The Good
Signature playcalling makes running plays a breeze, New pick-and-roll mechanic is simple and effective, User-friendly controls, Marv Albert and Steve Kerr do a nice job in the booth.
The Bad
Lousy defense leads to lots of dunks, Dribble moves are too often ineffective, Be a Pro mode isn't very deep.
The Bottom Line
NBA LIVE 09 is back, promising a fun, long-lasting and satisfying experience with new features of gameplay. New features like Pick and Roll Control, Defensive Lockdown Control, Signature Playcalling and Quickstrike Ankle-Breakers will make the NBA LIVE experience fun from beginning to end. For those in need of some extra coaching, NBA LIVE 09 takes you to training camp with the NBA Academy that gives you a chance to hone your skills.
NBA LIVE 09 has rewritten the rules and fundamentally shifted the way you look at sports simulation games. Dynamic DNA emulates - with absolute precision - an NBA player in every sense of the word and it does so dynamically. The game takes the statistical data of DynamicDNA and brings it to life. Play is now constantly evolving and authentically reflects what you see on the court in your virtual experience. Just like the real NBA game, players get injured, free agents sign late, great players go cold and no-names breakthrough. If you're a sports fan, this is a dream come true -- NBA LIVE 09 is made fresh daily all season long.