PlayStation 1
Released in 1996 by EA Sports
Grade: C
This game is sneaky fun if you can get past the primitive 32-bit graphics. But just like NBA Live 97 on Genesis, it’s got some quirks and AI issues.
Where it falls in the series
NBA Live 96 was the first on PS1, and it’s notable for using a 3-D environment but sprite player models. Live 97 is the first with 3-D players, along with improved gameplay. Live jumped to the next generation with 2001, and PS1 versions stuck around until 2003.
Praises
It’s got the familiar fun, high speed, and looseness of 16-bit Live games. Playing offense is easy to pick up.
There are two main settings, simulation and arcade, and arcade can be pretty fun. With fouls off, you can push your opponents with reckless abandon, forcing them to move the ball fast. It’s gimmicky and makes the gameplay look funky, but it still feels enough like basketball.
The game rewards good passing to set up dunks and layups, which is cool. It’s not about jacking up 3’s. AI teammates move without the ball with or without the use of set plays (which are just okay). You could play full games without calling one play and still score in many different ways.
Shooting close to the basket is much improved from 96. Players can realistically adjust in the air for layups depending on their abilities.
Gripes
Defensive control, while improved from Live 96, can be a frustrating chore. Keeping up with the ballhandler feels slippery. Blocking shots is difficult. Rebounding is a crapshoot.
Even worse, defensive teammates are totally erratic, constantly guarding the wrong man. (On the bright side, the shoddy defense allows for the wide-open action that makes offense fun to play.)
The graphics are tough on the eyes, like most PS1 sports games. They’re choppy and it’s not always easy to tell players apart. Granted, it was EA’s first try at 3-D graphics, and it’s a step in the right direction from 96.