As real as it gets

Type of game: Sport simulation (Basketbal)

Created by: EA Sports

Published by: Electronic Arts

It’s the seventh game of the NBA Finals 1998 in Chicago. The Chicago Bulls vs. The Utah Jazz. The numbers of games won are 3 to 3: Both teams are tied. The score in game 7 is 94-96 for the Jazz. We’re in the fourth and last quarter of the match, 4.7 seconds to go. The Bulls are now on the ball. Will Jordan and Co. do it again? Or is the dynasty over? Coach Jackson of the Bulls reviewes the play one more time: The players and the coach almost crack down of suspence. The referee says the time has come... One shot, that’s all we need... Luc Longley, the Australian center of the Bulls steps up to the line for the throw in...

Inbound pass to Pippen...steps up to the three point line, pressured by Stockton. He can’t find an opening, he can’t shoot. But there’s Michael! No-look pass to Jordan from Pippen, Jordan shoots...............

The ball goes up, to the rim... those fractions of a second seem like a hundred years. Flashlights blink from around the court and then.... ssloosh.... The Jazz see their dreams shattered by that shot. The croud explodes....

This is a situation like in NBA Live ‘98. The game is so close to reality that it hurts. The 3DFX graphics are breathtaking, yet the software rendered version is also very good. The players move very realistic thanks to the advanced motion capture system. Crossovers, fadeaways, dunks,... it’s all in the game. The ingame sounds are good, the play-by-play commentary is purely briliant and realistic, other than NBA Live ‘97, where it was poor, and the house-DJ plays his tunes from time to time.The music in the menu is funky, hip-hop music that never bores.The menu itself is very comprehensive and accessable. Only downpart of the game is its relatively short "life", like most sports games. But you can create custom teams and custom players that breathe new life into the game. I know that it got my attention back!

EP sez:

NBA Live ‘98 is the best and most fun to play basketball simulation (or dare I say best SPORTS game?). The graphics and players are super, the menu is great, music and sound are OK, and the intro is every basketball-freaks dream. The games only downpart maybe the short lifespan, but as I said before, go custom, dude!

(c)1998 Erwin's Pages
Erwin "Reaper" Husin

Score

Gameplay: 9

Graphics: 9

Sound & Music: 8,5

Addictiviness: 8

Overall: 87,5%

Links

> EASports (Only latest annual version)