After playing the enjoyable console version, we expected NBA Live 08 for PSP to be just as impressive. Unfortunately, this game has too many setbacks to earn a recommendation, thanks to a few bothersome bugs and the sour taste of "been there, done that".

Most of the controls are from last year's edition, complete with an annoying defense. Seriously, how in the world does a defender just stand there and let the ball handler coast by for an easy dunk? Even when you take control of him directly, half the time he doesn't respond appropriately. A glitch sometimes stops him from jumping, as if his shoes took a bath in sticky glue. Furthermore, such stifled actions hurt the flow of passes down the lane. Grab a pass off the fast break and it takes a second to turn around and react to the play at hand. It's like the ball handler processes his plan of attack, tries to figure out where he has to go and THEN moves, instead of using stylish improvisation. Bugs like these, along with occasionally off-the-mark ball physics (they got a mind of their own) become just as frustrating a problem as super-aggressive artificial intelligence.

That's a shame, because parts of the game come together to form an otherwise decent product. Franchise and dynasty mode return, for those who want to take their team to the championship, and EA provides online support with ESPN content (no videos, oddly enough), leagues and match-ups that take a while to start and multiple Crowns to achieve, where you earn a king's proclamation over the NBA. Sadly, the ineffective gameplay and bothersome bugs will make you feel like a fool, complete with jester's cap.

NBA Live 08 doesn't endure the same problems as SCEA's NBA 08, but it still misses the game winner. Stick to the much cheaper (and better) NBA Live 06 instead.