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NBA Live 2004
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 12 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: EA Canada
Genre(s): Sports
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: October 14, 2003
Summary
Step up your game with NBA Live 2004. With brand-new 10-Man Freestyle, authentic gameplay, and stunning graphics, NBA Live 2004 delivers the definitive basketball experience. Whether running the point with one-button Quick Plays, spinning free in the lane for a vicious dunk, or locking down on "D", NBA LIVE 2004 puts players in total control. With a dramatically enhanced Dynasty Mode, the ability to take the court at all NBA arenas, and all-new commentary from Marv Albert and Mike Fratello, NBA Live 2004 is all about authenticity. [Electronic Arts]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: NBA Live 06 NBA Live 2002 NBA Live 2003 NBA Live 2005
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview IGN Hands-On 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...
Play Magazine
EA has done it again, implementing expanded Freestyle control, improved defensive AI, superior graphics and a brand-new announce team...Looking for the best basketball game? NBA Live 2004 is nothing but net. [Nov 2003, p.105]
Operation Sports
This is the best version since "Live 2000" (a classic in my opinion) and I'm looking forward to see how the game improves in the future.
Read Full Review >Official Xbox Magazine
Live is quite simply the best-controlling basketball game ever. Player control is unprecedented. [Dec 2003, p.152]
Entertainment Weekly
Marv's vocal performance is so terrific that EA should strongly consider rebranding the series "Albert 2004." Hey, it worked with John Madden. [17 Oct 2003, p.L2T 21]
Xbox Nation Magazine
If there's ever been a better basketball videogame than NBA Live 2004, it resides on the Planet Degloop, yet unavailable for human pleasure. [Dec/Jan 2004, p.84]
IGN
Call NBA Live 2004 the New Jersey Nets of hoop games if you will. Excitement and entertainment is what they bring to the court, but there's always someone just a bit better waiting in the wings.
Read Full Review >GameZone
It’s fun, but it’s not technical basketball. A lot of explosive dunks, long threes, and overpowering defense keep the game exciting and accessible to everyone, but big fans of the sport of basketball may be a little disappointed.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
The controls in NBA Live 2004 are tight and very responsive. The freestyle controls have been toned down from last year. This year, the freestyle controls are more suited for the skill players who handle the ball regularly.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
Thanks to revolutionary ten-man motion captures, the look of 2004 will impress you. This is the first hoops game I've played where everyone on the court acts the way they're supposed to.
Read Full Review >Sports Gaming Network
The game flows like no other basketball game out there, but a few flaws keep NBA Live 2004 from running away from its competition.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
Thanks to some intelligent tweaks, you'll now find a much better balance between offense and defense. It's not as easy to blow by a defender on the perimeter, but when you do, the adjusted A.I. compensates and another defender picks you up.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
The bevy of new moves and increased difficulty will surely please fans, though more work could have been done polishing the graphics and smoothing out some of the gameplay quirks. As it is, this is a solid drive to the basket.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
Now where NBA Live 2004 excels is in the gameplay department. NBA Live successfully gives you almost total control of the game of basketball, crossovers, pivot moves, shot adjustments, and fade-aways, are all aspects of the game that EA has given you control of.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
It's a more physical and challenging play, but it still struggles with the fundamentals. [Nov 2003, p.170]
GameSpot
Hardcore players will appreciate the added control brought by the new features, like off-the-ball control and the jump stop. The separation of the dunk and shoot buttons is an especially great move.
Read Full Review >GamePro
If the offensive and defensive balance were just a bit more fine-tuned, and the Xbox and GameCube versions had online support, NBA Live 2004 would have the legs for multiple plays through the Dynasty mode and a clear shot as the top hoops game.
Read Full Review >TeamXbox
The game does have several shortcomings, including incredibly tough computer defense, a few glitches in the dynasty mode, and some overly long animations that affect gameplay, but all in all NBA Live 2004 is the best game of the series.
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
The real star of NBA Live 2004, however, is the superb visual quality and the newfound ease with which players can call set plays and change defenses. [Dec 2003, p.84]
G4 TV
Strengthening the improvements to gameplay is the addition of sliders to help customize the action, from the computer's shot block ability to foul frequency, game speed, and more.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 7.4 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Chris C. gave it a 6:
While the gameplay was certainly enjoyable in Live, the bad graphics (ie black jerseys look gray) and inaccurate player ratings (Iverson couldn't make a bucket to save his life in this game) really bogged down the game, and made it, overall, a poor gaming experience. Next year, Ill be buying ESPN.
Tom L. gave it a 10:
This is the best bball game goin around man. Forget about inside drive and espn, they are no comparison ya know what im sayin. NBA live rocks mate, the graphics are unbelieveably true to life. I have started a season with the Rockets and am averaging 15 blocks a game with Yao Ming. Made some awesome trades and have already one 2 championships in my first 2 seasons.
Mr. BT gave it a 5:
Nice graphics and gameplay. You'd think, in this day and age of computer rendering software, that ONE of these damn companies would be able to make a net swish and have accurate rim physics for dunks and three-pointers. Nope. Until they get those things right, keep renting games like this and ESPN and hope that basketball is taken to the next level like Madden has taken football.
Matthieu R. gave it a 6:
Vastly overrated... I've played both ESPN and Live, and while both are a bit disappointing, Live is far more so. The graphics are PS one circa 1999, the control feels like a hockey game (sliding on ice) and the AI is retarded/incredible, with nothing in between. Not a bad game, but no ESPN NBA, either.
Jason B. gave it a 10:
Best hoops game I've ever played. Period.
Keith Y. gave it a 9:
Much different than last year. Slower paced w/better low post action. Sliders allow complete customization for subs, fakeout discipline, game speed, shot accuracy, etc. The announcing is perfect, not annoying or repetitive, suprisingly good timing and wide range of dialog. Some have said there's no med-range jumper, not true - just not wide open jumpers. You can make jumpers 10-15ft by elevating over a tight defender, pretty realistic shot percentages. The only lame thing is you have to manually load custom rosters - the CPU should do this at boot up. Come on EA sports, you did this for Madden, why not here?
Anthony H. gave it a 7:
This game is a lot better than last year's but it's extremely hard to get used to if your used to playing 03. This game was everything I expected, and thats the problem. There wasn't anything extraordinarily good about it.
