Best AI Sports Game to Date.
583740
I purchased NBA Live 2004 with high hopes of it being an excellent basketball game and i was not dissapointed. The gameplay is wonderful the new Freestyle controls make a major contribution to the gameplay style and how the movement of the player is controlled. The AI in the game makes it become in a way almost 100% authentic to NBA style play for example...the well known Showmen do have the skills and finesse as in real life and have moves attached to them depending on their skill level for example Vince Carter has the ability to create lightning quick 1st steps on defenders and take it strong for the dunk as in real life. The well known big men have the strong post-up and low post moves, good inside scoring and the ability to reject incoming shots depending on their skill level for example Ben Wallace can post up and take hook shots in the key aswell as reject almost any shot near the basket. The well known swingmen of the NBA for example Peja Stojakovic can shoot, pass, dribble and take it in strong as swingmen do best.
While players have set skill capabilities there skill level is also defined by how good the player is on an individual level so the star players are Star players and the not so good players are Not so good.
The graphics in the game are great probably the best ive seen for a sports game in a while...the players even have their own tattoos for example Jason Williams has the tattoo of puma climbing up his arm.
The shot variation is amazing you can change your shot in mid air to avoid being swatted you can fade left, right, back and forward...when driving the lane change your lay-up style allsorts. Also the dunk animations are great...each player depending on their skill level has a set list of dunks for example the players who don't show off have plain dunks and slightly showy ones. The Showmen have highlight reel dunks like Tommahawks, Double-pump reverse, 360 Windmill etc. and the no frills players have put in dunks.
The passes in the game and fast breaks are great the point guard more often that not will throw pin point passes but with the new AI if you're not being careful in any situation the defense can catch a steal and jump into the passing lane for the steal. Big name point guards and excellent passers like Steve Nash will occasionally throw circus passes like no lookers and round the backs.
One thing you have to realise about this game is unlike the other NBA Live games the AI in 2004 will punish you for the mistakes you make...if you take it in on a big man and hope to make the the lay-up/shot you'll most definately get rejected and/or make an offensive foul. If you try and pull up for a trey with a defender in your face you most likely will have trouble getting a good shot off. If you throw limp passes and try and throw passes cross court the defence will most definately steal it. This is what makes the game so realistic and fun to play because it makes you think and work towards scoring your next basket and controlling your defensive strategy.
One of the best features is being able to buy new trainers for your selected player aswell as wearing the retro throwback of jerseys in game.
There are many other features of NBA Live 2004...which include a new set-play system where you can run different offenses and defenses at the click of a button and the defense actually regroup to create the formation...there is a much more realistic atmosphere in the game, the point guards call to the players and players talk trash and taunt each other...the big men scuffle in the post to gain position...and inside the stadiums you get the feel as if its a real stadium the lighting and shadow effects are amazing.
Overall id say novice and pro basketball fan/players alike you must give this game a try wether rented or bought it is an excellent Basketball game and on a different level to Segas NBA 2k4.
2340557
This text-heavy but highly addictive sports management game puts you at the helm of a football club in one of countless leagues and divisions.  I haven't found playing the US league all that compelling because of the lack of depth but taking on any of the lower division european clubs has caused me to spend countless hours devising new tactics to move my club up to potential european glory.

This game has a 2-d engine that allows you to watch the games you manage and make changes to your squad to reflect what is happening on the pitch.  Away from the game days, you are negotiating with and searching for players to fill that one position you just need to win on the field.  I stumbled across this game when it was still champman but this newest version is great--look for the 06 version around the holidays.

Bottom line, I don't work for SI but I am sold on this game.  It has a few bugs but the folks at si games support their product with enhancement packs (patches) and email support.  The game takes a long time to play unless you have a higher end machine.  Familiarity with transfer rules, such as bosman, are helpful but not required as you kind of figure it out as you play.

It isn't madden or fifa--no fancy graphics or high frame rates--but it is maddeningly fun to play.

