NBA Live 96 (1995)

Developer: EA Sports, EA Canada, Tiertex Design Studios, Hitmen Productions
Publisher: THQ, Electronic Arts, Tec Toy
Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), DOS, PlayStation, Game Boy
Genres: Sport
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 7 player ratings

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A no-frills basketball simulation that puts you on the court managing real teams and players through seasons, trades, and playoffs with brisk, familiar sports game pacing.

competitiveaccessiblefast-pacedrealisticlicensedstraightforwardsports simulation

About

As with all games in the NBA Live series you can draft, trade and edit players. Play a full season, exhibition or just the playoffs. 96 includes 29 teams including the expansion Toronto and Vancouver teams.

What players say

An early 3D-court basketball game with 2D sprite players that felt impressive in 1996 but plays clunky today, with erratic camera, spazzy defensive AI and frustrating passing. Mostly of nostalgic interest, with its NBA Jam-style arcade mode the highlight.

Screenshots

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More by Electronic Arts

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.