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Okay, the new NBA season is here, so hold your breath because NBA Inside Drive 2003 takes you on that 82 game ride of your life. The game play is smooth as Jordan’s jumper and as exciting as watching Iverson break some rookies ankles. Oh you say you wanna see someone dunk or someone get dunked on? NBA Inside Drive 2003 provides plenty of love in that category. Don’t be surprised when you see Kobe or Vince Carter’s shoe in your grill! Yeah, thanks Vince. What is that, a size 17? Just thought I’d ask while I got the close up!

Fluid game play makes NBA Inside Drive 2003 a top-notch basketball game. Three different levels of play (rookie, veteran, all-star) give you competition or no competition at all. Adjustments in game speed gives players an option on how fast they would like to see that crossover. There are some noticeable drawbacks. You can’t dive for the ball. You try, but you find yourself looking like an idiot, simply jumping out of bounds. Suddenly the superstar ball player has jumped into the world of ballet. What is the deal! But we all know there isn’t anything that’s perfect, but I would like to call this a major oversight. I would like to note that they do a fine job of making up for that when you do some crazy dunk over Shaq to get the fans up out of their seats. They actually managed to get me out of mine a few times.

Realism is huge for me and this game did lack little. During player introductions, they could do a bit better. They could get the whole flashing lights and the whole pyros thing and bring the bench players onto the floor and create that tunnel where your starters run through and bump chests with fellow starters. Instead you find your bench players sitting in the background with their arms crossed, almost like they are ticked off that they aren’t starting.

The coach never gets involved during the game and it is impossible to get, league leader in technicals, Rasheed Wallace, to get a technical foul no matter how hard he tries.

When playoff time comes, the level of play does pick up a bit and you feel it right away, but when you win the conference championship, there isn’t any hoopla or extra pageantry. You find yourself patting yourself on the back, instead of the game doing it for you. The biggest disappointment I had was after winning it all. There isn’t anything except for a picture of the championship trophy. Hey great. Thanks. Even NBA Live 98, form EA Sports had that. C’mon!

But there are areas that the game takes to another level. So let the trash talking stop and let the kudos begin.

Commentary by the crew from last year and the addition of Kenny “The Jet” Smith makes for a strong play-by-play announcing team. Creative comments make you feel great or make you feel like the coach should be benching you for taking that shot while being triple teamed.

The game takes you from the 2002 version where you couldn’t have a dynasty, draft, or even create a player to now. And what do you get? Voila! Create yourself or all of your hommies. Take on today’s NBA greats year after year, for the next 25 years and draft at the end of every season for that link to help take your team to the NBA Finals and win it all!

The creation of your players is great, but you have to make your way in the league. You have to earn your skills points (offensive, defensive, shooting, physical, and wildcard) which is something I thought was a great idea. It keeps the realism in tact. There are so many facial options, that by the time you are finished, chances are he may look like you, unless you’re female. I’m sure you get the picture. Tattoo. You want a tattoo? How about one on your forearm, ankle, bicep or shoulder. You’ll be the Allen Iverson or Rasheed Wallace look alike in no time. Short socks, long socks, or no socks. Take your pick. My God! You could even give yourself an Afro and pretend to be Dr. J. But like every game, it does have some drawbacks; you can’t give yourself a gold or platinum smile. I know Master P did “Take it outside” for the game, but c’mon. Maybe next year.

Now you’re a GM that has full control of his team. At the end of every season comes the NBA draft. Great new feature that has been lacking for so many years. But don’t be fooled. You don’t just get to draft players and keep them on your roster. OH NO! You’re the General Manager who is pulling out his hair, trying to maintain a strong roster, while staying under the salary cap and the rookies these days aren’t asking for free shoes anymore, they want millions of your money. Didn’t you know, everyone is driving Bentley’s. Veteran players want even more money. Trade a player to make room on your roster or release that 350 pound lump of lard that is just taking your money and not producing anything, but taking up space on the injured reserve/inactive roster. Example; Shawn Kemp.

Now you can do lopsided trades, or even trade for future draft picks. Someone got hurt and you need someone to fill his shoes? Then try the free agency market, but be warned, they cost a pretty penny too. As the GM you have to make choices that you might not want to make, but you do what you have to do to get to the NBA Finals.

Overall NBA Inside Drive 2003 lives up to its billing. There is a great effort in graphics and a true effort in the GM department. I find myself playing it and playing it. There have been very few basketball games that I have played where I have wanted to do that.