Review: NBA Live 07' Sony PSP

Summary: Last year's version of NBA Live for the PSP was the best basketball game on the system. Unfortunately, fatal flaws grounded this game faster than a Steve Kerr slam dunk.

I usually go into this long winded diatribe when I review games, but I'm going to keep this one short and too the point. This game feels like NBA Jam for the Sega Genesis. It has all of the prerequisites of an over the top arcade basketball game. Let's go down the list shall we?

• No defense? Check.
• No play calling required to win? Check.
• No fouls called? Check.
• Catch up A.I.? Check.

As you can see all we are missing to truly make this an NBA Jam styled game are two less players on the court per team, and that wacky over the top announcer that yells "boom shock a locka!" or "Is it the shoes?" In all fairness to NBA Jam that game was way more fun because you knew what to expect when you sat down to play it. With NBA Live 07' for the PSP you expect to be to able make a 4 foot pass without having the frigging ball stolen every other god blessed time!!!!!! You expect to be able to make a wide open 3 pointer using Kobe Bryant, while playing on the default difficulty level, and playing against the Golden State Warriors who don't know what a defensive play looks like!!!! You expect to be able to hold Steve Nash to under 56 points when you're playing as the Lakers!!!! You expect to be able to block at least one shot out of 5 games played!!!!!! You expect to take at least ONE FREE THROW during that same 5 game stretch!!!! I can't even tell you about the free throw mechanic used this year because I have yet to take a single free throw!!!!!!!!!!! UGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! But wait! There's more! The computer has no problem playing lock down defense on you, but they seemingly score at will! Your computer controlled teammates do a horrible job of stopping the ball handler from driving right down the middle of the lane for an easy dunk or layup. But when you try the same move, you are instantly double teamed and more often than not, the ball is stolen from you! Curses! To make matters worse, when you see players like Steve Nash own the paint it gets really frustrating! He's making layups over Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom at the same time!!!!!!!! That will never happen in a million years!!!
In closing, do not buy this game. Do not rent this game. Do not even pick it up to look at the back cover when you go to the store. I'm saving you the disappointment of wasting $40 of your hard earned money on a steaming pile of horse sh**t! Peace.

Graphics 6/10 Their passable.

Gameplay 3/10 Utterly hopeless attempt at arcade styled basketball using simulation rules.

Lasting Appeal 3/10 You wont want to play it again for a long time.

Overall 4/10 The menus look nice, and the packing is decent.

DT