Cheers,
3274070
This game is extraordinary!  Beautifully rendered 3d graphics(for a game with the same overhead view as C&C: Red alert)and awesome AI make it even better!  Unlike the first Age of empires,  Your soldiers are now more  likely to join a nearby battle the stand around like idiots. You can Even  assign formations to your soldiers  like flanking, where they split into to  groups a few hundred feet apart.  Or staggered which is pretty much  self-explanatory.  There are some cons though.  There are some slight AI  issues over the water and you can't assaign formations to your navy. You  also have a population limit.  Hopefully someone will release a patch that  gets rid of that. You can choose from one fo 13 civilizations. they are:  Franks, Goths, Britons, Celts, Chinese, Japanese, Mongols, Vikings,  Tuetons, Searacens, Persians, and two others but their names elude me. You  can select your map of choice and how many enemies and allies you want on  your team or against you.  The battles are brutal but fun to watch.  It's  like watching braveheart all over again.  There are several modes of play  to choose from including Deathmatch, Regicide, Conquest, Time, and a few  more.  The gamelay is great.  But to enjoy it to its fullest you should  have at least A Voodoo 3 2000 PCI, But its beautiful on a Pentium 2 with  300 mhz and a Voodoo 3 3000 AGP at the 1024 setting.  This game has tons of  replayability  All in all this game is a worthy buy. I reccomend it for  anyone who wants a break from all other Stratedgy games.
2600748
This is THE best real-time strategy game in history and nothing comes close.

(Company of Heroes is good due to its realism but it's not a polished game like starcraft.)

To give some background to the newcomers to the game, Starcraft 1 (which is this game's predecessor) basically revolutionized the video game industry when it first came out and it eventually led to Warcraft 3, LoL, Dota, etc.  The game like most of them centers around beating opponents by creating an army.  To create this army, you need to collect resources (minerals and gas) via workers and then build production facilities once you collect enough resources.  Through these production facilities, you can now build fighting units which make up your army.

What makes this game so fun is that this is all in real time.  For example, instead of building workers, you can quickly make some fighting units so you can do a quick attack on your opponent on the other side of the map.  And, you rip your opponent apart if all he's doing is making workers.  However, if your opponent anticipates your attack, he/she can easily make a few defensive units to thwart your attack.  Because you have some workers already and a few defense units while your opponent only made fighting units, you will be a huge advantage.  You can see the mind games that start to go on in this game.  It's really fun.

This expansion is the 3rd in this game and adds 6 new fighting units.  The new campaigns are similar to the other expansions.  But, for me, what really makes it fun is the cinematics at the start and end of each mission.  And, the cinematics are pretty awesome.  You can watch them on youtube already to see what you'll be getting.

The 3rd and last expansion also adds some chat functions to the game that was there previously.  It makes a huge difference since you can now start talking to people which you couldn't do before.  I think this should have been done before.  There is also a new arcade and archon mode which is pretty darn fun too which they should have done long ago as well.  In all, I think the game is pretty fun.

Should you buy the game?

For newcomers, I think you should definitely buy the game if you're into figuring out puzzles and beating other people.  It's a no brainer there.  If you're not a really competitive person and are more into a relaxing, chill time, then I don't know if this is the way to go.  The problem is that this game is all about beating other people.  And, this is a game that's definitely skill based so it doesn't feel good if you keep losing and losing.  On the other hand, the game matches you up with people with similar skill level so it's not that bad.  Additionally, there is an Archon Mode which allows you to team up with other people.

