I own NBA Live 2003 too. That one was terrible too. Did I think that 2004 would be an improvement? No. It was clear ever since that the people who develop this are no real basketball fans. So some things in the game would change, but no overall improvement would be made. I knew it. I was right.

Let me give you an example. Have you ever gone to a concert of a favorite band and see many people who only know a couple of songs, and that's all they expect to listen to? Well, this is similar. These guys do not really know basketball. I doubt they 've ever played it, even as amateurs. They have only watched it on TV. No, not whole games. Just the highlights.
So if ALL you like of basketball is the fastbreaks and blocking dunks, then this game is for you. Otherwise, stay away.

Sure, some things have changed since Live 2003. Defense is slightly better. The freestyle system is worse. Player motion is worse. The Dynasty Mode is even worse and more arcadish than Live 2003's Franchise Mode. There are huge bugs in it too, and no patch for them yet.

Anyway, a good inclusion was the brand new "slider system", where you can actually adjust things like fouling frequency, block frequency, double team frequency etc. This is good, but even tampering with everything is not enough to create a simulation out of this parody-of-a-game. It is just not a simulation.

The new "10 player awarness" thingy has actually done things worse. Players usually choose to move in completely counter-intuitive manners. And of course, they refuse to mark their man and stop the fastbreaks. I mean, it's really ridiculous.

A last comment. Have the developers done all these "mistakes" on purpose?
Yes, most of them. I cannot believe that they can't program the damn thing not to go on fastbreaks all the time. I refuse to believe that they couldn't make a game where scores would be realistic in the "Simulation Mode" (scores are too high). They are just unable to appreciate real basketball (or don't care enough to).
But there are also mistakes that show programming incompetence. The "10 player awareness thingy" (or whatever they call it) is just poorly programmed.

So...why did I buy this game again? Oh, yes, there is no competitor for PC, and wanted a basketball game to play. Too bad for me, I guess.
In conclusion, if you hated Live 2003, you are going to hate this one too. If you have never played Live 2003, you are a lucky man, do not play this one either.

"Terrible.", I don't normally write reviews, but this game was so bad that I felt as if I had to send a warning to all those out there that are considering buying this. This is the most infuriating and broken game I have ever had the misfortune of coming across (let alone shelled out thirty bucks for). I was rather pleased upon reading the reviews that I am not the only one who has physically destroyed my CD's (for the record, it felt REALLY good doing so, and I recommend it to all frustrated buyers of this game. Sure, you're basically throwing away your money, but the game is atrocious anyway -- your money was wasted as soon as you got NBA Live).
A few of the reasons why destroying it was one of the most satisfying moments of my life:
1) As soon as you miss a shot, the opposing players are back on the other end for a (usually uncontested) fastbreak. Not only is this unrealistic, but it's maddening for any gamer because there is nothing that he/she can do to stop it, no matter what his skill level is or who he's playing with.
2) The CPU regularly comes back from 40, 50, even 60 point defecits, and strings together 20-0 runs before you can blink an eye.
3) Six foot point guards like Steve Nash suddenly become shot-blocking fiends -- more than a few dozen times have my guards gone up for jumpers to have them sent back -- to make things even more ridiculous, the shot-blocker almost always gets control of the ball afterwards ... then goes on to lead another fastbreak.
4) Graphically, it was a lot less impressive than some reviewers have claimed it to be. Players' jerseys often had the wrong names on them (there's something unnerving about playing against the Spurs and seeing "Nowitzki" on Tony Parker's back).
5) Control-wise, it was annoying that the steal and layup buttons were the same. Many times have I tapped the steal button on defense, only to have my player immediately launch a sixty foot floater immediately after taking the ball away.

I am currently planning to send an envelope to EA containing the shattered remains of my game and an angry letter demanding a refund. It's truly a pity that the only NBA game available for the PC is this disaster. For the sake of your nerves, your time and (most importantly) your money, I STRONGLY advise everyone to stay away from this. I also recommend to fellow unfortunate or misled souls who have already taken the plunge and gotten it: do the same as I did and tell EA how truly terrible NBA LIve 2004 is. Maybe, just maybe, they'll even take a hint and release something worthwhile in its place next year.

"Just rimmed out.", Let me start by saying that this game is a GRAND improvement from last years game. The in-the-paint action is phenominal and the level of thought in shot selection makes for a more realistic experience than you get from ESPN Basketball. However, Live's franchise mode once again isn't up to par with ESPN. After three seasons I had Paul Pierce and Trace Mcgrady starting on my bench. It's so unbelievebly easy to stack your team because the salary cap system is awfully executed.
In the end, this game will WOW you on the court, and leave you scratching you head at the GM's desk.
PROS- Smoothest, most realistic gameplay
- Well done sound, sountrack and announcers perfect
CONS- No thought in training camp mode
- Salary cap ruins franchise mode
- EA's comeback AI always lets the CPU score when needed.

"Rejected! It's a fast break the other way!", This is the first game that made me so mad I physically destroyed the CD. Here are the most infuriating problems with NBA Live 2004:

In-game:
-A lot of shots by guards get rejected because you just can't shake the defender
-When a shot gets rejected, it's a guaranteed fast break for the CPU which usually results in a thunderous dunk.
-Fast breaks for your team are nearly impossible because three or four players for the CPU always manage to get down court before you can (complete opposite of what your guys do.)
-Can't a guy pass without leaving his feet? Players pass the ball with their back to the basket (and the receiver) most of the time, meaning they jump and throw. And maybe this is owing to my lack of skill, but why can't I control who the pass is going to with a single-stick controller?
-If you inbound the ball after a turnover on your own end, you get called for a backcourt violation. I eventually had to turn that rule off to stop that.

Out of game problems:

-Trading draft picks: the only time the CPU will consider trading draft picks is when yours are known to be high. Otherwise, it'll never take a chance.
-Training camp: players hardly ever make any progress, and the good ones will actually get worse!

Game crashes:
-It took five tries for me to complete my first dynasty game because the game would quickly go black and then I'd be at my desktop. No error messages, no information at all. Just gone.

On a positive note:
I have to say the traps and loose ball scrambles are a plus. Nice to see real basketball traits built in. Players posting up is really neat too. And Marv Albert makes the action entertaining.

This game is not all bad, but what is bad about it is enough to make you pull your hair out. Save yourself the headache of one ridiculous fast break after another. Try some other game.

"Magnifico", I haven't played this game since NBA Live 98, and man it really has chanced a lot. I have a 128MB video card, kind of expected awesome graphics, but I wasn't impressed, for that 4 stars.

In sound I give it 5 stars. Cool soundtracks. I just love Mr. Albert saying "three pointer... Yes!"

The gameplay requires more thinking, is not as easy as dunking everytime you want. Now you have to run plays to score.

This is a must have game!