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NBA Live 06

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

5.0 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 35 critic reviews
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Based on 9 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: EA Canada

Genre(s): Sports, Basketball

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 15, 2005

Summary

Freestyle Superstars: You are in control of the top NBA stars, performing like their real-life counterparts based on distinct character types, including Power, Playmaker, Stopper and more. Authentic 5-on-5 Gameplay: The all-new animation system helps to visually present the up-tempo, fast-break brand of basketball that makes the NBA thrive. Also featured, is an improved transition game and a more physical brand of play with collisions and dunked-on scenarios. New Player Visuals: A new graphics engine now has player models not only playing and acting like their real life counterparts, but looking the part with striking detail and realism. [Electronic Arts]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

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...

PGNx Media

It’s definitely recommended if you didn’t pick up the game for current-generation consoles.

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TeamXbox

With smoother animation transitions, a better framerate, and a tad more pace, NBA Live 06 will look silly-good, as the rendering and motion capture is already there.

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GamePro

Looks sexy and plays like pro, but it's just not the polished veteran that you've come to expect with PS2 and Xbox. At least it's clear to see that with a little more seasoning, this game should be in fighting shape next year.

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My Gamer

There is a lot of replay value simply because it’s a good sports game, but the lack of 3-point and dunking contests does hurt it a bit.

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1UP

There's nothing at all safe about this game, and as a result the finished product is raw, unpolished and lacking depth -- but it's also one of the most "next-gen" and exciting games you can play right now on 360.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

On the sports side of things, this baller is hands-down the most visually stunning game at the 360 launch. Actually, it's the only one that truly looks "next-gen."

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Planet Xbox 360

Even though this game shows sparks of brilliance I don’t necessarily recommend the purchase of it due to the short list of features and slow pacing. However it’s those sparks of brilliance that can very well turn this NBA Live franchise into a juggernaut of a NBA sim in a year or two down the road.

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Game Chronicles

I can’t even imagine why EA removed half the stuff they did. They had a rare opportunity to capture the hearts of a new generation of gamers, but serious basketball gamers will likely head over to the 2K Sports camp, at least this year.

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Official Xbox Magazine

Beyond the visuals, the new Live is a completely fresh experience, rebuilt from scratch for Xbox 360. [Holiday 2005, p.94]

Games Radar (in-house)

It's hard to recommend NBA Live 06 for purchase just yet. It's almost certain to be a must-buy monster in future years when the exploit is fixed and the feature set is restored, but you'll have to decide if a drop-dead gorgeous game with only a season mode is worth your 60 bones in the meantime.

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Gaming Horizon

NBA Live 06 showed a lot of promise with its great graphics and sound, but the developers lost the ability to satisfy fans by yanking every major advancement created in the series up to this point.

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Gamezilla!

All in all, the biggest flaw in this game is that it’s a really sparse on game options, making it an extremely light gaming experience.

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Game Informer

You could have a worse time than banging the boards with NBA Live, but htis offering does nothing to service fans. [Dec 2005, p.164]

Cheat Code Central

While I agree that tons of modes and options do not a great game make, I don't consider this to be a great game. Looks aren't everything.

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Gaming Age

The game looks great, the audio fantastic, but it is the flesh of the game that is weak.

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Gaming Target

Although Live is stunning but stripped exactly like the rest of EA Sports’ lineup, the fact that it has competition is its biggest setback if you’re looking for a long-term basketball game.

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Play.tm

Graphically it's certainly a next-gen title, but graphics alone don't make a game worth buying. There are very few additions in terms of gameplay and the lack of a Franchise mode really does hurt its lifespan.

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eToychest

Feels more like an elaborate tech demo for HD televisions than it does a complete gameplay experience. Lacking all the gameplay modes and tweaks that one would expect from a yearly release, this version of the game is incomplete.

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GameSpot

Flaws like poorly blended animations, an erratic frame rate, a horribly flawed free-throw-shooting mechanic, and the lack of a franchise mode combine to keep NBA Live 06 from being the great basketball game it could have been.

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Kombo

Live feels like a major step back in the wrong direction and feels about as shallow as a kiddy pool.

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Xbox Solution

Here is hoping the next one will feature a full franchise mode and is a little more polished overall.

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AceGamez

NBA Live 06 has a lot in common with your favourite supermodel, or at least the perceived stereotype - it looks absolutely stunning, but is lacking in depth.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

An entirely competent, at times downright entertaining, rendition of basketball. [Issue #2]

G4 TV

Basketball fans looking for the best rendition of the sport should let NBA Live 06 dribble through their fingers and score a copy of NBA 2K6 instead. Next year’s battle will hopefully be more competitive.

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GameZone

Live 06 on the 360 comes out of the gate as a rush job in order to make the system’s launch, and is ultimately a disappointment, one that surely doesn’t warrant its $60 asking price. Wait for 07.

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Computer and Video Games

The whole package is undermined by the same problems that afflicted our RoboJordan. It looks stunning and has all the moves, but if you're in the market for a long-term basketball experience you're better off with the old Xbox version. [Official UK Xbox Magazine]

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IGN

As shallow a basketball game you will find this year. Less features for more money, what a deal! Sure, it looks like a top prospect, then again, so did Kwame Brown and you see how that turned out.

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Next Level Gaming

I can't think of a single good reason to play NBA Live, especially over 2K's "NBA 2K6." I'm sorry guys, I really am. But I can't.

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Talk Xbox

Sadly, the game offers much less than the Xbox version, and gamers are expected to pay more but get less.

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GamerFeed

A wonderful looking game that really shows off the Xbox 360's horsepower yet at the same time it exposes Electronic Arts as a sloppy publisher that's losing touch with the definition of quality gameplay.

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Xbox Evolved

Download the demo for the visuals, and get "NBA 2K6" for your basketball needs.

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GameSpy

NBA Live 06 knocks the progress of this series back to the Stone Age. It sacrifices everything (dunk contest, Superstar Freestyle moves, Franchise mode) for next-gen graphics, yet ends up looking worse than "NBA 2K6" -- which kept all of its features in tact.

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Armchair Empire

Fans will be asking where the hell the Franchise mode went.

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Operation Sports

While playing this game, it’s impossible to shake the feeling that this game could have been really good if EA would have put some effort into anything other then the graphics.

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Game Revolution

Don’t expect any sort of deep managerial options, because all you get is the bare bones trade/sign/release functionality. No team practice, no hiring and firing of coaches, and no scouting at all. It’s like playing through the ‘98-99 lockout season, and it’s simply not deep enough for a next-gen game.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 5.0 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes

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

Jeff A. gave it a10:
Graphics that are so good it's like watching NBA on TV. Why spend money on an Xbox 360 to play last generation graphics. The control, commentary and sound as top notch. There is no way any user should rate this game under 7. I doubt they even own the game. Superb game. Get it.

Marc D. gave it a4:
Beneath the pretty face...is a soul as black as night. This game is devoid of any gameplay worth mentioning. When it boils down to it...the visuals (the game's only strong suit) suffers from a horrific framerate. A true crime to the genre and gaming in general.

Jesse S. gave it a2:
graphics look great. game is pure garbage though. get 2k6 if you want a fun and great loking game.

Patty P. gave it an8:
I honestly hated this game at first but give it a shot and you'll have a realistic experience. Play this game if you want to experience what the NBA is really like. YES 2k6 is a lot more fun but I'd still reccomend both games. Play through a few games and you'll have a blast.

James C. gave it a1:
this game was terrible in my opinion. I bought it because i thought it would be better than 2k6. It is one of the worst games i have ever played. Graphics dont make up for how much they took out of the previous models.

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NBA Live 06

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