NBA Live 09 (PS3) (PlayStation 3 Games)

Looking for hoop shooting action?

Dynamic DNA a fantastic introduction, can be an exciting game when it all works, some top players look unnervingly real

An exciting match up, but the lack of true career options drag this one down into mediocrity

An exciting match up, but the lack of true career options drag this one down into mediocrity

Nothing but the bottom of the net

Beautiful to look at, super slick to play and filled with options. There's work to be done, but EA has taken a big step back in the right direction. Excellent stuff.

NBA Live 09's gameplay has again seen some improvement, but there are still a few rough edges.

Signature playcalling makes running plays a breeze ; New pick-and-roll mechanic is simple and effective ; User-friendly controls ; Marv Albert and Steve Kerr do a nice job in the booth

Lousy defense leads to lots of dunks ; Dribble moves are too often ineffective ; Be a Pro mode isn't very deep

With Dynamic DNA this is the game that keeps on giving all season long. Unlike EA's legendary Madden series the NBA Live franchise has had a hard transition to the...

Dynamic DNA really ups the ante ; Fluid on-the-court movement ; Best Dynasty Mode in any sports game ; Great visual presentation

Some slowdown and minor glitches ; High learning curve ; Dynamic DNA only works on original copy

Chemistry has long been a cliché intangible effecting a team's level of success, or lack thereof in sports games. NBA Live 09 takes the scientific elements to a new level by displaying individual player DNA strands, which evolve as you play. The...

Charging for a service that used to be free, albeit not as flashy and consistently updated, is a tough pill for gamers to swallow, but it is far from the biggest complaints with Live 09. There are far too many easy dunks for the game’s own good,...

If you're a basketball fan and a gamer, you probably feel compelled to buy a new NBA game every year for updated rosters if nothing else. This year, the one to buy is not NBA Live 09.

EA Sports' NBA Live 09 is an improvement over last year's iteration... but it's not like the bar was set very high in 08, so "improvement" is relative.

EA's NBA Franchise steps its game up, but still isn't quite a title contender.

Dynamic DNA uses real life information to update player tendencies daily; new Pick and Roll and Signature Playcalling features make offense more fun

Clipping and herky-jerky movements still a problem; NBA Live Academy can feel like work; can't test Dynamic DNA yet

Despite its bigger brand name and history, the NBA Live series just hasn't matched up to the 2K offerings in the last several years. From abysmal outings to "good but only a stepping stone" ones, year after year Live seems just a bit closer towards...

Some elements seem to finally be "complete" for the Live series, but for everything the game does right, four things are in obvious need of more work. On paper Live 09 sounds great; in execution it's the same story as usual.

A great-but-not-classic basketballer that falls just short of its prime competition this season

Best-looking Live yet ; Nifty free throw shooting ; Pick and Roll mechanic

Some rough visual edges ; Too much in-game DNA stats ; Gimped Be A Pro mode