Gamespot hands on

[backbreaker]

I'm not a big fan of this game, but some of the features need to be stolen, the post play is unmatched as far as fluidity and response to controller input. Now I'm really digging the playcalling as described by gamespot.

"The new key control system, as it's known, basically revolves around two-man plays, such as pick and rolls. To call a miniplay, you first hold down the L1 button, then icons appear over your teammates' heads (as they would for icon-based passing). With the L1 button held down, you pick the player you want to focus on by pressing the corresponding button on the PS3 controller. An icon will flash briefly underneath your chosen player, indicating he's ready for action.

Once you've chosen your focus player, you can press the D pad to choose the play you wish to call. For example, to call a pick and roll, you press down on the D pad; for an isolation screen, you press left; to send a player cutting toward the post, you press up; and to switch offensive formation, you press right on the D pad. That last option will let you cycle through three offensive formations: standard, perimeter, and double low. Once a play is called, you don't have control of your secondary player. Instead, the CPU controls his movement based on the play you called. You'll also have play-calling abilities on the defensive side of the ball: right to double-team in the post; left to tighten defense; up to double-team the ball carrier; and down to intentionally foul an opponent.

While calling plays on the fly is nothing new for a basketball game, being able to pinpoint the player you want in on the action is beneficial. Instead of having the computer send your shooting guard in to set a pick or your 300-pound center "streaking" toward the basket, you can choose which player you want in on the play depending on what you're looking to do on the floor. On the other hand, the available plays are limited to the four plays preassigned to the D pad, as there's no way to customize your own plays elsewhere in the game. At the very least, this will need to be expanded in future versions of NBA 08 for players to really latch on to the feature".

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/sports/n...yadded;title;1

[e0820]

I like the NBA07 demo, never played the full game. I dont know how NBA07 played or what their sliders were like, in the demo seems like its all run and gun.. Hopefully they have a demo available for NBA08.