NBA – Inside Drive 2003 (Xbox)

NBA Inside Drive 2003 (Xbox)

There is nothing like a big game stadium with heigh ceilings, a stench of shoerubber, sweat and tight air. A combination which under normal circumstances, would usually seem repulsive, but combined with a game of basketball is a real charm. Add to this the screaching sound of shoes on laquered floors, moving swiftly to the thundering booms of a ball dribbling down the court, and you can no longer be in doubt. These sounds are as defining as the cheers on the pistes and the cowbells when slalom is on the tube.

We’re talking about some good ol’, slammin’ basketball, brought to you in the shape of NBA Inside Drive 2003.

Possibilities and variety

NBA Inside Drive 2003 (Xbox)

After a rather quiet intro sequence, whose real intent must have been to generate a bit of energy about the game, you are presented with an overview menu, containing more options than you would otherwise have expected from a sports game. In addition to the well known options such as “Sound controller setup”, “Gameplay” and “Practise”, you quickly realize that this game can be played in many different ways.

The game lets you play as manager for a team all the way through 25 seasons, if that’s what you like. In this game mode, called Dynasty, you can buy and sell players along the way, and set up tactics and even simulate your games, like a real result oriented manager would, just to see if your lineup is working.

This so called Dynasty feature has never before been seen in an arcade-style game like this before, and is a very welcome twist indeed. That being said, though, the game never really reaches the heights of true managers like Championship Manager.

Create your own players

If you aren’t interested in preparing strategies and tactics before each game, you can also just leave everything at the default settings, and get going with the actual game. Another noteworthy feature is the ability to create your own players. Each has a number of points to be spent on defensive and offensive skills, and after some games, even more points are earned, simulating an actual progress of their development. And haven’t you always dreamt of playing in the NBA? Well, now it’s (almost) possible.

I personally have a fobia concerning basketball nets. I’ve reached this conclusion from how bad I am at scoring a real basket. But with NBA – Inside Drive 2003 this fobia is magically erased, and you’ll feel that basketball was the only thing you ever have played. The controls work well, and you will quickly figure out how to move and fake on the court.

Weak AI

NBA Inside Drive 2003 (Xbox)

Unfortunately the AI is pretty weak with both your teammates and your opponents, contrary to what you could have expected from a game like this. Each game quickly turns into you, soloing against the other team, as this is the easiest way of scoring and thus winning. Also, there seems to be missing a bit of up front action, since you can do all the fancy moves and dribbles you could dream of, but still the opponents tuck into their defensive positions. There’s no real opposition, making it a bit lonely on the court, your pockets full of time to figure out what to pull next.

On the other hand, when you have the defense, you will be the only one being agressive in your defense, trying to go for the ball. Not that it’s an easy task to strip the ball, but the gross amount of fouls being given in these situations is simply rediculous. The fouls break the flow of the game, and to make matters worse, you often arenøt even sure why the foul was given at all.

A feeling of being watched

NBA Inside Drive 2003 (Xbox)

You quickly get used to the “rules” of the game, though. And despite all the little flaws here and there, it can never take away that superb feeling of flying through the air at a height of 1.5 metres, slamming the ball as hard as you can through the rim. The many varied ways of scoring in the game also help for the better, making you constantly try to pull new moves and stay fresh on the court.

As so graphically depicted in the introduction, the screeching sound of rubber footsoles on the court are just one of the unmistakable telltale signs of basketball in action. It was therefore with the utmost pleasure i heard this sound twisting its way through the tormented speakers.

Four commentators

NBA Inside Drive 2003 (Xbox)

The sound in NBA – Inside Drive 2003 is generally how you would expect, without excelling in any way. A big plus, though, is the use of four, yes four, commentators during the games. They have each been appointed a role in the art of commenting, meaning you always have a varied view on any given situation, as well as hefty discussions on whether this and that play is below NBA standards or not.

The enthusiasm of the crowd unfortunately needs some attention. It’s kind of hard to know if they are happy or mad about what is going on at courtside. Well, of course they cheer if your score a basket and they happen to be on home court. But it’s just not loud or wild enough in appreciation of your apparent ball mastery.

I am especially looking for two words from the crowd during the games: “offence” and “defence”. The simple use of these words in the right situations could give you a hint as to what the crowd is thinking.

A lot of energy has been put into making the visuals great in the game, eveident in the movements of the players, which are well animated. The short sequences during throw in and when the crowds cheer are nice too, and sometime you even get a glimpse of the benched players’ reactions to various rulings made by the referees.