Reggie Miller is on fire – a cross between a machine gun and a shotgun. A blast from the corner, reload and fire again. The reload aspect resembles the shotgun, the rapidity of his firing mirrors the machine gun. Each shot is nearly flawless. Rising off the court, hitting the apex of the jump and releasing the ball.

Of course, this is the 3-point shootout at the all-star game in Washington, so not only is it a matter of accuracy, but it is also incumbent to get all six balls on each of the five racks off before the time expires.

NBA Live 2001, a PlayStation console title from EA SPORTS™, is about game options, fast breaks, high-flying dunks and deadly outside gunning.

Graphically the polygonal characters are a little sharply rendered, too angular, but the movement is quick lifelike, and the graphic composition is bright and lush. The audio is comparable to any EA SPORTS™ product – solid announcing and terrific ambient sounds, with a bright musical soundtrack.

This is not a typical arcade game. You don’t just play and walk away, ready to play another day. If you have the inclination, you can build your team from the draft, through the season, and – if you are good enough – into the playoffs.

The main option page features the variety of ways to compete: Exhibition, Season, Playoff mode, 3-point shootout, Michael Jordan 1-on-1 (you have to unlock Jordan to be able to play as him), Practice, NBA draft and NBA Live Challenge (you must complete a series of challenges in order to unlock rewards). In the NBA Challenge, there are four difficulty levels, and several things you must accomplish in each level to advance: such as win by 10, 10 assists, 10 steals, 1-on-1 game, double-double, 15 rebounds.

This is a game that is set up like many other team sports from EA SPORTS™. You must pass, move a defender well to keep the offense from walking in on your goal, select shots wisely and control the tempo through selective use of player personal, and time-outs.  Every NBA team is represented here, so you can hone your skills through taking a powerhouse against one of the teams on the downside of the talent market. However, as a word of warning, if you approach the game with complacency, without a desire to hone your skills, that smaller market team is liable to spank your powerhouse, regardless of the likes of a Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, or Reggie Miller.

While you can simplify the controls of this game, learning the wide range of options through in-game experience is preferable. Knowing how to pass, and shoot is not enough. One fortunate aspect of this game is that offensive rebounds and put-backs are automatically taken care of.

NBA Live 2001 is the big brother of NCAA March Madness 2001, and though it lacks the hot ‘anything can happen’ action of the latter program, it still features all the terrific and faithfully rendered basketball skills that have made EA SPORTS™ one of the premiere producers of sports-action games.

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 8
This is solid and smooth throughout any competition. You can pause the game at your convenience, or call a time-out, but the action is only interrupted through game player whim, and at regular game breaks – such as quarters and halftime.

Graphics: 7
This is contrast of elements. The polygonal players are a little on the sharp side, though environment graphics are well done, and player movement is very realistic.

Sound: 8.5
From the rip of the twine allowing egress of the ball, to the crowd and musical score, EA SPORTS™ scores with a solid sound.

Difficulty: 8.5
Team controls and control options are downright tough to manage at the novice level. As you play the game, get comfortable with the controllers, you will find the game taking on another level of difficulty, but the game play looks more like what is telecast than what is witnessed in an elementary school gym with young players taking their first steps into the world of hoops.

Concept: 7.5
EA SPORTS™ continues to refine this product, but it would be nice to see a slam-dunk contest incorporated into the ‘all-star’ festivities (in much the same manner as the three-point shootout has been).

Multiplayer: 7.5
Some of the action – such as the 3-point shootout is turn-based – while the remainder of the multiplayer game is set on court with the camera following the ball. While team competition can be a little harried, the 1-on-1 challenge is where head-to-head competition between gamers steps to another level.

Overall: 8
This is a wonderful journey with the elite of the basketball world, providing a variety of options that will appeal to a variety of players and skills.