like every other NBA live game. Get 2k8 for a console, it's way better. As NBA Live cover start Gilbert Arenas says, "I play NBA 2K. It's real, the NBA 2K. [NBA Live], now ... it's too fake."

Louie M. gave it a2:
Maybe EA should just release a patch every year just to improve the game. Since Live 06, its d same. Everything's the same. It's like purchasing the same game every year. Please! Have Mercy!

Adam H. gave it a2:
It is insulting that EASports thinks that they do not have to put any effort into the PC version of the game, they can just rerelease last year's crappy, buggy version in a new box, advertising features new to the 360 and PS3 version and expect us to enjoy it. Animations are totally unrealistic, AI decides far in advance what will happen on a play and makes sure that it happens, ball will bounce around like a pinball, players go through the backboard, coaches walk through the scorers' table. Not worth your time. Save some money and use the last few years' versions.

Jos P. gave it a3:
NBA live 07 was bad, but the patchers made it acceptable. This one doesn't have the many 07 bugs (even though there still are plenty of them), but the game isn't challenging to anyone. Pass it to a good player and go dunk every time. Want a fast break? Just use turbo. And we're talking about Superstar skill level here. It's a joke.

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms