NLSC Your source for basketball video games.
This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the PlayStation 3 version of NBA 07, the 2007 season entry in Sony’s first party NBA series.
With the lack of options in the basketball gaming space nowadays, I’m often wistful for a time when several NBA titles were on the market year after year. Of course, not every game was available to me. Some were North American exclusives, unavailable to those of us in PAL regions unless we had the hardware to play imported games. This included a majority of Sony’s NBA series, making it both a region and console exclusive. In hindsight, that was never going to realistically allow it to challenge the dominance of NBA Live and NBA 2K!
Developed by San Diego Studio – probably best known for MLB: The Show – the NBA series only saw one official worldwide release, namely NBA 08. Mind you, given that the PlayStation 3 was region-free, that didn’t have to be a barrier for anyone who was willing and able to import games! Since adding a PS3 to my collection, I’ve been able to pick up some games that I never had an opportunity to play when they were new, such as college basketball titles. This also includes a few games from the NBA series, and today, I’m profiling NBA 07 with an in-depth retrospective. Let’s take a look back…way back…
By 2006, competition in the basketball gaming space had begun to dwindle. A number of series, whether they’d been around for a while or were relatively new, had disappeared. NBA Live was losing its grip on the top seller spot, while NBA 2K was frequently the better-reviewed game. The 2007 season releases didn’t change that trend. NBA 2K7 was yet another well-regarded release, while NBA Live 07 turned out to be one of the worst hoops titles from a major developer. I even gave it a second chance back in 2021, wondering if I’d change my mind about it as I had NBA Live 10 and NBA 2K14. In short, no, I didn’t. NBA Live 07 was as bad as I remembered!
So, where does that leave NBA 07? Visual Concepts had the strongest releases that year with NBA 2K7 and College Hoops 2K7, and EA Sports could still boast NBA Street Homecourt. I’d easily rank them all ahead of the disastrous NBA Live 07, but does NBA 07 earn that distinction as well? As strange as it might sound given the quality of NBA Live 07, I’m not sure that it does. NBA 07 is an extremely rough title in its own right, lacking the depth and realism that EA’s game was at least striving for. However, while it isn’t necessarily a better game, it’s arguably more fun; as long as you’re not taking it too seriously, and you’re playing with or against another person.
First of all though, let’s look at some of the more impressive technical aspects of NBA 07. The game is in Full HD, making it a rarity for its generation. As you may recall, most games – basketball or otherwise – were 720p on PlayStation 3. Their Xbox 360 counterparts were likewise 720p, albeit upscaled to 1080p. Sony’s NBA series was clearly intended to harness the full power of the PS3 however, and thus was 1080p, a fact that it proudly advertised on the box. There are some occasional drops in frame rate, mostly when the baseline camera rotates on a change of possession. It’s generally quite smooth though, demonstrating the PlayStation 3’s technical capabilities.
Needless to say, Full HD isn’t nearly as impressive if the textures and models aren’t up to scratch. To that end though, NBA 07 has some of the best faces out of any of the 2007 season titles, with impressive likenesses across the board. At the same time, it also has some of the worst faces you’ll see in a basketball game from the seventh generation onwards! As a rule, player likenesses are either jaw-droppingly amazing, or hilariously, insultingly terrible. The player models are also too shiny and action figure-like, though they unquestionably pop. I do appreciate the aesthetic on the whole, but it’s definitely stylised, and they missed the mark badly on certain faces.
Before I move on from graphics to the nuts and bolts of gameplay, I should note that NBA 07 features some authentic NBA on TNT presentation. This use of branding made it stand out, as NBA 2K had just lost the ESPN license to EA, and NBA Live wasn’t putting it to full use yet. Having an NBA on TNT scoreboard, wipes, and other presentation, added some legitimacy to a series that didn’t quite have the same clout as NBA Live or NBA 2K. Unfortunately, there’s no commentary. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing given how repetitive video game commentary can be, but it makes NBA 07 feel shallow, basic, and outdated when compared to its 2007 season contemporaries.
The default camera setting in NBA 07 is a baseline angle, similar to the various forms of 2K Cam and MyCAREER-oriented angles. It doesn’t quite mesh with the authentic TV-style presentation with NBA on TNT branding, but it’s functional, and highlights the quality of the faces during gameplay. There are other cameras including a proper broadcast view, but there’s no way to change the setting in the main menu or prior to a game. Instead, you’ll need to start a game, pause, and then go to Camera Settings to choose your preferred angle. It’s slightly inconvenient and the manual doesn’t bother to mention it, but your choice will be saved as the default angle from there on out.
That’s NBA 07’s graphics and presentation in a nutshell, but gameplay is paramount, so how well does it hold its own on the virtual hardwood? It sounds cliché, but it’s a mixed bag. The game is responsive and much lighter on the sticks than NBA Live 07, avoiding frustration and constant clunkiness. It does mean some occasional sliding though, and there are still awkward animations. Interestingly, it feels as though there was an attempt at live ball physics on jumpballs, as the jump must be timed so that a player’s hand connects with the ball first. It’s a cool idea, but in head-to-head games, bad timing by both gamers can humorously lead to multiple missed tips and restarts!
Although NBA 07 falls under the sim genre, between its pace and certain gameplay mechanics, it does lean in the direction of being a sim-arcade hybrid. Even on five minute quarters, teams are likely to score over 100, with their leading scorer putting up 35-50 points with relative ease. Shot distribution isn’t exactly realistic, and the amount of fast breaks leads to some point guard domination in that regard. This is aided by the amount of cheap interceptions, though both teams usually benefit from that. There’s also a “Showtime” mechanic that earns boosts by performing highlight plays, though it can be disabled to tone down the game and remove that advantage.
Notably, there’s a shot meter on jumpshots, free throws, and hook shots, with a Green Release mechanic similar to a modern NBA 2K title. It can be disabled if you prefer, though doing so doesn’t grant any boosts. Post play is unique, as entering a back-to-the-basket stance will cause the player to immediately start backing down, at which point the camera zooms in and the action goes into slow motion. Isolating post play into a pseudo mini-game further contributes to an arcade feel, but it’s a creative idea. The “Power Boarding System” assists in rebounding with a hotspot on the court, an idea that other basketball games have also experimented with. It too can be disabled.
The controls are similar to NBA Live and NBA 2K for the most part, though they had a couple of interesting design choices. There are two pass buttons: X for regular pass and Triangle for no-look pass. Icon passing is also available, though the icons for the shooting guard and small forward are the opposite of what they usually are, which can be confusing thanks to muscle memory. Holding R2 sends a teammate to the rim for an alley-oop, and turns both pass buttons into lob controls. It’s possible to set up some satisfying alley-oop plays, as well as some ridiculous ones such as this accidental lob to Malik Allen from beyond halfcourt. I can’t say that it wasn’t entertaining, though!
Dribbling moves can be performed using the right stick, taking a page out of NBA Live’s book and avoiding the clunkiness of NBA 2K’s Isomotion. It’s nowhere near as comprehensive or intuitive as NBA Live’s Freestyle though, and the game suddenly feels much heavier when going into a dribbling move, as well as dunks, layups, and shot blocks. It’s not quite as heavy as NBA Live 07, but there are moments that feel very canned. There are some nice moves from crossovers to dunks and layups, but the variety is rather small. Players also tend to perform elusive layups unnecessarily, though that may have been a design choice to make gameplay feel more spectacular.
Balance is definitely an issue. The CPU is quite adept at drawing the user into two-man scenarios in the paint, taking away some easy buckets. It’s harder to impede the AI at the other end, and you generally feel underpowered on defense. This contributes to some artificial difficulty when facing the CPU, though it usually evens out in head-to-head showdowns. It doesn’t help that there are dunks that basically play out as a cutscene, switching to a cinematic angle and removing all control. They look nice, but are contrived scenarios. On the bright side, when you are able to get a steal or block, there are some very satisfying animations, particularly on big swats at the rim.
Ultimately, NBA 07 is one of those video games where the best strategy is to win the wild shootout with your opponent. By all means make an effort on defense, but with the way that the CPU will shoot the lights out even on the easiest difficulty level, the best defense really is a virtually unstoppable offense. The shot meter makes jumpers viable, but the CPU is adept at getting rejections on the perimeter. As such, it’s much wiser to pound the ball down low and try to score on drives to the rim more often than not. You can call plays, but the AI doesn’t opt for complex strategies, and so it’s best that you don’t either. Just master the controls, and don’t ever let up when on offense!
