NBA Live 2002

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
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  1. GamePro
    90
    The gameplay finally matches the graphics, and the result is what basketball fans want and need in a PS2 game.
  2. Game Informer
    85
    The defense is excellent – players hunch down or take swipes at the ball. The alley-oop button is a beautiful thing. [Dec 2001, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Sports Gaming Network
    81
    The real gem of the post game is that as your player nears the basket, the AI team eventually double teams him. When it does, you find the open man for a mid- or long-range jumper. This is basketball 101, and I love it.
  5. GamerWeb Sony
    80
    The fact still remains though that if you are looking for a game that represents sim-hoops, there is no game that represents that better than NBA Live 2002.
  6. Hot Games
    80
    The game has not taken any new leaps and bounds towards improvement in the way that Sega Sports "NBA 2K2" has, scoring this game just a little lower in the overall fun factor.
  7. GameSpot
    77
    Although the rebounding game is a bit improved, there are new presentation elements, and the new franchise mode adds quite a bit of replay value, NBA Live 2002 does not improve significantly on last year's version and seems to be falling behind competing hoops products.
  8. IGN
    76
    While it's clear that they knew of the biggest problem areas and addressed each and every one of them, the majority of improvements were only minor ones and didn't really add up to much in the end.
  9. Gamezilla!
    75
    With few improvements over the last version, NBA Live 2002 is taking a risk by opening the door to its competitors.

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Best PS2 Game of 2001

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. DanaL.
    Jun 11, 2002
    3
    I have been playing ea basketball games since NBA 98 and besides graphics improvements the games have been getting worse. The rebounding, I have been playing ea basketball games since NBA 98 and besides graphics improvements the games have been getting worse. The rebounding, shooting, player speed and post moves are so unrealistic that it hurts me to play. If these thigs were fixed then they would have a great game!… Full Review »
  2. AnthonyM.
    Jan 6, 2002
    10
    NBA Live 2002 is unbelievable! The rosters most of all. The 40 new dunks and new lay-ups are so real. I'm tellin' ya if you like NBA Live 2002 is unbelievable! The rosters most of all. The 40 new dunks and new lay-ups are so real. I'm tellin' ya if you like basketball and have good taste and you haven't bought NBA Live 2002 yet you better buy it before it's sold out. Plus it will probably be worth a lot of money 'cause there was never a palindrome (a number that looks the same if you look at it backwords) basketball game. And 'cause there's Michael Jordan. Not one NBA Live game has ever had Michael Jordan on the regular roster 'till now.… Full Review »
  3. ErosD.
    Nov 25, 2001
    4
    This game looks great and plays terrible. This once great franchise is sinking. Fast.
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