For oldtimers, I do think you should get the game if you were really into the game before.  The new units add another dimension and one of the most fun things for me was to figure out how the units interact with other units and figure out how to exploit it.  But, if you weren't into the game previously, the extra units don't make this into an entirely new game so forget it.  However, I can tell you that if you had found the game to be too competitive before, Archon Mode changes that a bit.  Additionally, there are now custom games that are pretty fun too.
4392095
If all the new improvements that we usually se in the great Electronic Arts games are there, then we are all in for a huge treat when this game comes out shortly.
Now you can be the coach, player, playmaker, and the graphics just blow you away.
Remember its just a game not the actual play by play of a REAL Football game. It sure seems like it though sometimes !
Awesome Job Electronic Arts
Best Regards to All, MC - TheStickRules. Com
1339894
I have been playing this game non-stop for the past three days.  The game play is great.  The graphics are greatly improved from last year.  The newly added tutorials are very helpful to new players.  The addition of the online playing is great and highly addictive.  You can play as either a guest or create an online account with EA.  Either way, you can be playing somebody online within one minute of starting up your Wii.  I have not had any issues with the online play.

The only portion of this game that I don't like is the new putting system.  Last year's system was extremely realistic to putting for real, although aiming was difficult without using putt preview.  This year, there is potential to come up short on a five foot putt with a full 100% swing if you don't set your aim correctly.  Judging how far a putt is going to go is nearly impossible without hours and hours and hours of playing.  I still find the need to use putt preview for 95% of my putts because I have no confidence on how hard I need to hit the ball.  I have gotten very frustrated missing a tap in three foot putt because I didn't judge how far i needed to move the aiming target.

I recommend this game to anybody that enjoys this franchise or is interested in a more realistic golf game than on Wii sports.  I am addicted.  The actual golf swing motion is very realistic in this game.  If you twist your wrists too much, you will hook or slice the ball.  THe online portion of the game is an instant hit.  If the putting system were the same as last year I would easily give this game a 5 star rating.
4160524
EA Sports is usually at the top for sports video games and this one holds true to that. It's a great hockey game, one of the best I've played.
638271
This game is like a movie that keeps getting better.  I never thought a game would suck me in the way this has.  Everything about the game is original.  The AI is amazing the way it tries to outsmart everything you do.  You actually have to think, because if you die and start over the enemy is completely different in tactics.  You also have to swap guns and be a sniper.  There is so much more that you do that its hard to explain it all without ruining it for you fans.
1623193
Coming from a country where soccer is our life, and being a soccer player myself, this is the best and most realistic soccer game I have played thus far.  This also coming from someone who's been a Pro Evolution fanboy since Super Star Soccer came out for Super Nintendo. For more than 13 years I've played Konami, Konami, Konami and always defended their soccer games no matter what, and in my opinion I was right, but this year EA Sports really slapped me in the mouth. FIFA 10  is just very realistic in movement of players and ball physics, it gives you so much freedom to dribble (the right analog stick is dedicated just to dribbling), lots and lots of animations, intelligent AI and amazing online play, not to mention Be a Pro Mode, which is really making Become A Legend from PES look bad. Playing with someone else is also always exciting, and not two games are the same...whereas sometimes I felt they where that way in PES.

CONS: The only two cons I can honestly think about is lack of Champions League either in Be a Pro or Manager modes...and the inability to save your replays, both of which really, REALLY suck so bad, and I hope they're implemented in an update.

This is really not an in-dept review of this game, this is just me as someone who's been a PES fan from a long time ago telling you this game really grabs the soul and passion of soccer and puts it in your screen. I'm not saying PES 10 sucks in anyway, but after playing both, I liked FIFA 10 better.  If pro evolution improves next year, I'll go back to it, but until now, FIFA10 remains the best soccer game I've ever played.

This is a must for someone who's looking for the greatest soccer game up to date.
1898481
I've played multiple EA football games from 2003's NCAA to various Madden to the NCAA 09.

This was my first XBOX 360 game I picked up this month after I had Ku-Fu Panda and Lego Indy from the Pro-gamepack.

I started off with an 4:3 720p HDTV but didn't use the HD mode - just the regular video inputs.  If you play this way, you're missing the boat.  EA clearly designed this for a high-end widescreen 1080p tv.  When I switched over to my new unit, the game emerged from a foggy cloud and became truly awesome.  Being designed for the bigger TV's you can clearly see more routes, execute better jukes, etc. My Madden rating went from a 430 to a 515 in one game with the switch - this indicates a transition from a ok player to a good player.  The field is just much much easier to see and the overall game play experience jumped tremendously.  Example:  I went from only scoring 17 points (Steelers (me) vs. Cardinals) for my high to 42 the first game (I played Broncos (me) vs. Patriots).

