Hey all --
Longtime 2k player here. Rented Live 2005 on a whim ... and I'm stunned. In a good way.
The game has a near perfect balance of animations and control. I mean, the animations are great, so much better than in ESPN. But the best thing about them is that you're in charge. You don't wait to watch an animation play out. You make it happen. Kudos to the Live team for blending all the different moves and player interactions together in a way that not only looks like basketball, but FEELS like basketball. It's shockingly smooth. Oddly enough, I tried last year's Live and found it to be a choppy, bouncy mess. Who knew so much could change in a year?
I don't think I can go back to ESPN's jerky, frustrating control scheme and disjointed animations -- which is funny, since I've always favored their football game because of the sense of control (guess I just don't like phony "momentum-based physics," be it Madden's football on tugboats or ESPN NBA's "next movment" BS).
Best way I can describe it is this: think of the difference between the run game in ESPN football, where you can string together moves naturally and smoothly, and the run game in Madden, where it's pinballs and goofy spin moves. In ESPN everything flows in context; in Madden, it all feels unconnected.
Anyway, the play mechanics in Live feel about a generation ahead of the competition. You always feel like you're doing something, as opposed to just watching. Really, I'm amazed at how well everything works together, all the contextual animations and such.
Some other impressions:
-- I don't think the "ice skating" problem is nearly as bad as in last year's game. Actually, I think the movment feels pretty good, with the exception of trying to drive off a quickstep move (why must I slide sideways?).
-- The much-maligned player models aren't bad at all -- a little stubby, but fairly well proportioned, with well done faces and nice rim lighting. I actually like the texturing and lighting better than ESPN, which is too shiny and kind of garish. ESPN takes the crown for rich colors, though, and much, much better stadium graphics. Live's stadiums look pretty darn poor. Honestly, the stadiums on Dreamcast 2k were better. What gives?
-- Also, Live has pretty frequent frame rate stutters when you play from press cam on XBox. Inexcusable. This game is not pushing the hardware. I would rather have ESPN's horrid replay framerates but smooth gameplay framerates than the opposite, which is what Live gives you.
-- Live's create a player is a pleasant surprise. A little like Topspin with the facial customization.
-- Presentation is Live is sorta lacking, about as good as Inside Drive 2004. Nothing special, and the replays are too short and abrupt. Why bother?
-- I don't think Live has the player spacing problems others complain about. In fact, I think the players do a good job of setting up where they are supposed to. Players could sure use some off the ball cut and run animations, though. You don't always have to shuffle around with your hands out.
-- I haven't played enough to get a good feel for the AI. It seems to take advantage of mismatches, which is good, and so far the player tendencies seem decent. I doubt it is up to ID's level, but then again, what is?
-- Fast break needs work. Computer cheats a little to get back and cut you off, like in ESPN College Hoops 2k4. Still, I think they just need three animations to make it happen -- an open court, on the run dribble; an open court, off ball sprint; a variety of catch a pass on the move animations. Maybe next year.
Anyway, I'm pretty much converted and I actually look forward to March Madness ... I think this engine would suit a college game even better, if they just work in some plays and playsets.
(I know there are playsets in Live, but I have no idea how to make them work or execute them. Are there any in-game diagrams?)
Longtime 2k player here. Rented Live 2005 on a whim ... and I'm stunned. In a good way.
The game has a near perfect balance of animations and control. I mean, the animations are great, so much better than in ESPN. But the best thing about them is that you're in charge. You don't wait to watch an animation play out. You make it happen. Kudos to the Live team for blending all the different moves and player interactions together in a way that not only looks like basketball, but FEELS like basketball. It's shockingly smooth. Oddly enough, I tried last year's Live and found it to be a choppy, bouncy mess. Who knew so much could change in a year?
I don't think I can go back to ESPN's jerky, frustrating control scheme and disjointed animations -- which is funny, since I've always favored their football game because of the sense of control (guess I just don't like phony "momentum-based physics," be it Madden's football on tugboats or ESPN NBA's "next movment" BS).
Best way I can describe it is this: think of the difference between the run game in ESPN football, where you can string together moves naturally and smoothly, and the run game in Madden, where it's pinballs and goofy spin moves. In ESPN everything flows in context; in Madden, it all feels unconnected.
Anyway, the play mechanics in Live feel about a generation ahead of the competition. You always feel like you're doing something, as opposed to just watching. Really, I'm amazed at how well everything works together, all the contextual animations and such.
Some other impressions:
-- I don't think the "ice skating" problem is nearly as bad as in last year's game. Actually, I think the movment feels pretty good, with the exception of trying to drive off a quickstep move (why must I slide sideways?).
-- The much-maligned player models aren't bad at all -- a little stubby, but fairly well proportioned, with well done faces and nice rim lighting. I actually like the texturing and lighting better than ESPN, which is too shiny and kind of garish. ESPN takes the crown for rich colors, though, and much, much better stadium graphics. Live's stadiums look pretty darn poor. Honestly, the stadiums on Dreamcast 2k were better. What gives?
-- Also, Live has pretty frequent frame rate stutters when you play from press cam on XBox. Inexcusable. This game is not pushing the hardware. I would rather have ESPN's horrid replay framerates but smooth gameplay framerates than the opposite, which is what Live gives you.
-- Live's create a player is a pleasant surprise. A little like Topspin with the facial customization.
-- Presentation is Live is sorta lacking, about as good as Inside Drive 2004. Nothing special, and the replays are too short and abrupt. Why bother?
-- I don't think Live has the player spacing problems others complain about. In fact, I think the players do a good job of setting up where they are supposed to. Players could sure use some off the ball cut and run animations, though. You don't always have to shuffle around with your hands out.
-- I haven't played enough to get a good feel for the AI. It seems to take advantage of mismatches, which is good, and so far the player tendencies seem decent. I doubt it is up to ID's level, but then again, what is?
-- Fast break needs work. Computer cheats a little to get back and cut you off, like in ESPN College Hoops 2k4. Still, I think they just need three animations to make it happen -- an open court, on the run dribble; an open court, off ball sprint; a variety of catch a pass on the move animations. Maybe next year.
Anyway, I'm pretty much converted and I actually look forward to March Madness ... I think this engine would suit a college game even better, if they just work in some plays and playsets.
(I know there are playsets in Live, but I have no idea how to make them work or execute them. Are there any in-game diagrams?)
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