Every year I line up to purchase the new NBA Live, and every year the developers disappoint me. This has been going on since about 1996, and damnit, it's time to break this vicious cycle with Live 07! It's got tons of features, slick visuals, and a few interesting gameplay tweaks, the likes of which may forever change basketball videogames. Or it'll be total crap. It's a tossup at this point.

EA didn't do me any favors with the Xbox 360 version of NBA Live 06. It looks fantastic, but the publisher rushed it so that it would make the system launch, and the result is a game that's not only devoid of personality but plenty of features. But that's not the case with Live 07. The developers have done a wonderful job making sure that it features the same number of options as its PS2 and Xbox counterparts beginning with the superb ESPN integration. It's still missing pre-game, half-time, and post game shows, but EA's done an excellent job delivering tons of sports info. As soon as you log onto Xbox Live you'll not only receive actual sports scores but SportsCenter video, podcasts, access to ESPN radio, and plenty of news articles. Furthermore, the game will keep you abreast of all trade activity around the NBA, so if the Knicks are thinking about shopping Steve Francis, you'll know about it. There's still plenty of work that still needs to be done here, and there's no doubt in my mind that Live 08 will be even more impressive, but for now, this is a fantastic start.

In addition to that, there are the usual modes that I've come to expect from basketball games, or rather, all of the stuff that's inconveniently absent in Live 06. Dynasty Mode has made its triumphant return, but so has All-Star weekend. Not only can you enjoy the annual superstar classic, but you can also take part in the dunk contest as well as the 3-Point Shootout, which has been dramatically altered by the inclusion of 100 plus signature jump shots. EA went out and mo-capped various player styles, so the in game Dwayne Wade shoots exactly like the actual one. Similarly, Shawn Marion has his bizarre yet strikingly effective jump shot.

What this means is you're going to have to get comfy with each player in order to drain those shots. It's no longer a matter of waiting for the peak of the shot. Most of these guys are going to react very differently when you press a button. In order to win (or even hope to get 30pts), you'll need to study your player very carefully.

Aside from that little nuance, there's plenty of on the court improvements that could rocket Live past 2K for b-ball supremacy. This year, players walk/run, not slide, along the court, and there's a huge emphasis being placed on a body's momentum. It's not about busting out a spin move and watching as the AI refuses to budge. This game is all about getting people off balance and then exploiting them. Toss the ball into Yao Ming, wait for the double team, and then kick it out to your point guard for the three point shot. Or, take a first step, draw your opponent off balance and explode to the hole.

All of these moves can be controlled using the right analog stick in what EA is calling Total Freestyle Control. Like in last year's game, players are grouped into categories (high flyer, shooter, playmaker, etc.) but they've also been given one of three specific levels. Level 1 is your basic scrub, a guy that you shouldn't rely on in the closing seconds. Level 2 is a solid player, but again, he's no superstar. As for Level 3, these are the guys that define the NBA. Kobe, Wade, Duncan, Nash; they're your go to guys, the ones that drain last second threes. They have a lot more special moves than everyone else, and they also have the ability to achieve Level 4, dubbed In the Zone. If you're team has the momentum, these special players can essentially become "on fire" and carry the entire ball club, much like how Wade annihilated the Pistons and Mavericks in this year's playoffs. They can still be stopped, but for the most part, these guys will get you out of jams on more than one occasion.

For now, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. On one hand, EA has aimed to capture the larger than life atmosphere of the typical NBA game. Being "on fire" might seem cheap, but that's how it actually goes down. I mean, Kobe didn't score those 81 points for lack of skill. The guy can go off at any moment. But, and on the other hand, it's not fair that only Level 3s can achieve this "zen" state of pro hoops bliss. The Knicks Jamal Crawford, despite not being a franchise superstar player, has the ability to get hot. But it's really a tough balancing act. If you're going to let Crawford reach Level 4, then what about Eddie Jones? EA had to find some common ground so that someone like Jerome James can't drain six threes in a row.

These features are all well and good, but based on video clips, it appears that EA hasn't done anything to address the total lack of emotion in the game. The crowd sounds all right, but the players don't pump their fists into the air after hitting a clutch shot or give teammates high fives. They just run up and down the court like robots and that's extremely unfortunate. In Live 06, a guy will hit the game winning three and then trot back to the bench like nothing happened. If that's still the case in Live 07, I won't be happy.

There's also the commentary to consider. Marv Albert, for all his years of experience, is about as boring as listening to Al Gore read Jane Austen. The guy's almost totally devoid of motion and he doesn't appear to have anything witty to say. Hopefully, that's not the case.

Then there's the actual gameplay. Reports indicate that the frame rate is unstable and the ball physics are screwed up, and if that's truly the case, it's going to be another disappointing year for NBA Live and it's a shame. I want to love this game so much, but EA makes it difficult. It certainly looks fantastic. The graphics are phenomenal, but it's the gameplay that counts, and if things slow down and players walk like C-3PO, then I'll have no choice but to go with NBA 2K7 as my premier hoops title of choice. Expect reviews of both games shortly after September 25.