This is a solid basketball bundle for hard-core sporting gamers. The Pros outweigh the Cons, and here they are:
PROS:
>> Superb graphics. I've played all the others (NBA2K2, NBA Live), and these are the best yet. Lay-ins, dunks, crossovers, rebounding, you name it, the XBOX delivers on this.
>> Challenging competition. I'm still a believer the Dreamcast has the best sporting games (and PS2, now that they picked up NFL2K2, NBA2K2, etc.). But even on the "All-Star" Level, I'm able to dessimate the computer on NBA2K2. I have to play buddies in 2-on-2 mode to get some decent competition. Not the case with NBA DRIVE. I'm now on the Veteran Level, and I'm at best a .500 club right now (despite having similar controls, directional passing, etc.). Makes for a more challenging and eventful gaming experience with the computer.
>> Excellent play-by-play analysis. I may be biased on this one, but I'm a big SONICS fan. The voice is Kevin Calabro and Marques Johnson (Sonic play-by-play guys). Calabro gives you a variety of his patented and colorful style. Hasn't got old yet.
>> Easy to learn controls. Microsoft didn't reinvent the wheel on this one, which is a good thing. The controls and method of play mirrors that of NBA2K2. Those of you familiar with that won't have to learn anew.
>> Realistic passing. If you pass into traffic, the ball will be snatched away. NBA2K2 let's you pass into a crowd, the length of the court, etc., and you always find your man. Not entirely the way the game is played, guys.
CONS:
>> Unrealistic rebounding. Even with excellent position, your 7' center isn't guaranteed the board. A little frustrating. Also, there's too many steals during a regulation game.
>> Buzzer beaters. I've lost a couple games to FULL-COURT THREES! Just make sure you're up by three if there's 2.3 seconds to go.
>> No create-a-player. It's fun to create yourself and dunk over Motumbo. Maybe in the next version.
>> Ridiculous blocks. At least 3-4 times during a game, my power forward will slash down the lane, go for a dunk, and there's a clean strip of the ball in mid-air. Yes, very annoying.
Nevertheless, this is the best basketball game out there. The games are sometimes close, sometimes you're blown away, sometimes your guys are hot, sometimes their cold...it's the way a season goes. Challenging game play and sick graphics all make for a notable and superb gaming experience. Now get to it!
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I'm almost an exclusive player of sports games, and have played all the major basketball releases. In my book, this is the best one, with NBA2K2 a close second. I'm a previous Dreamcast owner, and I was reluctant to purchase another system (in my opinion, the Dreamcast has the best sporting games). Because Sega now focuses on games (which they excel at), they've all but abandoned their Dreamcast efforts --thus, I had no choice but pick up another system! With more graphic capability than PS2, XBOX was the obvious choice.
NBA Inside Drive CONS:
>>> Rebounding is difficult. I play with the Sonics (my home team). Too many times during the game my opponent's guards will be leaping over the 7' Jerome James. Yes, a little unrealistic and frustrating. At the same time, you can get 20 blocks and 20 steals a game. Not entirely a realistic portrayal of the game here.
>>> No "Create-a-Player" mode. Sure, it's fun to create yourself and go for 40 points against Tracy McGrady.
>>> I've lost a couple close ones at the buzzer...to FULL COURT HAIL-MARIES! All you can do is toss your controller and call B.S. on that.
NBA Inside Drive PROS:
>>> The game is challenging. I can dessimate an opponent on the All-Star level on NBA2K2. As for this game, I'm about a .500 club on only the Veteran Level of this one. Granted, I've just started playing, but the controls and functions are basically the same as 2K2 (i.e., I'm comfortable with the playability). It makes for a much more challenging game playing experience.
>>> The graphics are sick (meaning good). Bodies, faces, lay-ins, alley-oops and dunks. All superb.
>>> The commentary is sharp. Granted, you hear alot of the same things over and over ("Payton with a cork-screw hopper!" Whatever that is.). But you've got the best voice in the game, Seattle's own colorful Kevin Calabro. Hard to complain here.
All in all. The best B-ball game out there. Great eye-candy, and because it's so challenging to win, it is more likely to keep your interest well into a season. Well worth your [money].
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Now, don't get me wrong this is not a bad game, the gameplay is very good. But the overall presentations isn't. I would give the actual gameplay 4 stars. Something good about the game is that the one thing that really comforts me and other people is that the controls are identical to the NBA2K series on the Dreamcast. One thing I am wondering and other people are too is why is the game so dark? If the game was brightened the graphics would look a lot more sharp.Also, where is create a player? I mean come on, most basketball games in the last 5 years have had create a player. And another thing, there's no Franchise mode. I mean who doesn't want to create a team that has a dynasty of winning 10 Championships in a row and having the fun of having a players contract run out. The Grapichs in this game are amazing but could have been 4 times as good if the game was brightened. The gameplay in this game is good, but not nearly as fun as NBA2K, NBA2K1, or NBA2K2. NBA INSIDE DRIVE 2002 is a VERY good game according to gameplay and I would consider buying it, but I might wait a while and get NBA2K2 first for the x-box. (I already have it for the dreamcast) What I am about to say is what most people can agree with, NBA Inside Drive 2002 is a good game, but could have been better...the season mode just isn't enough for a solo player and we need more options! NBA INSIDE DRIVE 2002 is better than NBA LIVE 2002, but falls way short of being better than NBA2K2. Hopefully with NBA INSIDE DRIVE 2003 everything will be fixed and maybe the INSIDE DRIVE series could start its own video game franchise being right up there with the 2K and LIVE series.
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Ok...first thing's first, this is a great game. BUT there are A LOT of things you can not do that makes basketball games better. First thing, no dynasty or franchise mode. Then, you can only do a season, and you cant create a player at all. And at first i dont think i liked the game at all. Because when you are playing, its like you are playing in a dungeon. But that is probably because i had nba live 2002. Then when i got use to it, this game is pretty addictive. game play is realistic as can be. I play basketball for university of delaware, and this game is whats its like actually playin in the game. You cant make dumb passes and rebounding and blocking shots was made to perfection. Unlike in nba live where you can take the ball to the hoop and never get blocked. I suggest renting it and also playing nba 2k2 before spending 50 bucks on it. I mean I thought it was worth the money but thats me. You might spend 50$ and realize its the worst game youve ever played.
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Although Drive2002 is a definite step up from Live2002, it still leaves me wondering what is so difficult about getting things right. As Microsoft complains that other third party producers aren't using the x-box to its full capacity for their games, they sell themselves extremely short with Drive2002. True the graphics are better than any other game on the market(still anticipating 2K2 launch on march 1st)but it seems as if every arena has the lights turned off, or maybe we're mearly playing every game,at night in a retractable dome? Also they decided to pay more attention to colorful commentary and post game remarks than instituting a create-player and fantasy option. Overall the game is fun until you start playing on more challenging levels, where jump shooting becomes to difficult for the human brain to comprehend. This is about the time where you start dunking on every play. It is also way to easy to rip ball handelers, alley-oops seem almost forgotten, and passing to the player you want is almost impossible, because the computer would rather you throw a lobbing cross court pass, then to the player next to you for an open dunk(newly added lob feature). The AI is smarter but 2002 NBA rules aren't all implemented in Drive2002(zone defenses). Instead your player can just wander around double teaming anyone you would like him to. Passing lanes are played too well, and can anybody tell me why these game creators can not develop a game where players get out and run with you on a fast break? It always seems like it's a three on one and both of you wing man stop to watch. Hopefully Drive 2002 is just a preview of what the real version of the game will be like in 2003!
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