NBA Live 2004

NBA Live 2004 is the 2004 installment of the NBA Live video games series. The cover features Vince Carter as a member of the Toronto Raptors and in Spain copies of NBA Live 2004 feature Raul Lopez. The game was developed by EA Sports and released in 2003. The game is similar graphically to NCAA March Madness 2004 and has the same create-a-player models. It was also the last game to feature Michael Jordan.

Cover art featuring Vince Carter (PlayStation 2)
Developer(s)	EA Canada
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Series	NBA Live
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows
Release	PlayStation 2 & Xbox NA: October 14, 2003 EU: November 7, 2003 JP: November 13, 2003 (PS2) GameCube NA: October 15, 2003 EU: November 7, 2003 Windows NA: November 11, 2003 EU: November 28, 2003
Genre(s)	Sports (Basketball)
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer

Game modes

Season

Season mode play allows the player to choose an NBA team to compete for the season trophy. Players can also choose how many games there are during the season. A custom player option also allows game players to create their own team of NBA players. There is also a Roster management where game players can buy and sell players from various teams in the NBA.

Dynasty

Dynasty mode is similar to season mode but instead, teams compete for the Dynasty trophy. In this mode however, points earned from gameplay in games can be spent on individual and team training sessions to improve the skill level of the player's team. Points can also be spent in the 'NBA store' on shoes, jerseys, headbands, and socks. These clothing items can then be applied to the players of the team and are seen during gameplay. One of the main goals of Dynasty mode is the process of drafting and developing new players.

One on one

In this mode players go one on one with an opponent in either a gym or street court; they can edit the number of baskets to win the game.

Training

In this mode, the game player can practice and improve court skills.

Features

The new button layout now allows the player to choose when to shoot and when to dunk/layup. The new system improves on previous frustrations with 3 foot jumpers and losing possessions because of unnecessary dunk attempts. The "pro hop" has finally been introduced into the game and with it the ability to split defenders, or throw an opposing defender off rhythm. Not to be outdone, big men were given the ability to "power dribble," which creates space into the lane for an easier basket. Yet, with the newly improved defense and AI, coming by points is that much more difficult. In addition, freestyle dribbling is no longer an end-all to improving the game, and handling stats actually affect the player's ability to freestyle. Along with the game's new freestyle improvements, the game is bound to grab their attention.

This was also the first game to feature the Charlotte Bobcats; they are the worst team in the game with a rating of 50. Since the game's rosters were finalized before the expansion draft, the Bobcats' lineup consisted of players named after their specific positions, for example, the point guard was named "Point Guard".

Reception

Reception

Review scores Publication Score GC PC PS2 Xbox EGM 8.5/10[1] N/A 8.5/10[1] 8.5/10[1] Famitsu N/A N/A 31/40[2] N/A Game Informer 8.25/10[3] N/A 8.5/10[4] 8.25/10[5] GamePro [6] N/A [6] [7] GameRevolution B+[8] N/A B+[8] B+[8] GameSpot 8/10[9] 7.8/10[10] 8.3/10[11] 8.3/10[12] GameSpy [13] [14] [15] [16] GameZone 8.4/10[17] 8.6/10[18] 9.3/10[19] 8.6/10[20] IGN 8.7/10[21] 8.5/10[22] 8.8/10[23] 8.7/10[24] Nintendo Power 3.4/5[25] N/A N/A N/A OPM (US) N/A N/A [26] N/A OXM (US) N/A N/A N/A 9.1/10[27] PC Gamer (US) N/A 84%[28] N/A N/A Entertainment Weekly A−[29] N/A A−[29] A−[29] Aggregate score Metacritic 84/100[30] 80/100[31] 86/100[32] 85/100[33]

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[32][33][30][31] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PlayStation 2 version a score of three eights and one seven for a total of 31 out of 40.[2]

References

1. EGM staff (December 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (173). Archived from the original on November 12, 2003. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
2. "Famitsu scores for PGR2, Magatama". The MagicBox. November 6, 2003. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
3. Leeper, Justin (December 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (GC)". Game Informer (128): 159. Archived from the original on November 15, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
4. Leeper, Justin (November 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (PS2)". Game Informer (127): 147. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
5. Reiner, Andrew (November 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (Xbox)". Game Informer (127): 170.
6. Tokyo Drifter (October 13, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (GC, PS2)". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
7. Tokyo Drifter (October 13, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
8. Dr. Moo (October 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Revolution. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
9. Colayco, Bob (October 17, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (GC)". GameSpot. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
10. Colayco, Bob (November 17, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
11. Colayco, Bob (October 16, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
12. Colayco, Bob (October 13, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (Xbox)". GameSpot. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
13. Steinberg, Steve (October 23, 2003). "GameSpy: NBA Live 2004 (GCN)". GameSpy. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
14. Abner, William (December 2, 2003). "GameSpy: NBA Live 2004 (PC)". GameSpy. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
15. Steinberg, Steve (October 23, 2003). "GameSpy: NBA Live 2004 (PS2)". GameSpy. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
16. Steinberg, Steve (October 23, 2003). "GameSpy: NBA Live 2004 (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
17. Hollingshead, Anise (October 28, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
18. Lafferty, Michael (December 7, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 4, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
19. Knutson, Michael (October 21, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 31, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
20. Surette, Tim (October 26, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
21. Robinson, Jon (October 14, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (GCN)". IGN. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
22. Robinson, Jon (December 2, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (PC)". IGN. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
23. Robinson, Jon (October 14, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (PS2)". IGN. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
24. Robinson, Jon (October 14, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 Review (Xbox)". IGN. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
25. "NBA Live 2004". Nintendo Power. 175: 159. January 2004.
26. Varanini, Giancarlo (December 2003). "NBA Live 2004". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 182. Archived from the original on May 6, 2004. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
27. "NBA Live 2004". Official Xbox Magazine: 152. December 2003.
28. Klett, Steve (March 2004). "NBA Live 2004". PC Gamer: 77. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
29. Walk, Gary Eng (October 17, 2003). "NBA Live 2004 (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Entertainment Weekly (733): L2T 21. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
30. "NBA Live 2004 for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
31. "NBA Live 2004 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
32. "NBA Live 2004 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
33. "NBA Live 2004 for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 1, 2015.

External links

• NBA Live 2004 at MobyGames