One of the most annoying aspects of gameplay in NBA 07 is the constant camera cuts following baskets. It’s not so bad when there’s an instant replay, but the post-basket scenes and cross-fades to the inbounds pass slow down the action. It evokes memories of games like Arch Rivals and NBA in the Zone, though admittedly not quite as bad. Still, it allows the defense to get set after every bucket, meaning there’s no way to quickly inbound the ball and get out and run after your opponent scores. Exciting fast breaks are possible after getting a stop or rebound, but a basket always slows things down to halfcourt action. It’s a jarring change of pace in an otherwise fast game.
Those post-basket scenes also stop the running clock when they shouldn’t. In fact, there are a few instances of NBA 07 failing to properly implement NBA rules. For example, while there are shooting fouls and and-ones, quite often players will get fouled during a layup, only for it to be called a common foul on the floor; no basket, no continuation. The “two team fouls in the final two minutes” limit is also absent, so if you’ve avoided fouling for the entire fourth quarter but need to start stopping the clock, you’ll have to quickly burn five fouls to get into the penalty. By 2006, a sim-oriented title was absolutely expected to accurately reflect such basic NBA rules.
It’s the main reason that I struggle to rank NBA 07 ahead of NBA Live 07. Sony’s game feels faster and lighter on the sticks, but EA’s game has more authenticity in its rules and representation of basketball. NBA 07 can be more enjoyable because of its fluidity, but it’s annoying and frustrating in its own way, too. It has its own awkward moments on the court, such as cheap AI and controls and mechanics that needed more polish, but the lack of realism and attention to detail feels sloppy and outdated. I can still enjoy NBA 07 for what it is, though it tends to work far better as a head-to-head or co-op experience. As a single player game, it doesn’t have nearly as much appeal.
At the same time, it can deliver some satisfying on-court moments. When you make a defender stumble and blow past them for an emphatic dunk, it’s exciting. Defense isn’t as strong as it should be, but when you do reject an opponent’s shot with emphasis, or perform a softer swat or get a steal that triggers the perfect fast break, it’s rewarding. A game can be noticeably flawed or have some janky elements, but still have enough fun moments that make it worth a look. I probably wouldn’t have been too impressed with NBA 07 if I’d played it when it was new, as again, it does have some noticeable flaws. Still, with hindsight and an open mind, I can appreciate the game’s good points.
Like many basketball games that tried to be an alternative to the brand leaders, NBA 07 errs by attempting to put its own spin on staple features. The substitution screen for one isn’t intuitive. Players currently in the lineup appear at the top of the screen, and you need to move back and forth to the one you want to replace using L1 and R1. The highlighted player can then be replaced by a bench player, selected from the list with the X button. It’s all too easy to sub out the wrong player, and you can’t move players to a different spot without taking them out of the lineup first. The lineup is also rather oddly ordered: point guard, small forward, centre, shooting guard, and power forward.
These awkward design choices in the user interface are found throughout the game. That isn’t to say that the UI is unappealing, but unfortunately, the functionality and organisation leaves something to be desired. Backing out of a Single Game takes longer than usual, as removing the assigned controller is also a step in the process. Speaking of which, a Single Game is an exhibition game with all the options, but it’s under the League menu. There’s also Quick Game on the main menu, which doesn’t allow you to select jerseys or customise the game in any way. Navigating to all the modes and options screens isn’t unmanageable, but it’s undoubtedly cumbersome.
Modes and features are another area in which NBA 07 is behind its peers, aside from a couple of ideas that were ahead of their time. Interestingly, the PlayStation 3 version doesn’t include “The Life” from the PS2 release. It also only offers a barebones single Season mode rather than the full franchise experiences available in NBA Live 07 and NBA 2K7. It’s functional for gamers who just want to play through a season and vie for a championship, but there’s not much to sink your teeth into. Of course, that’s probably because most of the attention went to NBA Replay. This innovative feature is in some ways a forerunner to modes like NBA Live’s Rewind and BIG Moments.
