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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
NBA Live 2002
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 16 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: October 30, 2001
Summary
Low-post controls let you move, shoot and dunk with more versatility than ever before. Franchise mode allows you to build the next great NBA dynasty over several seasons. New cut scenes focus on player-to-player and player-to-referee interaction. Legendary players bring their skills to today's NBA for some classic matchups. [EA Sports]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: NBA Live 06 NBA Live 2005
Cheat Codes & Hints: Adrenaline Vault Cheat Code Central Game Revolution
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...
GamePro
The gameplay finally matches the graphics, and the result is what basketball fans want and need in a PS2 game.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
The defense is excellent – players hunch down or take swipes at the ball. The alley-oop button is a beautiful thing. [Dec 2001, p.92]
Sports Gaming Network
The real gem of the post game is that as your player nears the basket, the AI team eventually double teams him. When it does, you find the open man for a mid- or long-range jumper. This is basketball 101, and I love it.
Read Full Review >GamerWeb Sony
The fact still remains though that if you are looking for a game that represents sim-hoops, there is no game that represents that better than NBA Live 2002.
Read Full Review >Hot Games
The game has not taken any new leaps and bounds towards improvement in the way that Sega Sports "NBA 2K2" has, scoring this game just a little lower in the overall fun factor.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Although the rebounding game is a bit improved, there are new presentation elements, and the new franchise mode adds quite a bit of replay value, NBA Live 2002 does not improve significantly on last year's version and seems to be falling behind competing hoops products.
Read Full Review >IGN
While it's clear that they knew of the biggest problem areas and addressed each and every one of them, the majority of improvements were only minor ones and didn't really add up to much in the end.
Read Full Review >Gamezilla!
With few improvements over the last version, NBA Live 2002 is taking a risk by opening the door to its competitors.
Read Full Review >GameShark
One, why are the replays so dark? And two, why do they just give an overall ranking for the teams, why not also have it broken down by offence and defense?
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
Appealing just to player management aficionados and ignoring the excitement at the heart of the game will eventually cost them dear.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
I think it's safe to say that someone at EA Sports has too tight a grip on the mantra, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Year after year, the Live series crops up with minor retrofits while other EA lines, like the admirable Madden games, enjoy sparkling new touches and interesting new modes.
Read Full Review >PSX Nation
NBA Live 2002 takes a step backwards in our minds with less of a focus on strict, simulation style play and too much emphasis on flashy, easy broad based play.
Read Full Review >GamePen
One part of the game that had me screaming at my players like Bobby Knight, and wanting to choke them out a la Latrell Sprewell, was that they would box out effectively maybe one out of forty times, and have no opposing player near the ball as it drops from hitting the rim.
Read Full Review >Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Tries so hard to be good, but fails at just about every turn. [Dec 2001, p.169]
Electronic Gaming Monthly
I dare people to enjoy NBA Live. [Jan 2002, p.216]
Gaming Age
Look up the definition of 'weak-sauce' in Lewinson's Dictionary and you'll find the following: sloppy control, inconsistent player physics, cheating AI, incorrect play mechanics...you can see where this is leading, can't you?
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Dana L. gave it a 3:
I have been playing ea basketball games since NBA 98 and besides graphics improvements the games have been getting worse. The rebounding, shooting, player speed and post moves are so unrealistic that it hurts me to play. If these thigs were fixed then they would have a great game!
Osama Jr. gave it a 10:
This game is design for all NBA lovers. The players and game play are very realistic. And the SHOES!! Ya, they thought about everything.
Eros D. gave it a 4:
This game looks great and plays terrible. This once great franchise is sinking. Fast.
Anthony M. gave it a 10:
NBA Live 2002 is unbelievable! The rosters most of all. The 40 new dunks and new lay-ups are so real. I'm tellin' ya if you like basketball and have good taste and you haven't bought NBA Live 2002 yet you better buy it before it's sold out. Plus it will probably be worth a lot of money 'cause there was never a palindrome (a number that looks the same if you look at it backwords) basketball game. And 'cause there's Michael Jordan. Not one NBA Live game has ever had Michael Jordan on the regular roster 'till now.
Eric S. gave it a 8:
The graphics and animation are second to none. The gameplay can be quite fun despite some slight control problems and very difficult rebounding. Franchise and 1-on-1 modes are great. Overall, I would highly recommend this game to basketball fans.
