NBA 06 (Featuring
The Life: Vol 1) is, out of the box, not a great basketball game as far as gameplay is concerned. On the court, the players just didn’t have the control that you find in other titles. Sure, you have a lot of special moves to perform (juke, spin, and jab step, just to name a few), but I kept wishing for more control in the form of special plays on offense and defense. Also, the special moves didn’t seem to perform when wanted all of the time, which made the controls feel clunky. In addition, playing defense is very hard and stealing passes seems almost random at times.
Now even though NBA 06 is a bit clunky on the court, it does have some features that I really enjoy. For starters, when you begin your shot, a colored meter shows above your head. This is a great indicator, and even adds a bit of a challenge to guide you in your shots. If someone has a hand in your face or you are out of your shot range, your "sweet spot" is much smaller on the meter, making skill a factor instead of simply a result that the computer interprets whether it should be 2 points or a brick off the board.
Another thing I like about the gameplay of NBA 06 is that you get bonuses for style. It’s not just about putting the rock in the basket, but getting the crowd pumped as you do it. Sure, you can pass the ball and get the assist, but you can also no-look pass, even for alley oops, to get the style points jumping. And if you really get some perfect timing, you’ll even be treated to a slow-motion breakdown of the action.
As mentioned earlier, the heart of NBA 06 is in the career mode called The Life. Here is where you’ll train to become an NBA player, first to get drafted and then working your way into the rotation for games. While at first I found it a bit cheesy, I actually got hooked on the mini-games that make up The Life. You’ll have different challenges, ranging from self-competition like shooting and passing drills, to team events like 2-on-2, 3-on-3, and full out games. (You can also play many of the mini-games online.) Each event has a specific set of goals. You’ll have to complete some of them, while others will be optional. The events don’t go unrewarded. As you finish goals, you’ll gain attribute points for your character (by the way, the create-a-player lacks any depth) to help power him into a superstar.