I haven't seen any of the bugs people have been complaining about.  Upon signing into XBOX Live - I was pushed a patch and I haven't seen any problems.  I have seen a much improved commentary, a very neat "BackTrack" feature where you can see where you should have passed if you flub up.  And there's the interesting "replay" feature for those that want a mulligan - for those instants where your best player gets laid out and potentially injured or when you just screw up on a key 3rd down.

Some weird things - I've played NCAA 09 on the PS3 and noted that there aren't any momentum aspects to Madden 09 like in that game (at least they're not overt that I can tell).  Also I'm not sure about the pump fake just yet, it's not the same joystick R3 control so I still have a bit of investigating to do.  I will say that the adaptive game play is a different experience and I look forward to seeing how they make do with it.  The simulator - training does help you, but it's not realistic per the game.  When doing runs you don't have those kinds of lanes (but hey it's training).  This is much much better at least from my perspective than trying to run a practice offense vs. a practice defense to work on those skills.  Some of the player challenges such as training routines for like the bench press and sprint aren't exactly thrilling but the skill drills are a good learning experience.
3579175
NCAA 14 is a pleasant surprise over last years addition. A new menu system is much smoother to use and load times have decreased. (NOTE I have yet to play online.)

Game Play:

Tackling feels more real as players bounce off each other and breaking tackles feel more honest.

Passing is much easier as receivers often will pull off amazing one handed catches. This also helps with more interceptions and should be toned down a bit in a patch. So if you like a passing offense you will love this game.

Defenders feel a bit more sluggish getting off the line in 14 over 13. I think this is a better fit for the game as in 13 you could easily jump the snap every play now you have to work for it.

Over All:

Well worth the money and a huge improvement over NCAA 13. I can't help to feel the game was made to be on the PS4 as the graphics look a little more cartoonish similar to what you saw when they made NCAA for both the PS2 and PS3. The PS2 felt slightly brushed over and cartoonish but the PS3 looked beautiful and smooth.
521712
I have not had my ps3 for very long so this is the first of the MLB the show series that I have played.  It is by far the best sports game i have ever played.  I am a huge madden fan and have played 2k baseball for some time on the 360, but compared to mlb 11 those games fail in comparison with visuals and game play.  Even being an avid baseball, fan the 2k series ended up becoming boring.  I had a hard time making it through 9 inning games, mlb 11 actually seems to go buy too quick.  I can play several 9 inning games in a row without getting bored.  The analog controls are awesome and keep stuff interesting.  This game is a must buy for anyone who even remotely enjoys baseball.
1901805
Fifa 2012 is a really cool game. I have been playing it with my sister ex-boyfriend and we are having a great time creating championships in wich he uses Real Madrid and I play with FC Barcelona. Really cool.

The only thing is not so good, is that the game has some weird things, some programming mistakes. Another thing is that CPU AI is not so "intelligent". Players controlled by CPU don't think by themselves.

Bus overall is a nice game, I recomend it.
2583251
Let me begin  my first  review  by saying that this  is  by far, the best soccer simulator  in the market;  if  you are looking  for an arcade style gameplay,  then  you have to pass this one by.

Graphics  are  simply amazing,  on a HD tv with HDMI cable,  they are  just  simply brilliant;  they have improved  a lot compared to the ones from FIFA 10.
The  stadiums  look  very detailed, weather effects are similar  than  FIFA  10,  although  not  so noticeable  specially when raining.
One thing that  hasn't  changed much  is the public,  they all have similar movements,  not dynamic at all, just when you score  they all stand  up, and thats  it, not  so real after all, but hey nothing is perfect.
In terms  of sound  , simply memorable, you can clearly listen the original chants  from  most of the teams, and  also you can  customize  them!!
Gameplay,  is slower,  players  animations are  smooth  and  like  their  real life counterparts, the new  personality features  adds  a  great sense  of realism  to the  game,  it  feels  like  if  you're watching a live broadcast  but  you control  the players.
The experience will drag you in and  it will  make  you waant  more  of it.

