Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP

Genre: Sports

Number of Players: 1 - 4

Support: HD 1080i, PS Network Compatible

Peripherals: Ethernet Broadband

I’m not a big sports fan, I may have actually covered this in a review before, and in fact, I just don’t’ find the fascination with them at all. The fixation that others have isn’t something that I have, and though I’ve been to a few baseball games in the past, watching sports just isn’t something that’s up my alley. With video games though, I suppose it’s a little different. I don’t have to get involved in what’s going on, pay attention to stats or things of that nature, but simply play the game. The PlayStation 3 has a few sports titles that have premiered with the launch of the system, and with basketball season now starting, it’s not a surprise to see that NBA ’07 isn’t just on the PlayStation 2 and the PSP, but has made its way to Sony’s new and astounding new console.

NBA ’07 delivers all the action and excitement of professional basketball of the PlayStation 3 without the commercials, courtroom trials, pitbull fights, and attempts to use your trading card as identification when you get pulled over. For any fan of basketball though, and those that have a high definition television in their homes, one of the biggest attractions isn’t going to just be the game itself but the fact that NBA ’07 is presented in full 1080p to give the game an even better sense of realism. Don’t forget that this is also a THX certified game, so NBA ’07 isn’t just aiming at a realistic look but a realistic sounds as well to get you as close to the game as possible.

The usual sports title selections are found here. If you simply want to showboat and let your friends see just how fantastic the game looks and plays, there’s a quick game option where you can do just that and select from any of the teams in the NBA. If you want to play as the Lakers, you can. Interested in seeing if you can play the Trailblazers better than what they do on the court? You most certainly can do so. You can play up to four players or just square off against the computer if you’d like.

League play however brings a number of new features into the game. You can choose a single game, a season, or jump right to the Playoffs. In the games season mode, you can opt to use the original roster or use an original one of your creation, one that has been downloaded, or one that is tailored just for exhibition play. You also can select how many games there will be in the season as well as options for trading players.

There’s more interesting options though and unlike the PS2 games that were released, companies are already taking advantage of the HDD with the PS3 (though since this is a Sony title, that’s not a surprise.) You can play the Game of the Week. You can download what has been determined as the best moments in the week of NBA and are presented with a number of challenges that you will need to accomplish. It’s really a very good idea in my opinion, and this is coming from someone who really isn’t a basketball fan at all. Being able to download “highlights” is something that every fan is going to enjoy. You can also take a look at the leader board to see which online player is performing the best and who knows, maybe you’ll be looking at the scores of an actual NBA star (I have a hard time believing any of them are going to want to overlook playing this game and showing off their skills off the court.)

There are plenty of things that can be unlocked as well. Completing the downloadable challenges will reward you with player trading cards while a visit to the official NBA website will give you codes to unlock different team jerseys. There are also mini games included with the game in case you want to take a break from the real game itself, so with so many different features and ways to adjust the game to your liking and playing style, NBA ’07 is a basketball fans dream.

The AI in the game is good, almost too good actually. This isn’t a game that’s going to allow you to do the same moves over and over again without consequence. The computer seems to catch on quite quickly to your tactics and NBA ’07 also isn’t a game that’s going to allow you to simply sit and try and decide what you’re going to do next or use the same player over and over again. Remember, basketball is a team sport, and you will find that you need to use your other team members, not just rely on one. I also noticed the computer has a tendency to determine weak spots in your defense, something that put me behind very quickly until I started to actually concentrate on what I was doing, not just passing and shooting. Even taking a shot is something that is done quickly, and you will see a meter that appears and quickly begins to change color. Green is the ideal color, but hold the ball too long or too short and you’ll find that more than likely, the computer will grab the ball on the rebound.

NBA ’07 also uses the motion sensor ability on the PS3’s new SIXAXIS controller. This takes a little time to get used to, though it’s easier that what it was for me to try and get used to using the dance pad with DDR (and I still can’t do it.) When you’re on the offense, you can move the controller forward or backwards to perform a juke move, right or left for a crossover, or counter-clockwise or clockwise will allow you to spin. This addition is a great way to give the game a certain degree of interactivity aside from simply pressing buttons and using the analog sticks, but the usage of course all comes down to the player and what is ultimately more comfortable for them.

Again, I’m not a sports fan, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t confess that the graphics in this game are incredible impressive. The PlayStation 3’s Cell processor allows from some of the best visuals and amazing realism that you will find in a sports game. The players actually look like the real players in the game, not some cheap attempt to replicate them, but what I found to be even more fantastic was the player movements. Watching the players guard and pull off fancy moves on the court almost eliminates the idea that you’re playing a game. NBA ’07 is also set up to track things like eye movements and sweat. It’s impressive to see the players start to bead up with sweat the more they play or actually look in various directions as the game progresses.

I may not be a sports fan to any degree, but I do know a good game when I play it (and see it) and NBA ’07 is a perfect showcase of what the PS3 can do visually and how enjoyable using the new controller can really be. Plus, with the ability to play online, just like with just about every sports game, I think that basketball fans across the US (and other parts of the world) are going to be getting A LOT of use out of the PS3. NBA ’07 is a slam dunk for fans and I’m sure will only be topped by the next version that comes out next year.

-mike-