NBA Live 06

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If you ever wanted to know what happens when the '80s All-Star team with Bird, Magic, and Dr. J takes on a bunch of foreigners, NBA 06 has the answer (namely, the '80s All-Stars treat them like the Washington Generals). In addition to all the NBA teams—yes, the Hawks are still technically members of the league—the game features classic celeb-studded teams from each decade, plus an array of international players to parade around the perimeter. Once on the court, you discover it's easy to master the fast break and hard to hit a jumpshot, though play moves smoothly enough you won't mind as the bricks pile up. The addition of Freestyle Superstars means extra techniques and power moves for the best players in the game—Kobe plays more like Kobe, and Shaq plays more like Shaq (including his dead-bird free-throws). We could have done without the ads for Toyota (what is this, a movie preview?), but the slamming soundtrack and retro touches—the 1995 version of EA's game is included—should help bring the league one step closer to atoning for the Charlotte Bobcats.

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