Definatelly  for those  looking  for a great replay value and a lot of fun,  what are you waiting for?  go get it  ASAP!!
1484127
I was initially skeptical about NHL 08.  I was a 2K Sports player for years as EA never seemed to get what hockey was really about.  To put it simply, the 2K series tended to be hockey simulators while the EA games tended to be arcade games.  That all changed with NHL 08.

The biggest change, and the biggest positive, in the game compared to its compatriots (regardless of brand) is the notion of positioning being important.  Just like in its real-life counterpart, since obstruction is being enforced, defensive positioning is paramount.  In NHL 08, you'll actually be called for tripping or holding.  You'll actually be called for interference, and even elbowing.  All of this means that you'll be acutely aware of where your defenders are in relation to the puck carrier and possible passing lanes.

Perhaps even more compelling is that the opponent AI understands these factors as well.  Trust me when I say you will be beat by Ovechkin on a backdoor play.  You will be beat by a tip-in of a cross-crease pass because a defender is out of position.  You will be beat by the opposing defense using your own defenders as a screen for their slapshots.

Graphically, the game is solid.  Skaters kick up snow when they stop suddenly.  The goalie's water bottle gets shot to the end glass if you roof one by him.  Hats are thrown when there's a hat trick.  The uniforms are all legit, and look good.

The audio is generally good.  Gary Thorne and Bill Clement are great announcers, but, like with all sports games, have a limited amount of dialogue.  The crowd seems pretty lifelike, even starting chants for a certain player, or if your team is mouting a comeback.

Two things hold this game from reaching five stars:

1. The controls take a while to get used to.  This is especially true if you come from 2K Sports.  They're very simple once you get used to them, but there is a learning curve.

2. Fighting seems to be an afterthought.  While you can fight against an opposing player (which is instigated by, of all things, slashing them), the controls are a bit of a mystery.  Unfortunately, the manual doesn't help because there are no fighting instructions in it.  From what I can tell, the right stick controls the punching (somewhat like EA's Fight Night games) and the face buttons control other actions, but it's all a bit of a crapshoot.  Thankfully, fighting is pretty rare in the game.

Overall, NHL 08 is just about perfect.  If you enjoy hockey games, I recommend picking it up.
327007
It's been a while since I've played an NHL game from EA that didn't feel like I was still playing the previous year's version.  Thankfully, NHL 09 changes all that.  That arcade feel that EA's NHL series has been infamous for?  It's pretty much gone, and in it's place instead is an actual realistic simulation that rivals the 2K series.  Opponent AI has also been considerably amped, helping make the game more simulation-based than ever before.  The new additions to the already excellent skill stick are superb, with new manuvers and tactics for clogging passing lanes and putting a new emphasis on defensive-based hockey.  If using the skill stick isn't your thing, there's a two-button control scheme based on the classic NHL '94 that is a pure joy to use.  The Be a Pro mode is immersive beyond belief, and the game looks and plays beautifully.  Online play suffers from some flaws however, most notably being an interface that isn't too user-friendly, and some occasional connection issues.  Flaws aside though, NHL 09 is without a doubt the best NHL game to come from EA in years, and if you're a hockey fan it goes without saying that NHL 09 deserves your attention.
3281211
For me this is easily the best basketball game I've ever played.  The element that stands out and makes NBA 2k1 such a great game is the talent of the computer ai (both your opponents and teamates) and excellant graphics of this game.  I must say its better to play against friends, because sometimes the computer is really tough to beat.  Still, this is easily the best basketball games of all time and serious hoops fans shouldn't go without.