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PUBLISHER: Microsoft
DEVELOPER: High Voltage Software
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: P166, 32MB RAM, 3D Accel. Rec.
SIMILAR TO: NBA Live 99
CATEGORY: Sports
ESRB: Everyone
Graphics: Drop dead gorgeous. If you've got a powerful enough system to crank the details
up, Inside Drive 2000 is one of those games you show off to your parents or next door neighbor -- the
graphics are amazing. Running in high detail at 1024x768, players are as easily recognizable on screen
as they are on television. One of the nicest features is the transparent images on the floors and glass
backboards. There are a ton of camera angles you can choose from and all of them present a unique
and productive vantagepoint from which you can play. There are not many games that look better than
this one does. Graphically, it does just about everything right, but you do have to have a pretty hefty
system to appreciate it.
Interface: As I described
earlier, the interface's main problems are
associated with what it doesn't do rather than it what it does. Many of the advanced simulation-style features such as those
things associated with a GM mode have been left out. There is no player or play editor for those looking
to run their own X's and O's camp. The coaching screens are not powerful enough and could have been
easier to navigate. There is also no mid-game save feature or an option to shorten the season. Last but
not least, there is no career mode or option for downloading updated rosters and stats from the Internet. Stat-loving statisticians will be fairly pleased with this
title, as it does make a worthy attempt to provide
game and season-based statistics such as averages on points per game,
rebounds, steals, assists and
so on. During a match, Inside Drive 2000 will report on things like a player that scores a double-double
or how hot or cold a player is based on his shooting percentages. There is potential with this
interface, but when stacked up against recent offerings from EA, it just isn't robust enough to compete on the
same level.
Gameplay: In a vacuum, the gameplay in NBA Inside Drive 2000 is perfect. When mixed
together with the interface and difficulty, it's severely less than
perfect, but still a lot of fun. There is a lot
of exhilaration associated with playing a match. Much of what makes basketball fun can be found in this
title. Great moves including dunks, finger-rolls, drains from way
downtown, and the signatures of the
NBA's marquee players are all over. The design team made a solid effort to please the
arcade, simulation and statistics hungry fans -- their balance is just a little off.
Sound FX: The commentary provided by the two announcers is some of the best ever for a
sports title. It's clear, colorful and timely, and is hardly ever repetitive. Other sound effects are also
effective and well-orchestrated. I would have preferred to hear some trash talking amongst the
players, and the crowd could have been more intricately involved in the pace of the
game, but overall, the sound
in Inside Drive 2000 is well done.
Musical Score: Since there is no music during gameplay, this criterion has not been rated.
Intelligence & Difficulty: The biggest flaw, as is the case with most sports
titles, is the
utter preposterousness of the defensive model. It's way too easy to score against the
computer, and is
even easier against another human opponent. Mediocre players have been given abilities
normally associated with superstars, and the superstars themselves might as well be
super-human, for they are
infallible. The likes of Malone, Duncan, Shaq, Bryant, Iverson, Hill, Mourning and Kidd can unrealistically
dominate a match, routinely scoring above 100 points in a single game. Another
detractor from this criterion is the skewed foul calling system. The computer either calls too many fouls or far too
few, but never the appropriate amount. Any way you slice it, the AI and difficulty level of Inside Drive 2000 are
severely flawed, but aren't bad enough to stop the game from being fun to
play.
Overall: Playing NBA Inside Drive 2000 is akin to eating day old donuts -- they're still
good, just a little on the stale side. This game is not perfect, and before you buy
it, you should be aware
that it's not the magnum opus combination of simulation, statistics and action you've been waiting for.
What it is is a basketball title with some really nice graphics, great action and a lot of personality.
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