NBA Live 95
| NBA Live 95 | |
|---|---|
 Cover featuring 1994 NBA Finals | |
| Developer(s) | Hitmen Productions |
| Publisher(s) | EA Sports |
| Series | NBA Live |
| Platform(s) | MS-DOS, Genesis, Super NES |
| Release |
Super NES Genesis DOS
|
| Genre(s) | Traditional basketball simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
NBA Live 95 is the first of the NBA Live video games series. The cover featured an action shot of the 1994 NBA Finals. The game was published by EA Sports and released in October 1994.
It introduced many elements of that would become standard in the series, including the isometric on-court perspective, the "T-meter" for shooting free throws and the turbo button used to give players a temporary burst of speed. The game was re-released with NBA Live 06 as part of the EA Retro Series. Game Players gave the Super NES version of this video game its "best sports game award" in their Super NES division on the January 1995 issue of their magazine.[1] NBA Live 95 is followed by NBA Live 96.
Version differences
The SNES version of the game features the 1993-94 rosters while the Genesis version of the game feature 1994-95 rosters minus most of the year's rookie class. Each feature limited roster management functions. Only players in the starting lineup can be traded, and the lineup cannot be altered. Additionally, there is no Create-a-Player function or a Free Agent pool. The PC release featured updated rosters accurate as of the 1994-95 season's trade deadline and the rookie class of 1994.
Reception
GamePro wrote of the SNES version that it "improves on last year's NBA Showdown with better graphics, more in-depth strategy, and more realistic game play." They particularly praised the game's 30-degree-overhead court view, saying it allows players a better view of the action while allowing the game to run more smoothly.[2] In February 1995, Famitsu magazine's Reader Cross Review gave the Super Famicom version of the game an 8 out of 10.[3]
GamePro also gave the Genesis version a generally positive review, though they commented that the cooperative multiplayer tends to be confusing. This time they made particular note of the fact that players take command of basketball players, coaches, and general managers, saying that this adds variety and depth to the gameplay.[4]