 
|
|
ESRB: 
Platform: PSP
Category: Sports
|
Graphics 8.5 |
Sound 8.5 |
Gameplay 7 |
Tilt 8 ||
Overall 8
Author: Trevor H
|
Developer – SCE San Diego Studios
Publisher - Sony Computer Entertainment America
Features:
Players: 1-2
Memory Stick Duo 256 KB
Wi-Fi Compatible
Just prior to the start of the 07-08 National Basketball Association season, NBA on the PSP returns with NBA 08. This year SCE San Diego has delivered NBA 08 with promises of an expanded Conquest mode, an expanded Season mode, improved commentary from Ian Eagle and Mark Jackson, and a Block Party which includes the All-Star Weekend and brand new Carnival Mini Games. Additionally the game has been touted as running at 60 frames per second. Being a huge fan of sports games, but not a big fan of NBA 07, I was curious to see if the franchise would take the next step and deliver an improved product. At the end of the day, I am certainly of the belief NBA 08 is leaps and bounds from last years edition as the upgrades and improvements this year are significant. Many of the problematic issues from 07 have been addressed making NBA 08 for the PSP a solid purchase for NBA fans with a craving for some b-ball on the go.
Graphics
As with other great sports games on the market, we traditionally don't see drastic changes in the visuals from one year to the next and NBA 08 for the PSP is no exception. In terms of the visuals, much looks the same as last year’s version of the franchise, however the following visuals really stood out for me:
- The improved and larger player models look good and are recognizable;
- The arena's looks stellar;
- The menu's are user friendly and very stylish; and
- The player movements are surprisingly smooth.
NBA 08 runs at 60 frames per second and it shows. There is virtually no slow down and the game runs very smoothly. You almost come to expect that when the action gets hectic and chaotic, games generally slow down but this is not the case in NBA 08. Overall, the game has good pace and I never noticed any slow down during any of the game modes I experimented with.
In any basketball game, the most important aspect of the visuals is the actually basketball game itself. The first thing I noticed was how good the basketball courts look and how they are an accurate reflection of the real world arenas. From the lights reflecting off the hardwood to the team logos on the court; NBA 08 does a wonderful job creating the right atmosphere.
The player models are vastly improved from last year's version. For one, the players are bigger and this makes it easier to tell players apart. I played most of my season with the Phoenix Suns and at least this year I could tell the difference between Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. Both are easily recognizable despite the limitations of the PSP. For the most part the players moved pretty smoothly. The only negative I had with the players was that the AI's movements seemed robotic at times and it felt like I was running into a brick wall whenever I tried to drive the ball to the hoop.
A final concern I had with the visuals was with the crowd. Once again, it appears developers really didn't spend any time in this area as the crowd is somewhat forgettable. Spectators are blocky and there is not much detail here. At some angles the crowd looks like they were cut out of cutting boards.
Sound
As far as the sound is concerned, NBA 08 delivers. The game's audio is an excellent complement to the good graphics. From the soundtrack to the commentators, NBA 08 does a wonderful job at creating an NBA atmosphere in a portable gaming device. The sounds of the game are varied and effective as well. All the sounds of a basketball game are here, from the crowd cheering, short bursts of the ref’s whistle, the ball bouncing, the squeaking runners to the player chatter; all the sounds are very good in NBA 08 and add to that ever-so-important atmosphere.
The commentators, Ian Eagle and Mark Jackson, do a formidable job on the commentary. Their voices are clear, they comment on the game accurately and in a timely manner. The repetitiveness, as with pretty much all major sports tittles, is an issue at times and after a few games it does become noticeable. For the most part, you will not get much insight or in-depth analysis; however it is perfect for gaming on the go. Compared to last years version, I find the commentary improved but there is still even more room for improvement.
The soundtrack for NBA 08 is also very good and was a pleasant surprise. To be perfectly honest I expected mundane hip hop tunes which we typically see in NBA games and I really wasn't expecting much in the way of a quality soundtrack. NBA 08 delivers a soundtrack with a variety of genres. Many of them are not recognizable (at least not to me) but they do sound good and I found myself humming some of the tunes the following day.
Gameplay
If you haven’t played NBA 07 for the PSP, you will be impressed with the gameplay if this years version. In fact, even if you have played NBA 07 you to will also be impressed with the gameplay of 08. This year’s version is much smoother and is clearly headed in the right direction. Many of those troubling issues from 07 have been addressed and there is a much deeper game this time around. The mini games, carnival style games, in-game contests such as Fast Break, Block-a-Shot, and Alley-Oop, all add to what is arguable the deepest basketball game available on the PSP. Not to mention, you can also play a traditional season and a slick new mode called conquest.
