Although it never appeared on the GameCube, last year's version of NBA Live was an absolute mess. The game was sorely lacking in just about every way possible and enough to drive many long-time basketball fans to Live's rival game, NBA 2k2. With the basketball season looming, it was clear that EA had to pull off an amazing jump-shot at the buzzer to keep itself alive in the eyes of fans. This season it's a whole new ball game and Live delivers.

There are very few sports games that make my roommate and I gasp simultaneously when it comes to looks. In fact, I think the last game to make us marvel over graphics was probably Madden 2001 on the PS2. The game play experience in Live is very smooth and delivers a fast-paced and fun game. I really liked how the game tried to take itself seriously, yet kept a playful demeanor the entire game. It was the little cut scenes like players shaking the TV camera around and playing keep away with the ref that made the game enjoyable and provided some much needed laughs. The only downside I found to this was that there are a limited number of scenes and they tend to get repetitive after a few games.

When it comes to the actual players, Live is a mixed bag. The player animations are top-notch and have a crisp feel to them, but it's the look of the models that really hurts the game. Overall, the players look very generic and if it wasn't for things like Baron Davis' headband or Allen Iverson's tattoos, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell players apart.

When a game ships with its soundtrack in the case, you know it has to be good. NBA Live features songs by Angie Martinez, Fabolous, and even a song by Snoop Dogg written especially for Live. The soundtrack selection fits so well with the game that it's hard not to enjoy it, even if you don't like rap.

The announcers and arena sounds are fantastic and add a lot to the overall experience. Calvin Murphy does an excellent job at color commentary and even though he's no Marv Albert, the play-by-play man (whose name eludes me at this moment) is good as well.

Here's the part where I become completely honest with you guys. My knowledge of basketball is very limited and, much like Gary Coleman and his fabled pantry, I can see the bottom two shelves, but everything else is completely over my head. One of the things I like about Live is that it is completely accessible to nearly anyone. It's the good mix of simulation and arcade style game play that really help to make Live fun. The general rules, details, and overall style are still around and working in the background, but it's the ease of control as well as the ability to execute some truly stylish moves and ramped up speed that help make Live what it is.

The real star of this season's version is the brand new Freestyle control option. By using the right analog stick, players are able to pull off all kinds of amazing cross-overs, hesitation dribbles, and off-the-wall passes. This system is very easy to pick up, hard to master, and gives the game that extra little zest not found in other basketball games. This system also helps the game run smooth offensively, and forces players to really keep their head in the game. If you're not paying attention, you can easily hand the ball off to your opponent.

On the defensive side of the ball, Live is still unforgiving - at least when playing the AI. This is where I felt my lack of any real basketball knowledge hurt me since, at least initially, I had a hard time defending the ball. Much like the offense, the game really forces you to keep yourself aware of what's going on at all times.

Live also offers Franchise, 1-on-1, Playoffs and other modes which help keep the game interesting - even after you've won a championship or two. Live even offers a tutorial to not only help players learn the Freestyle system, but also teach basketball newbies (like myself) about the game. Even though the tutorial was helpful, it's still a tad boring. Hopefully EA will include a mode similar to Madden's Mini-camp in next year's version to help make things a little more enjoyable.

Like most EA sports games, Live offers four difficulty levels to help cater to all playing abilities. In fact, I think Live is one of the more balanced EA games in terms of difficulty. The bottom two modes are relatively easy and do a great job of helping less experienced players get into the game. This doesn't mean they're a cake-walk, because you'll still have to work for your wins, but you won't have the opposing team running the ball down your throat.

At the risk of repeating myself, once again I feel it is my duty to point out a flaw that seems to plague every EA sports game I've played. Although I totally understand that they are trying to re-create tension in games, most of the time the AI overcompensates and, for a lack of a better term, cheats its way to victory.

Freestyle control is probably one of the biggest innovations to ever hit the sports genre. Instead of relying on the standard button press method, Freestyle allows the player to really get into the game and perform fake outs and other moves based on in-game situations rather than having a pre-determined script for how a move should work. This method opens up a variety of game situations and options. For example, tapping the stick in a direction will produce a quick, soft spin; however, holding the stick in a direction will cause the player to plant his foot and make a harder turn. This adds an amazing amount of depth to the control and is incredibly fun. You can easily spend hours just trying to see what moves are produced by different button presses and stick movements. The overall effect of the Freestyle system makes the game incredibly intuitive and gives it a natural feel.

Another cool option in Live is the ability to call different plays and formations with the press of the D-pad. Calling plays doesn't require much thought and the system is kept basic enough that each of the formations can easily be figured out. Of course, this doesn't make the game any easier or get the game to play for you, but it helps to even things up. Its still up to you to get the victory.

Live 2003 is a much improved version over last year. Everything that was broken in last year's version has been improved upon, and the innovative Freestyle control option helps to give the game a fun, natural feel. Long time fans are sure to enjoy the new setup while fans who may have strayed over to 2k3 may want to give this one another shot.