While the series still isn't on top of the heap, NBA 07 on the PSP shows
some significant progress for Sony in the sports field. The game's
improved engine and intuitive controls simplify the action to a large
degree while an increased number of AI moves makes opponents less
predictable. There's also a good number of online modes with wi-fi
support, but the numerous mini-games and arcade bonus items definitely
bring a unique feel to the package. It's not as fluid or realistic as some
other games on the market but, NBA 07 is a solid and enjoyable basketball
title.
Playing NBA 07 won't make you feel like
you're a pro-basketball player, but the game offers some decent
play-action that should please with an arcade-style feel. The game is
fully licensed and offers all the pro-teams and players you'd expect it
to, with recreations of the actual courts as well. You can select from one
of several play for both single and multiplayer games. The standard game
is decent with the usual single-game, season and franchise modes adding to
the replay value, along with an innovative conquest mode. While it might
seem like merely an elaborate version of the usual Franchise modes many
games offer, the approach used in NBA 07 is a bit different. Conquest mode
goes in a different direction and allows you to play through multiple
games, complete different sections and add players to your roster, so you
can dominate the league through multiple seasons. It's structure makes it
feel more like a RTS game than an RPG. You won't be pushing statistics
around in a balance sheet and instead can get your hands dirty on the
court as well. As you play this mode, you can also earn credits and points
that will allow you to unlock additional items such as extra jerseys, team
colors and players. NBA 07's other modes offer a fairly standard game of
basketball, with the action taking place on the court. The game's
presentation is excellent this year, with a closer-in angle that puts you
right on the court, making you feel like you're right in the center of the
action. This enhanced presentation also extends to the player models,
which show an increased level of detail and more varied animations than
they did in last year's installment.
As far as basic mechanics go, NBA 07
hasn't changed materially from last year's installment and maintains a
similar feel. Dribbling, running and jumping are fairly easy to perform
using either the PSP's analog or digital controller. Like many recent
sports games, you can give your player a quick burst of speed by pressing
the right shift button, though this reduces their stamina a bit. The
game's passing system is fairly intuitive, with players only needing to
set up the icons to indicate with player to pass to. Most moves are fairly
easy to perform, and trick moves can be used with the press of a single
button. NBA 07's shooting system is also fairly simple, with players
pressing and holding the shot button to shoot the ball. The icon around
your player changes color, from yellow to orange to green, with the
accuracy increasing the longer you hold it down. The game's free-throw
system is also fairly easy to understand, and the game isn't too taxing in
most modes. The gameplay unfolds at a fairly fast pace, allowing for quick
comebacks from deficits and rallies that accurately mimic the feel of an
NBA game, though only superficially.
Unfortunately,
the game's AI isn't the greatest, and many of your opponents tend to
become very predictable after awhile, making it easy to anticipate their
moves and tactics in advance. The team rankings give you a general
indication of the aggressiveness and skill of your opponents, but it
doesn't make as much of a difference as you think it would. Another
problem we faced with NBA 07 was the number of fouls called, which seemed
excessive and somewhat unavoidable given the somewhat clumsy nature of the
opponents you face. You can't control all the members of your team, but
they don't seem to fall in line that well when you need them, which adds
to the frustration to a large degree. Despite these problems, the simple
controls and accessible controls make this an excellent game for beginner
and novice players, as well as those looking for an arcade-style
experience.
In addition to its standard game mode,
NBA 07 includes a number of extra modes and mini-games that extend its
replay value. The first few of these modes are fairly standard and include
a shoot-out, 3 point contests, paint the court mode and one-on-one
battles. In addition, the cool dodgeball mini-game from last year's NBA
returns as well. There are also some other arcade-style contests called
Carnival Games. These include a cool pinball game that's surprisingly
addictive, cool variations of skee-ball and arcade shooting games and
more. These are fun to play and the tickets you earn can be used to unlock
additional items as well. In all, there are about ten of these cool
mini-games included in the package, each one presents a unique challenge
to master and are quite enjoyable in their own right. Their inclusion
definitely helps the overall game feel more varied and interesting. In
addition to these mini-games, NBA 07 also supports online play using the
PSP's wi-fi adaptor with Infrastructure mode. Players can set up games in
various lobbies and use different settings effortlessly, making for a
fast-moving, intuitive experience overall.
NBA 07's presentation is fairly decent
with excellent production values highlighted by excellent cut-scenes,
close-ups and replays that give the game a solid televised look. A robust
play-by-play commentary follows the action and adds excitement, while a
Hip-hop soundtrack helps to set the mood. The game's camera system feels a
bit limited, with only a few different angles available. However, the ones
that are present are decent enough and effectively bring the action to
life. It's overall feel and pacing are decent, with a robust recreation of
the sport that succeeds in many areas. It does fall a little short in the
gameplay with predictable AI, and average gameplay, but the game's
accessible controls helps to mitigate these problems to a large degree.
NBA 07's inclusion of mini-games and extras also helps to extend its
longevity, adding a lot of value to the package with enjoyable bonus
features that makes the game surprisingly fun. While the parts aren't all
perfect, NBA 07 is a decent game because the total package offers a
surprising amount of variety and entertainment. It's not the most polished
or addictive professional basketball title on the market, but NBA 07 is
still a fairly decent diversion that should please casual sports gamers.
Grade: C+
