Big thanks to EA Sports Canada for hooking us up with an early copy.

In the days of Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, NBA Live was a testament to how sports games should be made. NBA Live ‘95 still ranks as one of my favorite sports games ever made. But in the past couple of generations, the franchise has fallen on some hard times. While the 2009 installment has made strides from past efforts, it still has a long way to go to catch up with the dominant 2K basketball series.

As usual, EA Sports has pushed out its hype machine for a couple new features. The big one here is the introduction of NBA Live 365, a truly revolutionary concept (albeit similar to a feature of NBA 2K9). Live ‘09 introduces Dynnamic DNA into the game, a concept used in the real NBA by a company called Synergy Sports. Synergy Sports is a dynamic engine that calculates player ratings, tendencies and all sorts of data from every single game on the schedule. While DNA encompasses about 60% of Synergy’s data, the concept is still the same. Dynamic DNA will update every day during the NBA season and users can download the new data/ratings/tendencies/shot charts/etc. through XBOX Live or the PSN. With the tweaks made, the ratings essentially make NBA Live a new game every single day. Don’t like how your team lost the other night? Well, Live lets you recreate that matchup with that game’s specific DNA ratings and try to see if you can do better.

Dynamic DNA is prevalent throughout the course of a game. After nearly every shot, DNA data will be displayed at the top of the screen, breaking down the type of move and the chances of a certain player succeeding in that move. For example, a Hedo Turkoglu jumper might grade out high if he’s going to his left. Keeping this in mind next time down the court can help you shape strategy. Also, there is DNA data for plays ran in the half-court offense. For example, the game will recognize the Utah Jazz’s ability running the pick-and-roll as opposed to, say, the Milwaukee Bucks.

The usual game modes are available: Franchise, Online play and the new Be a Pro. Much like other EA Sports games like NHL and FIFA, Live lets you control one player. However, according to Pasta Padre, Live’s Be a Pro mode is sorely lacking compared to EA Canada’s other sports titles. There’s no franchise mode in this mode, it’s simply one game and one player. That’s it. Weak.

While I’m still getting my feet wet within the game, I can easily say that this game can’t compete with past 2K titles, let alone the upcoming NBA 2K9. Do you know when games just feel right? Well, NBA Live doesn’t feel quite right to me. Players glide a little too much, the ball and ram are a little too bouncy and the framerate is a little too jumpy.  Also, I feel it’s time for EA Sports to ditch NBA Live’s shooting controls. Do we really need a button for shooting and a button for dunks/layups. While it’s a bit cheese, it’s a blast to hit the dunk button 25 feet away from the hoop and watch Eddy Curry attempt a running floater.

One of the biggest surprises for me was how uninspired the presentation of the game was. Why, for example, is every piece of text in size four font? I have good vision and I’ve never worn a pair of glasses in my life. But even I can’t see what the hell the score is, the stat displays or even the DNA data this game has pushed so hard. Crowd noise and announcer enthusiasm is always an issue in sports games, but I think Live has done a poor job in bringing these things to life. NBA games don’t always have the best atmosphere, but they’re not libraries either. Can I get some crowd excitement after a dunk? Can the announcers get into it when I hit a go-ahead three in the 4th quarter? Please?

I’ve never been a big stickler for graphics, but I was also surprised at NBA Live’s mediocrity in this department. NHL, FIFA and both football games look incredible on these consoles. So why are Live’s player models something out of PS2? Why are the bench player models even worse?

Again, these are just some gripes. Live has actually made half-court basketball a rewarding experience. The dribble/crossover stick isn’t incredibly effective, but working the ball around the perimeter and hitting the open man sure is. Defensively, I’d like to see this game add a button similar to the LT button in NBA 2K8, which gets players in a ready defensive position and lets you move with the ball handler. Live doesn’t seem to have a button like this, and it made guarding guys on the perimeter incredibly frustrating.

I’ve been the first to give EA Canada props for the resurrection of the NHL franchise and the incredible improvement this year’s FIFA (which comes out in two weeks, check back then for a review) has made. There’s some strides being made, but I think this gameplay engine is broken. If EA Sports wants to push 2K in the basketball genre, this game needs a serious overhaul next year.