Publisher: Microsoft, www.microsoft.com
Ages: seven and up.
Parental
Advisory:
None.
When it comes to virtual basketball, Microsoft's NBA Inside Drive 2003 makes the playoffs. The title offers solid gameplay, attractive graphics, and good commentary, and this year, adds fun dunk variations and a compelling 25-season dynasty mode.
The first rate and welcome dynasty mode lets you play through some 25 NBA seasons and offers options to adjust seasons, consider player fatigue and streaks and more. You can act as a team's general manager to make trades, conduct a rookie draft and trade draft picks to build a team. Dynamic player performance features adjust player ratings up or down after each season based on how well he plays. The game also offers single-game and playoff options, as well as a practice mode to help you get comfortable with the controls.
A plus, you can create a player of your own and adjust his ratings, attributes and physical traits and apply hundreds of faces, heads and body types. The game offers dozens of different style dunks that include tip dunks, multiple jukes and more. Strategically, the game offers team-specific playbooks and a one-touch coaching feature that simulates calling plays.
The graphics are excellent and feature some 1,000 animations with enhanced skin textures, individually modeled player heads and custom body types, complete with headbands, branded shoes, and tattoos. The game serves the sounds of a real game with player introductions and coach and referee chatter, and offers convincing announcing by Kenny Smith, Kevin Calabro and Marques Johnson that includes a new half-time analysis.
Up to four may play, which makes the game a great choice for families. Interestingly, despite its positives, the game lacks support for Xbox Live to offer online play.
At the
end of the season, sports titles such as NBA Inside Drive offer superb
family play, particularly for those who are into basketball. In this light,
it's definitely worth a look.
1/28/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
