There is an inherent problem with reviewing a PlayStation 2 title that falls under the same name as a reviewed PlayStation 3 title. Of course, the PS2 version can’t hold up graphically to its next-gen counterpart, but what really matters is the way the game plays anyway, not just the pretty pictures.

Unfortunately, for NBA 08, SCEA’s next iteration of its franchise, the gameplay is lacking as well.

Central to the game is The Life v3, a supposed look at what it would be like to be a rookie starting down the path to superstardom in the NBA. But while The Life has the best intentions, it missteps in key areas – most of which are attributable to the AI.

The Life begins under an ominous cloud: one of the team stars (and yes, while the players are fictitious you do get to select the team you want to play as, and the game uses the NBA arenas for the game) may be lost for the season due to an injury, another key player has been traded, and after 23 years in the biz, the head coach has announced his retirement at the end of the season.

With that as the backdrop, you are whisked off to Brazil for pre-season training and verbal, cut scene, abuse by the head coach. Training is a series of objective-driven mini games. For example, using the timing on the shooting meter, you may be asked to knock home 12 consecutive free throws. Or you may have to demonstrate the ability to post up during a scrimmage, getting points off a couple of low-post plays, while dishing out X amount of assists and scoring X amount of points. The goal may be further defined by having your shooter hit a combination of jumpers as well as recording a dunk.

It is during scrimmages that some of the more glaring problems with the AI surfaces. The X button is used, defensively, to switch players, but there is lag in the control scheme. You may have a guard beaten on top, with the offensive player driving for the basket. It should be no problem to hit the X button, switch to a big man down low to cut off the drive. Well, it is a problem. Some of the times you will end up cycling through your players, and if you do manage to get the defender down low, on occasion he will not turn to confront the offensive attack but rather will stay facing the player he is guarding down low. On offense, the shot goes up and you get the pulsating circle on the ground, indicating the positioning for the rebound. You tap X to get to the nearest position player and instead of moving toward the rebound marker, he assumes the position of setting a screen.

Training camp drags on and on, repeating the same drills over and over with little variation. When you do finally get to a game, the objectives overshadow winning or losing the game, and regardless of performance, the cut scenes are predetermined. You may have an exception quarter and then get yelled at by the coach in the ensuing cut scene for your lack of effort. While intended to inject life and character into the game, the cut scenes, after a short time, become filler that can easily be ignored because it is out of context.

What The Life v3 does well, though, is to get the player out of the solo mindset; this is more about the team than the individual player and your created player’s impact is more about contribution to the team rather than his own personal stats or effort.

The game also sports several single-player modes as well as an online component. In single-player action, you can play an exhibition game, play mini games, or take on the challenge of playing in a league – season and playoffs, You can create a player for this portion and insert him into the lineup, taking on the role of manager and making decisions such as setting your roster, signing free agents or trading players, and the like. Online you will be able to hook for two-player games and download Live roster updates.

When it comes to the look of the game, NBA 08 is solid for a PS2 title. There is not much continuity to the animation flow. You may see a player heading for the rim for a dunk, another player on an intercept course and then, instantly, the dunk is through and the player is on the landing stage. The venues are well rendered.

The game’s sound is what one would expect, and is merely average. When it comes to the controls, noteworthy is the low-post battles. Get down low with the ball, hit L1 and you back into the defense. You then use the right analog stick to put on a move, including but not limited to dropping a shoulder and knocking the defender backwards for some shooting space.

NBA 08 may be the fix that a PS2 hoops fan is looking for, but not a whole lot has changed from the 07 version. If you have a next-gen machine, or are thinking about purchasing one come the holidays, hold off on this title and get a next-gen NBA title. NBA 08 for the PS2 might be worth a rental, but because of the flaws and repetitive nature of this game, it may not be worth the price of admission.

Gameplay: 5.5
The AI is not that intelligent and the lag in the control scheme needs work. But as this is a port that will not see too many more iterations, you will have to make due with what it allows.   

Graphics: 6.0
Some of the animations are not that good in terms of fluid motion. The cut scenes are reasonably well done, though.

Sound: 6.5
The musical score sounds very familiar and the announcing is hit and miss. It does not always adequately depict the action in the game. The rest is what one would expect from a game of this nature.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 6.3
A new coat of paint to the story for The Life, but not much else has changed.  

Multiplayer: 6.5
You will get a better game from a human opponent than the AI – well, at least the playing field will be a lot more even.

Overall: 6.0
While this may be one of the last iterations for the PS2 version of the game, still more should have been expected and delivered. This is a poor cousin to the PS3 version and aside from the new storyline for The Life v3, there is little else that has been changed from the 07 version.