Home Page / xbox / N / NBA Inside Drive 2004 / Review Listing / Review

I was very anxious to receive this game in the mail. It's been a little while since I've bought me a new Basketball game to play. My most recent one being NBA Live 2003. Obviously, the first thing I did after putting the game into my Xbox drive was get out the manual to figure out what buttons do what. Seemed simple and easy to remember, and it was.

While exploring through the game's main menu, I discovered that you can practice instead of playing a quick game. What's great about the Shoot around, is that you also get what you could call a tutor, or in this case, a Shooting Coach. He let's you know when you are releasing the ball at the best moment. Whether it's too early, too late, a little early, excellent, etc... This allows you to find your players shot. However, releasing at the perfect moment doesn't exactly guarantee a hit shot.

This is a very nice feature, because not only can you do a Shoot around practice, but you can also practice shooting your Free Throws. Step up to the line, and practice the so called gimmes until you match up to your idea of perfection. Free Throws in this game are just as difficult for different players as it is for them in real life, adding a realistic element. This doesn't have the Fantasy World of Shaq Daddy making every Free Throw he steps up to.

After shooting around for a little while, I decided to read through the manual a little more, and check out what other options are in the main menu. While reading, I learned that the game has incredible AI (Artificial Intelligence). It has what is called Cold and Hot streaks. If a player misses 2-3 shots in a row, they go into a Cold Streak, making it more difficult to make shots with that player. If a player makes 2-3 shots in a row, they go into a Hot Streak, making them capable of making more shots.

If you want a better chance of scoring points-or shutting down your opponent-you need to get the better side of momentum going in your favor. If and when you notice that a player on the opposing team is on a Hot Streak, call a timeout and hope that guy cools off during the break. If you run into one of your own players having an off day and/ or being a bit of a slacker, let him go warm up the bench for the rest of your squad.

In NBA Inside Drive 2004, stepping into the paint doesn't necessarily mean you're about to put up a sure bucket. As soon as someone has the ball within the paint, the game's AI steps up. This usually requires whipping out your better moves in order to get by the defenders.

This game is full of different features such as:

• 1. Real Time Coaching
• 2. Player Control Profiles (Record your stats.)
• 3. Playbooks (Make your own plays.)
• 4. Creating a Player
• 5. Earning Skill Points
• 6. A Fantasy Draft
• 7. The Front Office
• 8. The Offseason
• 9. Player Trades and Releasing
• 10. Full General Management (Play up to 25 NBA Seasons.)
• 11. XSN Sports & X Box Live Compatablility.

For those of you who don't know, let me enlighten you a little bit about XSNSports.com. XSNsports.com is the Web-based service that links your Xbox, Xbox Live, PC, and cell phone together for the first time ever. NBA Inside Drive 2004 fans will now be able to organize their own teams, leagues, and schedules from a centralized Web site, and Xbox Live will automatically broadcast up-to-date scores, standings, stats, and trade proposals to any Web-based device.

Details like:

• 1. Tattoos
• 2. Headbands
• 3. Hairstyles
• 4. Rumbling on the Controller pad.
• 5. Commentating by Kenny Smith, Kevin Calabro, and Marques Johnson, provide their unique mix of catchphrases and insightful commentary.
• 6. Experience the sounds of the NBA game, from sneaker squeaking to arena noise, with Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.

Jukes, fakes, lobs, steals, articulate passing, and glorious dunks are just the beginning of a few of the things that can be done in this game. What makes a lot of this so wonderful is that not all players are capable of all of these things. If Gary Payton doesn't dunk much in real life, I guarantee you he won't in this game either. Shaq isn't full of jukes in real life, and I promise you he doesn't in NBA Inside Drive 2004, but you'll surely be ran over by the Diesel if you attempt to step up. It doesn't get any more realistic than this.

The buttons are easy to remember, the menus are easy to maneuver through, the commentators aren't as annoying as other games that I've played, and beating a season doesn't mean that you'll put this game back in it's case and store it in your entertainment center or closet to collect a bunch of dust. The only real complaint that I had on this game was it not allowing you to play your own custom music that you've saved in your Jukebox, (aka: the music someone can save on their hard drive of their Xbox). However, I can't complain much, because the music already set up for NBA Inside Drive 2004, up-to-date Hip-Hop Beats, is definitely fit for it.

I can not wait to give it a go on Xbox Live! If it's great now, whether playing by myself or with another buddy or two, imagine the possibilities on Xbox Live & XSN Sports.

I feel privileged to have been given the chance to review this game. I'll keep it, and play it by myself, online, or with my buddies in my living room for months, and possibly the years to come. NBA Inside Drive 2004 is a Slam Dunk, with all hands down and 2 thumbs up.