Customer Rating: 
Summary: very good
Comment: the game is pretty good, it has fiba teams and graphics actually did looks like it improve more than last year version, it doesnt have online but it doesnt really matter, it really is entertaining, the control scheme change a bit, with more controls over those freestyle dribbles, the bad is that the game goes so slow, even when you are running, it looks like your walking the whole game, just change the speed of the game in the preferences and it will be fine. Roster update is not really updated, missing some new rookies etc
buy it for NBA on the go!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: NBA Live 08 vs. NBA Live 09
Comment: First of all, this game is a bit of a disappointment. I have NBA Live 08 and bought this game thinking it would be an upgrade, especially with the supposed DNA thing. However, this game turned out to be a leap backwards for EA. Also, I am not sure if you can update the players DNA for the version.
Pros of NBA Live 09
- You can choose which special dribble move you make by holding down the L button and pressing one of the other buttons. Therefore you have 4 special dribble options. In the 08 version, one button controls the special dribble so you only have 1 option.
- New 2 on 2 feature is nice (Streetball type of play with any 2 players).
- Players dive after loose balls, which is also new.
- If you shoot the ball while you are facing away from the basket, your player will shoot a turnaround jumper. In the 08 version your player sometimes shoots a backwards shot which almost never goes in.
- Prior to the game you are notified which players are hot and which are cold. Good to know who you want shooting the ball.
- New hot spots help you to know where your player likes shooting the ball.
- New FIBA International basketball.
Cons of NBA Live 09
- Graphics are not very good especially compared to the 08 version. NBA Live 08 has much better graphics.
- Gameplay is very slow (compared to the 08 version). It was like playing in slow motion the entire game. I had to change the game speed setting to 100 (the highest setting), which helped a lot but it was still slower than the 08 version in the default game speed setting.
- Game is too easy. On the hardest setting (Superstar), I was able to consistently beat the CPU and Kobe would score 70-80 points (in 5 minute quarters). I would occasionally lose on the second hardest setting (All-Star) in the 08 version.
- Minor bugs in the game. For example, if a player catches a pass at midcourt he is sometimes called for a backcourt violation even though he just stood there to catch the ball (I ended up turning off the backcourt violations in the options menu). Also, sometimes players run out of bounds when you are inbounding the ball. So you have to make sure you don't pass the ball to them.
- Missing some players. Example: Lakers don't have Trevor Ariza.
Overall, I think NBA Live 08 is a much better game. It seems as if they had to downgrade some aspects in the 09 version (like the graphics and game speed) to add features like FIBA, DNA, etc. I would rather have better gameplay than the extra features. You can make trades in the 08 version so that you can play with updated rosters (you can trade Shaq for Shawn Marion and Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittiton, etc). I ended up selling NBA Live 09 and will happily keep playing NBA Live 08.
