NBA Live 96
| NBA Live 96 | |
|---|---|
cover featuring Shaquille O'neal
|
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| Developer(s) |
PlayStation/MS-DOS: EA Canada SNES/Sega Genesis: Hitmen Productions Game Boy: Tiertex Design Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts, THQ |
| Series | NBA Live |
| Platform(s) | PC, PlayStation, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy |
| Release |
DOS
SNES Sega Genesis Game Boy |
| Genre(s) | Sports (Basketball) |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer (Head to Head or Cooperative) |
NBA Live 96 is the second installment of the NBA Live video games series. The PC and PlayStation covers features Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic, while the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis box covers show a photo of the tip-off to Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals. The game was published by EA Sports and released on November 30, 1995. The PlayStation and PC versions were the first games in the series to feature a 3D rendered court, allowing for multiple camera angles using EA's "Virtual Stadium" technology (also used by FIFA Soccer 96). The on-court player graphics remained 2D sprites. It was also the first NBA Live game released for the PlayStation. NBA Live 96 is followed by NBA Live 97.
A review of the Genesis version in Next Generation gave strong approval to the game's new features, particularly the post-up move and the create-a-player feature. They gave the game a perfect five out of five stars, concluding, "While the action and graphics in Slam 'N' Jam ... for 3DO are still superior, NBA Live '96 for the Genesis is the best basketball simulation out there, anywhere."Next Generation gave the SNES version a reduced score of four out of five stars, explaining that "the game's essential lack of defensive play and offensive strategy make this cart pale in comparison to Genesis' version as a simulator." The reviewer elaborated that in the SNES version the player can easily score with repeated dunks, and concluded that the game, though the best SNES basketball game yet released, pales against the Genesis version. Johnny Ballgame of GamePro said the SNES version "is bigger and badder than previous versions on the SNES, and it's the first to be comparable to the acclaimed Genesis versions of the past." He praised the new features, excellent controls, improved graphics, and "jammin' soundtrack". He found the Genesis version inferior to the SNES version with its smaller sprites, fewer colors, and less smooth opening music, but still outstanding in absolute terms.
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