Before I delve into some of those mini games and 'non-traditional' modes I enjoyed, I will first examine the traditional NBA 5-on-5 gameplay. Overall, the game plays pretty good and seemingly all my games were very close when it came to the final score. However, there are some annoyances which were difficult to overlook. For instance, the defensive AI seemed a little too good for my liking. Taking the ball from one end of the court and driving to the net is not as simple as it sounds in NBA 08. I found I was often getting the brick wall effect with the defence. A player like Steve Nash can pretty much deke and juke past any defender in the NBA but this is not the case in NBA 08 for the PSP. I would take the b-ball to the net, try a juke, and boom, the AI would stick to me like glue and when I would drive my player into the defensive player and he would not budge. Granted, it should not be a cakewalk to take the ball to the hoop, however I think a little bit more balance could have been achieved in this area.
Another area of concern was with the actual process of shooting the basketball. When your player shoots the ball a glow appears. Red means the shoot is crappy and green means the shot is good. I almost found myself getting pre-occupied with the glow and frustrated as a player like Steve Nash (can you tell I am Canadian yet) would rarely hit three-point shots. At the end of the day, I found it difficult to master the shooting. There is just no way a player like Brian Scalibrine should have the same shooting percentage as Steve Nash.
As with the shooting, I also found the passing to be problematic at times. I often found it difficult to direct my passes. Sometimes, my player would pass the ball across the court when all I wanted him to do was pass it to the player beside him. There is certainly a learning curve when it comes to the getting a handle on the passing schemes.
Now that I have harped on all my concerns with the game, I will start by getting into some of the great aspects of the game. For one, NBA 08 for the PSP is amazingly deep and rich in content. It's amazing to think how much Sony actually put on that tiny UMD. Much of the content from last year's version returns in NBA 08. Pick-up games, season mode, and playoffs are likely where the hardcore basketball gamers will spend the majority of their time. The All-Star weekend returns with all the realism and events we would typically see from such a star studded weekend. The mini games are back including old favourites such as Horse, Dodgeball and Own the Court. Elimination and Fast Break are two new modes introduced to the mini game library. Fast Break is a 3-on-2 game where you switch from offence to defence. It's all about scoring as much as possible within the time allotted. Elimination, is a 5-on-5 arcade like game where every player has six points assigned to them. Once a player has scored their 6 points they have to take a seat. When your player is pulled, the rest of your team gets powered up. It's a cool concept and very entertaining mini game.
The added content does not end there in NBA 08 for the PSP. There are also the Carnival games which include modes such as Pop-A-Shot, Big Shooter, Block-a-Shot, Shootin' Bricks and Pinball. Much of the games are self-explanatory, simple and are perfect for gaming on the go. There is truly something for everyone in NBA 08 for the PSP. In fact even my 4 year old daughter had some fun playing some of those carnival games mentioned above. I was astonished how easily she picked up the games and really enjoyed them.
Last but not least, the Conquest mode is back in this year's instalment. Here you choose a team and challenge other teams who are geographically closest to you. You play mini 5-on-5 games with the winner taking the opponents best player. The more teams you beat, the more players you take. Eventually you take over the team and the city. It's a great little mode and something I surprisingly found myself playing for hours on end.
The multiplayer component of the game is a little lacklustre as I found I experienced a considerable amount of lag and slow-downs. Admittedly I did not spend a lot of time online with NBA 08, however the time I did spend was problematic. On a positive note, it was easy to find a player to challenge and start a game. I am always impressed with how good some of you online gamers are. After getting my butt kicked online, it was back to the drawing board for this old school gamer.
Conclusion
As far as basketball games on the PSP are concerned, NBA 08 is certainly in the top 3. It's not the best NBA game available; however it is a great addition to the franchise and has made some significant leaps from last year's version. If you are an NBA fan, and own Sony's portable gaming device, NBA 08 offers up an abundance of content which will surely ensure you will get your money's worth.
|
 pic 1.jpg)
 pic 2.jpg)
 pic 3.jpg)
 pic 4.jpg)
 pic 5.jpg)
|
»
||
|
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to our RSS feed of Reviews Boxart.jpg)
