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| NBA Live 2002 | |
|---|---|
| Cover art featuring Steve Francis | |
| Developer(s) | PlayStation: NuFX Xbox/PlayStation 2: EA Canada |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Series | NBA Live |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Release | PlayStation, PlayStation 2 Xbox |
| Genre(s) | Sports (Basketball) |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
NBA Live 2002 is the 2002 installment of the NBA Live video games series. The cover features Steve Francis as a member of the Houston Rockets. The game was developed by EA Sports and released on October 30, 2001, for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation, and November 15, 2001, for the Xbox. This game was commentated by Don Poier and former NBA player Bob Elliot. It was a launch title for Xbox in North America and Europe.[ citation needed ]
| Aggregator | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PS | PS2 | Xbox | |
| Metacritic | 81/100 [2] | 70/100 [3] | 76/100 [4] |
| Publication | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PS | PS2 | Xbox | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | N/A | 4.83/10 [5] [a] | N/A |
| Famitsu | N/A | 29/40 [6] | 28/40 [7] |
| Game Informer | N/A | 8.5/10 [8] | 8.5/10 [9] |
| GameRevolution | N/A | C [10] | C [11] |
| GameSpot | N/A | 7.7/10 [12] | 7.7/10 [13] |
| GameSpy | N/A | N/A | 60% [14] |
| GameZone | 8.5/10 [15] | N/A | N/A |
| IGN | N/A | 7.6/10 [16] | 7.8/10 [17] |
| Next Generation | N/A | N/A | |
| Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | N/A | ||
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | N/A | N/A | 7.6/10 [21] |
| X-Play | N/A | N/A | |
The PlayStation and Xbox versions received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 2 version received "average" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. [2] [3] [4] NextGen said in its final issue, "This Xbox version of EA Sports' hoops series is basically the same game you can find on every other platform – in other words, chock full of uninspiring graphics, plodding gameplay, and clumsy controls." [18] In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was ported and published by Electronic Arts on January 1, 2002, followed by the Xbox version on March 7, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40 for the former, [6] and 28 out of 40 for the latter. [7]
Dan Elektro of GamePro 's January 2002 issue said that the PlayStation 2 version "makes up for last year's missteps and then some. The gameplay finally matches the graphics, and the result is what basketball fans want and need in a PS2 game." [23] [b] An issue later, he said that the Xbox version "sets a great standard for Xbox basketball", [24] [c] and that the PlayStation version "comes packed with all the gameplay and features you expect: lengthy season modes, a 1-on-1 streetball mode with any player in the league, and create-a-player options." [25] [d]