NBA Replay: The Season features scenarios based on noteworthy games from the 2006 campaign. These scenarios all have statistical goals that must be met to clear them and unlock the next challenge. For example, in the first game, you must score eight points with Kobe Bryant in overtime against the Nuggets, and win the game by two; a feat that Kobe had performed in 2006. Unlike Dynamic Season, Rewind, or BIG Moments, the content of NBA Replay: The Season is available offline, so it can still be played today. In fact, some might find these small snippets of gameplay to be a more enjoyable single player experience than regular full games against the CPU.
There’s also NBA Replay: Games of the Week. It’s an early example of live service content in a basketball video game, and to that point, it’s sadly no longer available. During the course of the 2007 season however, new challenges based on memorable performances were made available to download. Both versions of NBA Replay had online leaderboards, ranking everyone’s performance in clearing the scenarios. NBA 07 was aiming to pioneer something really special with these concepts, and it speaks volumes that since then, NBA Live and NBA 2K have adopted similar live service content ideas. It was quite an ambitious mode for a basketball game released in 2006!
Despite its servers being shut down years ago, online play is actually still possible in NBA 07 thanks to the PS Rewired project. I can’t comment on the quality of play with the official servers back in the day, but the unofficial fan-maintained servers provide a robust experience with virtually no lag. The leaderboards are also supported, with their win/loss/quit tracking. Online play features an easily selectable broadcast view, and also trims instant replays and other presentation elements to streamline gameplay. Playing against Dee over PS Rewired was far more fun than taking on the AI, which leaves me to wonder if NBA 07 was mostly designed and tested for competitive play.
You won’t find a complete All-Star Weekend mode in NBA 07, but you will find an event that you won’t see in NBA Live or NBA 2K: the Skills Challenge. That isn’t a surprise, as the event was sponsored by 989 Sports (a Sony studio, and forerunner to San Diego Studio) from 2003 to 2004, and by PlayStation from 2005 to 2009. It’s an admirable representation of the event, though the mini-game on the passing stations is extremely challenging! There’s also a three-point shootout that’s about on par with the one in NBA Live, and an Own the Court mini-game that’s solid. They’re fun extras to have, and something that hoops games unfortunately lost during the eighth generation.
Just to share a few more observations of NBA 07, its roster editing is disappointingly basic, with no Create-a-Player or Edit Player functionality. There were official roster updates, though obviously they’re long gone at this point. Additional jerseys can be unlocked with codes that were originally released as those uniforms debuted during the real NBA season, much as NBA Live and NBA 2K were doing around that time. A standalone Playoffs mode complements Season play, as usual providing an option for gamers who want to jump right into the excitement of the postseason. There are also collectable player cards that are attained by clearing challenges in NBA Replay.
Looking back, it’s no surprise that Sony’s NBA series didn’t truly challenge NBA Live and NBA 2K’s market share. That was always going to be a tall order, but as a sim title, its bells and whistles didn’t make up for the lack of realism and authenticity. Being a first party exclusive title, and generally only released in North America to boot, didn’t help either. However, the series did have some ambitious ideas, as seen in NBA 07. NBA Replay paved the way for the live service content seen in future titles. Also, while it didn’t feature in NBA 07 for PS3, The Life’s story-based single player mode is an idea that’s been adopted by MyCAREER. There are even Green Releases!
All in all, NBA 07 can be fun if you’re not after a particularly deep or serious NBA sim. It’s shallow for a title released in 2006, but it covers enough of the basics to offer adequate replay value. It lacks the overall polish of NBA 2K7 and NBA Live 07, but does hold its own against the latter on the virtual hardwood thanks to a faster pace and looser controls. The game does fall short of its peers in terms of authenticity, which can be distracting and possibly off-putting as a retro gaming experience, but doesn’t necessarily render it unenjoyable. It wouldn’t be my first choice when looking for an old favourite to play, but if you accept it for what it is, it’s definitely worth a look.
Beyond its strengths and weaknesses though, beyond its innovative ideas that were ahead of their time and have since been adopted by NBA Live and NBA 2K in some form, beyond its value as a retro gaming experience, there’s something else I really appreciate about NBA 07. It represents a time when multiple developers were in the space, trying out new ideas and doing their best to give gamers a different experience on the virtual hardwood. Even if it ranks third behind NBA 2K7 and NBA Live 07, it was still a third NBA sim on the market that year. At a time when we only have one basketball game, simply having options – irrespective of quality – is a novel concept.
