NBA LIVE 2004 or ESPN Basketball 2k4?

I've played the Live series up until about 2002. I've enjoyed it, found that it can be challenging at hard levels, and is more realistic with less than 12 minute quarters or scoring is too high.

I played a game which I belive was 2k3 at My nephew's. It was fun, but it actually seemed easier to run up the score and play arcade style than NBA Live. I only play on a computer so I may get the new NBA live, I don't know yet.

I must admit that my favorite thing though is not to play the Rockets. I create another Houston team comprised of my pick up game friends from Houson which I creat using the tool for that comes with the game. I give everyone silly looks, make them all a foot or so taller, and with way more skill than their real counterparts, then take on the league for a whole season and hopefully playoffs of games. Some games a Sim for time's sake, and some games I play arcade style.

 

NBA 2K series has been the clear cut leader in the NBA games for the last few seasons now. Everything is deeper, more polished and more refined.

Last year was the only year that Live put up a fight. As it is, Live now plays like an arcade game -- fast, glitzy, no defense, lots of dunks and blocks. It's a fun game and easy to pick up which is perfect if you play with friends who don't play games all that regularly. However, really, Live is not that great of a basketball game underneath. The Freestyle system is nice but it really serves very little purpose in the greater scope of things.

2K has a VASTLY superior franchise mode, if you're into that. Live's franchise mode hasn't changed since probably 1997 which is to say, obsolete and archaic. Personally, there is no option which title to pick up if you're into the Franchise mode at all. Add in the ESPN license and I think it's going to be pretty sweet this year again.

Live apparently is putting in a whole slew of new features including a totally revamped defense and a rebuilt franchise mode. So you might want to wait on reviews before a decision.

As it is, NBA2K4 will probably be my game of choice this year.

 

cant go wrong w/ the 2k and now espn series, gameplay becomes too easy in both so it comes down to the franchise depth and fun, thats 2k4 hands down...i dunno i guess its just the gm in me.

 

They are really two completely different games in my opinion.

Live is more of a run and gun slam dunk fest that gets users excited and there is not that much simulation as much as they say there is. All the little things you would expect are not there. Don't get me wrong it is a fun game to play against friends becuase it is fast paced etc.

2K3 which i play online with Xbox and soon to buy 2K4 is a true sim game. You have to know strategy and defense to play the game and actually get good at it. Once you do get good you can just adjust sliders to make it even harder to play. You can't just come down court and jack up a shot and dunk on every other play. If you do that you will be facing a fast break against your opponent everytime just like in the NBA you have to do a lot more thinking and it's for true basketball fans that understand the game and how offenses have to be run etc. There are so many play calls and things you can do that make the game very real in my opinion. But as with anything there are glitches but they do not outway the pros for 2k series of games.

 

Can't really add more than what's been said. The 2K series is really great. I love playing 2k3, and tweaking the sliders to my liking. If the scores are 56-43 at the end of the 1st, I just tweak it and then we're down to shooting 40%, 20% for the Rockets. Jason Collier dunks it or blocks every shot? Change it and you get the Creampuff man back. (No offense, JC.)

The franchise is where it is all at. In 2k3, you can sign coaches, train your players in certain things during training camp, and get workouts to see if that 6'8" SG is the next Jordan or just a..bad guy player dude. (whatever that means) I don't know what's in the next one, but if they just keep what they got and upgrade some things, it should be nice. BTW, for those who didn't like the fast break, or lack thereof, I read that there should be more in the new one.

edit: BTW, I did hear Live was going from scratch, but I've heard this like 2 or 3 times and each time it is still kind of arcadish to me. I also remember seeing ratings in Live 2003 and was shocked by what I saw. Some of them didn't make since to me, though I guess you could change them.

 

Roger that. I agree with everything he said. I have 2k2 and 2k3...the franchise mode is awesome!

I heard on Live...Jason Collier is black!

Well I guess I will wait until they come out and we will see which one is better. Live is more well known and more fun but 2k series is a better simulation.

By the way..in 2k3....I never really do the drafts. I've tried it....it's all right.

 

The drafts are not bad in 2k3 where you can scout certain players and the more you scout them the more info they give you on the player. That is a feature i have really loved.

If only NBA Live would take a page out of Maddens book and get that good then i would switch over to Live but for now 2K3 is still going to be the best for true players and if the Franchise/Owner mode gets any better then last year then 2k4 is going to be untouchable in true basketball fans eyes.

 

I've heard that nfl2k has added a first person mode so you can see from one players perspecive. I've heard they plan on adding this to the nba2k also!

 

There have been many attemps at this in the past, granted the technology is not where it is now but hopefully it will get better. I still don't think it's going to be a good game like that, like everytime you switch players your going to be switching "eyes" which kind of would be confusing eventually and on the other hand if you are locked into one position lets say the PG then that would suck as well.

Here is some info on the First person part of NFL 2k4

http://xbox.ign.com/objects/552/552378.html

Clips from first person play

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/431/431961p1.html

 

Here's a little teaser clip.

http://teamxbox.com/showmedia.php?mid=386

 

gotta say LIVE i already reserved it

 

I have a question about 2k4. It looks like the consesus is that it's the better sim game and has better defense. If I'm playing the game, how much play calling on the fly do I have to do? I'm not the greatest joystick jockey in the world when it comes to all that stuff.

Playing defense with my selected character is always the hardest part for me. It's mainly because of the angles on the screen and going somewhere different than I thought I was heading, or thinking I have the pathway to the basket blocked when I'm actually leaving it wide open.

I've only played Live with any regularity though.

Can my weaknesses in above areas be overcome enough to make 2k series worth having?

 

Basically you have your choice of making play calls or letting your players do there own movement and you just seeing the plays and passing to your own players at the right time. If you want to call a play then you can real simply by pressing a total of 2 buttons, 1 to bring your plays and the second to pick it. But you are not obligated to run a play. Your players run set plays on their own but you have to see them develop and make the right pass.

Defense with your own player is not that hard becuase you can use different button combos to like spread your arms and play defense so its not so hard to get burned by a player. You can always pick your defense set too like 3-2 zone or etc and if you do get burned you get help from your team mates. Or you can be cheap and be the Center in a 2-3 zone and just move around so you dont get 3 second in the key or illegal defense and just wait to block a shot

 

In the past I'd say that the 2K series was hands down better than Live. 2K has been known to represent more of the sim-style game whereas Live has played with more of an arcade feel. Last year Live made improvements, but it still wasn't at the level of the 2K series.

I've been hearing that this year will be different, but I'll have to see it to believe it. I've purchased Live and the 2K series in each of the last 2 years. I've preferred 2K both times, so I'll be surprised if the talk is true.

 

2k no question

 

any screenshots of these games?

 

Hey when is NBA live due out?