ESPN NBA Basketball

 Xbox
ESPN NBA Basketball Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

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  • Summary: Hit the hardwood with nonstop action and intense competition with ESPN NBA Basketball. Complete with all the detailed visuals, eye-catching callouts, and commentary, ESPN NBA Basketball presents all the excitement and quickness from a real NBA game. Not only can you unleash the most skilledHit the hardwood with nonstop action and intense competition with ESPN NBA Basketball. Complete with all the detailed visuals, eye-catching callouts, and commentary, ESPN NBA Basketball presents all the excitement and quickness from a real NBA game. Not only can you unleash the most skilled crossovers and unbelievable jukes with Isomotion control, but you can also completely lock down opponents with rock-solid D. Challenge current and legendary NBA players in real time--24 hours a day, seven days a week--with your own created player in 24/7 mode.… Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. GamePro
    100
    A basketball technician’s dream. Games against the CPU realistically mimic a real game, while scrimmages against friends received a boost of energy thanks to sped-up gameplay and better shot blocking. ESPN NBA Basketball 2K4 retains the top slot by just a hair.
  2. Game Informer
    95
    Minor gripes aside, Visual Concepts has elevanted its game to an untouchable level. "Live" really has nothing on it. [Nov 2003, p.170]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Play Magazine
    91
    When you face a player, it's almost like a fighting game: who will execute the proper move first? [Nov 2003, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Operation Sports
    86
    It’s clear that they designed this game to play more like “Live” did last year out of the box. While that will probably help them sell more copies of the game, I feel Visual Concepts should have focused on other more important problems; like off the ball movement and in game AI, before adding other modes and removing key features.
  5. GameSpy
    85
    I rarely start off a review talking about how a game looks or sounds, but the presentation of this game can't be understated. It looks and sounds spectacular.
  6. TotalGames.net
    80
    An absolute must buy for basketball enthusiasts (football fans think of "Pro Evoultion Soccer 3," with a license and Live capabilities). For anyone else: this is as good as console basketball gets, so try it.
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Gaming Age
    50
    It's the bugs, the lousy camera, the lack of online leagues for Xbox and absolute necessity to adjust all of the gameplay sliders to find that decent game that shoots the overall score way down.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
  1. EfrainA.
    Oct 27, 2003
    10
    The gameplay, graphics, sound, everything is so cool, greatest, but................ Where is Michael Jordan?
  2. HiggensE.
    Oct 23, 2003
    10
    This games is much better then live, everyone needs to break the tradition of buying NBA live since they were 8 yrs old, and grow up and play This games is much better then live, everyone needs to break the tradition of buying NBA live since they were 8 yrs old, and grow up and play man's game.… Expand
  4. DallasH.
    Oct 24, 2003
    10
    The best game on the friggen market.
  5. CharlesV.
    Oct 14, 2003
    9
    This game is what basketball is all about. ESPN Basketball is faster better and more realistic. Live 2004 is a good compitition but ESPN This game is what basketball is all about. ESPN Basketball is faster better and more realistic. Live 2004 is a good compitition but ESPN basketball will always win… Expand
  6. NathanJ.
    Oct 27, 2003
    9
    Tight game, but really misses the adjustable zoom and camera angles.Sliders take care of everything else. Would have been a perfect 10 but Tight game, but really misses the adjustable zoom and camera angles.Sliders take care of everything else. Would have been a perfect 10 but definitely a 9+. … Expand
  7. BennyL.
    Mar 1, 2004
    7
    When will Sega get it right? The AI of Shaquille O'Neal is so unrealistic. Don't get me wrong, I like ESPN (see previous review) When will Sega get it right? The AI of Shaquille O'Neal is so unrealistic. Don't get me wrong, I like ESPN (see previous review) but I mean c'mon. How can it be possible for Shaq to average 24.2 rebounds per game when every normal person knows his career average is 12.9? I played though 3 career 82 game seasons just to make sure it wasn't a glitch in the AI, but sure enough he maintained that ridiculous average. So yeah, apart from that it's not bad hey?… Expand
  8. JimboC
    Feb 29, 2004
    2
    Guys, come on. How can you guys rate this game 9's and 10's. The game is terrible. I cant set my camera settings at all, which you Guys, come on. How can you guys rate this game 9's and 10's. The game is terrible. I cant set my camera settings at all, which you were able to the past 2k series. The team averages 40 shot attempts per quarter, and all of the players shoot the same way. I am just stunned that you partnas think that this game is great. Youre killing me here. THE GAME IS BROKE, UNREAL!!!!!!!!… Expand

See all 20 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best Xbox Game of 2003
28
#28 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2003