

Let's face it - if the goal is to get Dwyane Wade 15 more points in a win with only 3:30 left on the clock, the game's naturally going to consist of jacking up shot after shot with "Flash" to get him his buckets. It's actually the most entertaining mode in NBA Live 06, but it doesn't really encourage a play style that resembles actual basketball. In essence, it's a selection of game situations that require the player to start at a certain point in time and win by as much as possible, all while meeting statistical benchmarks with that team's Superstar player. There is a new mode that's exclusive to the PSP, however - the Superstar Challenge. Naturally, many of the features for the console versions have been removed - most notably the franchise mode and it's "Player Evolution". NBA Live 06 is at heart, the same game that Operation Sports' own Aaron Holbert reviewed recently, and the basics of the game - both good and bad - are essentially unchanged. EA's NBA Live series lands on the PSP just in time for the NBA season opener, and while it's a solid performing entry on Sony's portable wonder, it's lack of quality basketball play keeps it from reaching new heights on the small screen.
