RECENT RELEASES

Abstract

Rated: E (Everyone) It's refreshing to have a choice for NBA basketball, unlike pro football, where Electronic Arts holds the monopoly on real-life teams and players with the "Madden" franchise. Rated: E (Everyone) Like "MotoGP2," released in 2003, "MotoGP 3" is a hard-core motorcycle racing sim sporting excellent visuals, a stable of licensed riders and bikes, 16-racer online multiplayer showdowns, and all the options and goodies you'd expect from a Grade-A Xbox title.

"NBA 2K6"

FOUR STARS out of 4 stars

2K Sports for PS2 (also for Xbox), $39.99. Rated: E (Everyone)

"NBA Live 2006"

THREE STARS out of 4 stars

Electronic Arts for PS2 (also for Xbox), $49.99. Rated: E (Everyone)

It's refreshing to have a choice for NBA basketball, unlike pro football, where Electronic Arts holds the monopoly on real-life teams and players with the "Madden" franchise. Both EA and 2K Games have published solid titles for basketball gamers, who need their yearly fix of hoops. "NBA 2K6" is the better game for pure basketball simulation lovers.

Some definite advantages that "2K6" has over "Live" this year are the graphics, gameplay and presentation. The graphics on "Live" are at best muddy, and they're not consistent. The player models in the slam dunk contest mode are better defined than in the actual game. In contrast, "2K6" models are dead on even in the details, such as the Bulls' Tyson Chandler's single leg sleeve. The details in "2K6" graphics give it the edge.

Gameplay counts in any game, and especially in sports. Both are solid in that area, but the new freestyle superstar mode in "Live" will be annoying to any basketball purist. You buy "NBA Street" for the trick moves, not one of these sims. The mode tries to create a hierarchy from superstars to scrubs, but the game's ratings system already establishes that. It felt weird in "Live" trying to push combos to do special moves with certain players. These moves should happen naturally inside the flow of the game, and "2K6" had a more natural feel with pacing and flow. The players move gracefully inside a game with a much improved artificial intelligence. "NBA 2K6" has added the right analog control as a shot stick and strip and rip button, which gives you four directions to shoot the ball and four new ways to steal the rock.

The presentation in "NBA 2K6" fares much better this year, even after losing the help of ESPN. They offer views from outside arenas in hallways and other interesting pre-game views, compared to "Live," which shows you a demo of the superstar player of the game. Commentary is right down the middle, giving the slight nod to "NBA Live 2006," as it follows the game a little better. Online play for both is flawless. There is hardly a lag in either game online, and the fantasy modes in both are as deep as any gamer could ever want, with "NBA 2K6" offering a street ball mode.

Both games hardly have any glitches and are enjoyable and worth the buy or a long-term rent. It's ironic that Shaquille O'Neal is on the cover of "NBA 2K6" and Dwyane Wade is on "NBA Live": Based on the games, the men on the box should be switched. Like the "NBA Live" series, Shaq has been a consistent powerhouse, but now needs more rest to play at that level and is declining a bit. Wade is the up and coming superstar who adds variety to his game each year, just like "NBA 2K6.""NBA 2K6" packs the punch of a breakaway dunk.

"Live" has become stale and needs to be redone ... so all you "Live" lovers, there is a new sheriff in town - and it's "NBA 2K6."

By Rashaun Rucker, Detroit Free Press

"MotoGP 3: Ultimate Racing Technology"

THREE STARS out of 4 stars

THQ for Xbox (also for PS2 and PC), $39.99. Rated: E (Everyone)

Like "MotoGP2," released in 2003, "MotoGP 3" is a hard-core motorcycle racing sim sporting excellent visuals, a stable of licensed riders and bikes, 16-racer online multiplayer showdowns, and all the options and goodies you'd expect from a Grade-A Xbox title. You can tweak, tune and customize the experience to your heart's content.

But this year's offering separates itself from its predecessors by letting gamers take their rides off the copied-from-the-real-world tracks (which are still included) and onto the "Extreme" high-speed city streets and scenic landscapes. And as a change of pace from the stadium-lined races of previous installments, these races are a breath of fresh air for this motorcycle racer, offering gorgeous fictional backdrops to the realistic breakneck racing.

Most gamers will need some practice to avoid a constant case of road rash. The game play is both outstanding and unforgiving. In an effort to capture the realism of MotoGP racing, the learning curve is brutal. Riding these bikes requires precision, timing and even a little knowledge of physics. While a more forgiving control scheme would have been welcome, the satisfaction of running a perfect race is an undeniable rush.

Beyond the somewhat painful controls, "MotoGP 3" is the best motorcyle racing sim available, with enough Easter eggs and gameplay modes to keep racing fans happy for months.

By Ryan Huschka, Detroit Free Press

ILLUSTRATION: photo

DISCLAIMER: THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED ARTICLE