For quite a while now, the 2K series brand of basketball has been the dominant one without question, especially on the next generation platforms. EA continues to play catch up, especially after their shaky debut on the consoles 2 incarnations back. Fans of the series obviously began to wonder if Live would ever behold the greatness and appeal that it enjoyed back in the day. All I have to say is if you were a big supporter of the series before, it's time to give Live another shot... pun intended.

NBA Live is back with NBA Live 08, and for the first time since I can remember, 2K may finally have something to worry about in the not too distant future. EA knows that this franchise is 2nd to Madden in their sports line up, so it is no surprise that they are putting the extra effort into improving it year after year. While NBA Live 08 isn't perfect by any means, it is a huge leap forward in progression and is worth it for any fan of the sport to give it a try one more time.

Visually, Live 08 is remarkable with strong character models and faces that look more times than not like their actual real life NBA counterparts. You'll know players like Anthony, James, Bryant, and Shaq not only by their physical appearance, but also the way they move is spot on accurate as well, from their shot styles to special moves. While some of the game's animations are questionable, the game moves and responds quite well and gone are the days of ice skating NBA players. The NBA arenas are perfect representations with lively crowds and live scoreboards. Top all of this off with solid presentation from timeout cut scenes, shots of frustration on the bench, and end of the game celebrations and NBA Live does a fantastic job bringing a TV style experience to your video game. The frame rate is finally rock solid and moves at 60fps for the majority of the game, with minor hiccups here and there.

Audio is absolutely amazing. Commentary by Marv Albert and Steve Kerr is informative and accurate for most of the game. The game sounds are what you'd expect from ball echoing bounces to the squeaky shoes, and you'll know you are playing basketball by just closing your eyes. Most impressive is the crowd interaction. The variations will wow anyone who is listening, as the crowd will be lively during close games, silent during home blowouts, and rambunctious during home comebacks. I honestly have to say this is one of the best crowds I've heard in a video game.

So Live 08 looks and sounds the part, but does it got game? Finally I can say, yes... and it counts! While there are a few things that blemish the experience which I'll get to in a bit, for the most part Live 08 plays a very solid and realistic game of basketball that will be enjoyed by casual and hardcore fans. The players move quickly around the court with various animation sets from crossovers, fakes, and fade aways to perform. The right analog stick allows you to perform moves in order to make your way into the paint from the top of the key. Live still uses the 2 shot button option, one for slams and lay-ups, and one for pull up jumpers. The game A.I. is solid this year and with some tweaks to the sliders can be a real challenge to any baller. It's worth a mention that there's no sign of rubber band A.I. You can call offensive and defensive setups on the fly to call for that necessary double team or post route to the hoop. For all the good, there is a minor issue that hurts the game at certain points. Sometimes the game's momentum or animation transitions will have your player falling out of bounds, or even worse tossing a shot up under the backboard. This can prove frustrating and infuriating during pivotal moments. Granted this isn't a huge issue or I'd be all over EA for this, but I must address it if I'm to be perfectly fair. Otherwise, Live 08 is very enjoyable and finally has game once again.

There is plenty to do in Live 08 that will keep you playing far into the night and all season long. You have Quick Play, Dynasty Mode, All Star Weekend games (including Dunk, 3pt, and Rookie games), Online modes including Leagues, and even the ability to compete in the FIBA World Championship.

If you were a fan of the series in the past, or are just sick of 2K and ready for something new, it's time to finally give Live a try once more. The game has tons of options; it looks and sounds fantastic, and with a minor quibble here and there plays a great game that walks the line of die hard sim and casual baller. NBA Live 08 makes playing b-ball fun once again and I'm happy to see EA hasn't given up on the franchise. I'm just curious to see what tricks are up their sleeves in future installments.