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"Live 2004 was the first ever video game to instill the “Pro-Hop,” which is video game genius. The game play resembled an actual basketball game and makes it pretty difficult to score, however we would like it to be a little harder"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Coach K College Basketball is one of those hidden gems that only a select few people really know about"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"This is the best head-to-head game ever. NBA Jam is one of those video games that EVERYONE could play"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Like Andre 3000 says this game is the proto-type"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRIVE'S TOP 5 BASKETBALL VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME

1. NBA Live 2004 (Playstation 2)

The most realistic basketball video game of All-Time. The most recent game on our top 5 Video game list, NBA Live 2004 is perhaps the most innovative and cutting edge game of all time. Live 2004 was the first ever video game to instill the “Pro-Hop,” which is video game genius. The game play resembled an actual basketball game and makes it pretty difficult to score, however we would like it to be a little harder. The freestyle control is even better than Live 2003 with all new moves and different animations to go with them. You can play inside-outside, this game has a very extensive post game feature. The back down shoulder button and all the advanced analog stick features like the moves off the jab series allows the true gamers to dominate. Basically if you are a good basketball player in real-life, you can implement those things into this game.

The stick-fight scale 4/5

A little low here because if you are a good gamer at Live 2004 you are clearly head and shoulders above the rest. The “Pro-Hop” feature once learned is essentially the only way to be really good at this game, novice gamers have a difficult time with the “Pro-Hop” and choosing when to select a jump shot or taking it directly to the basket. Still the potential for an all out brawl looms because the zone feature is a cheap way to play defense in this game. The ability to random double the ball carrier is an annoying tactic that all veteran gamers have had to deal with on occasion. Still high rating though because of the amazing resemblance to an actual basketball game.

The girl-friend breakup rating scale 4/5

Wow, can you put in some real man-hours in Live 2004. The franchise mode, the create-a-player feature, and NBA store, all made it very easy to skip that late night viewing of “Serendipity” with your girl on the couch.


2. Coach K College Basketball (Sega Genesis)

Simply put an absolute gem. Coach K College Basketball is one of those hidden gems that only a select few people really know about. However, when you find someone part of this select group you do one of those “ahhhhhhhhh, Coach K” with an ear to ear smile. Coach K was the first video game to have old retro teams (yeah you gotta love the afros on Magic Johnson 1979 NCAA Champion Michigan State) while also having the ability to have a full NCAA College basketball season. Among the more special features of this game is the player animation for NCAA Tournament games that you win. The players all eagerly await the end of the game and jump and celebrate at mid-court. It wasn’t one of those cheesy cut-away sequences either, it was the actual players who played the game jumping up and down at mid-court celebrating and wondering what frat party they were gonna hit up later that night…..genius!

The stick-fight scale 5/5

Coach K is one of those games where guys ended up getting in fights over (real fights, not the little arguments about who got next). Who can forget the story of Jay Duncan, the player who ended up having a fractured nose for hogging the stick and using the cheap fade-away 3 point shot.

The girl-friend break-up scale 4/5

The game had a great full season mode, and an NCAA tournament mode that made you feel like you were actually playing in the NCAA tournament. We can remember skipping at least one night at “The Metropolis” with our sweeties for a late night marathon of Coach K.

3. NBA 2K2 (Dreamcast)

This is the ultimate basketball video game. NBA 2K2 for the Dreamcast set a standard for basketball video games by combining great graphics with equally superb game play. In this game you could do everything from lock people up, to blocking their shot into the stands. Prior to this, basketball video games were all about scoring; this is the first game where your defense could actually help you win. It had innovative controls, for example, the free throw shooting, (timing the left and right shoulder buttons at equal times) and the ability to hold down the right analog stick and get your defensive player into a stance.

The stick-fight scale 5/5

You and your boys would never stop fighting over the controls. This game had the unique ability of allowing the good players to get really great, but still allowing players who didn’t put in nearly the same amount of man-hours a chance to compete.

The girl-friend break-up scale 4/5

This game did not have the ability to do franchise mode. However, the season mode was very extensive and allowed for hours of great gaming. There were a few nights where we were supposed to go see “You’ve Got Mail,” but instead chose to mess around with NBA 2K2’s superb season mode.


4. NBA JAM (Sega Genesis)

This is the best head-to-head game ever. NBA Jam is one of those video games that EVERYONE could play. You could go from playing against one of your boys, to playing that old uncle who still thinks he’s nice at vid’s in the matter of seconds. The game play is only two-on-two so it made it more arcade like than real basketball. But who can forget those great features like hitting three straight jumpers and being “On Fire” where everything you shoot burns the nets, to the calling of “the Nail in the Coffin” at the end of games.

The stick-fight scale 5/5

This is the highest rated stick fight scale because the game play is so fast, that when you have a lot of buddies over it can cause some real problems about who’s turn it is on the stick. We all had that pent up aggression for the guy who could time the goal tend feature just perfectly. And who can forget the story of Tom Wojokowski who fought his best friend because he mimicked the announcer and pronounced the “Nail in the Coffin” after he picked up the stick.

The girl-friend breakup rating scale 2.5/5

This is a game you can pretty much only play with your friends. We give it a 2.5 out of 5 because of the fact that you can occasionally get away with playing against her because the game play is so simple. But still we can remember at least one night where we chose NBA JAM with the boys over Beverly Hills 90210, okay who are we kidding, over Melrose Place.


5. Double-Dribble

Like Andre 3000 says this game is the proto-type. It has a special place in basketball history as the first real basketball video game. Even though there was only a handful of teams and the graphics are very minimal, this game is forever etched into the minds of basketball fans all over. Who can forget the slow-motion dunk sequences, the familiar announcement of “DOUBLE-DRIBBLE” and the shot-gun bang every time you hit a three pointer. This game is just special for a lot of reasons, mention at a dinner conversation today and gamers will still nod their head with approval.

The stick-fight scale 3/5

This game had the potential to start fights, but gamers seemed so in awe of the slow-motion dunks that it was a great time for spectators and players. There were no real ways to be cheap in the game so arguments were kept minimal.

The girl-friend breakup rating scale 2.5/5

This scale is low because there was no season mode or tournament style game feature. However, the game was so innovative for its time that there was at least a couple nights where we skipped walking around the mall 100 times for a Double Dribble Marathon – slumber party style!



Honourable Mention

NBA Live 2003, Bulls vs Blazers, NBA Showdown, Arch-Rivals, Run and Gun Basketball.



Special Honourable Mention

NBA Live 2005 – You heard it here first, the greatest basketball video game of all-time. Set to debut this October, Live 2005 is simply amazing. Without even considering the new features such as the NBA All-Star Weekend, Live 2005 has the best game play a video game has ever seen. The graphics are very smooth and the players movements are so realistic you think you are not only watching a real NBA game, but can get caught up in the game as if you were actually playing in the real game. Live 2005 is a game that will be talked about for years and years to come.