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NBA Live 98 (USA)

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Inside NBA Live 98

SEGA Genesis
Sports
5· 0 votes

NBA Live 98 (USA) on the SEGA Genesis is a basketball simulation released in 1997 by EA Sports. It's part of the long-running NBA Live series and features Tim Hardaway on the cover. This is an official release, not a hack, prototype, or homebrew - just a solid sports game for the 16-bit era that tried to capture the fast pace of real NBA action. On the court, you pick a real NBA team (from the 1997-98 season) and play five-on-five basketball. The core mechanics involve passing, shooting, stealing, and rebounding using the Genesis controller. You can call plays, substitute players, and manage timeouts. The game includes modes like exhibition, season, and playoffs. The controls are responsive for their time, with the A button for shooting and jumping, B for passing or stealing, and the D-pad for movement. Today, NBA Live 98 holds up as a competent Genesis basketball title that fans of retro sports games will appreciate. It's not as deep or polished as later entries, but it offers a clean, arcade-like feel that still plays well. Compared to rival series like NBA Jam, it's more simulation-oriented, though it keeps the action brisk. If you enjoy mid-90s sports games or want to see how the NBA Live franchise evolved, this one is worth a few quarters' worth of play.

GAME INFO

Platform: SEGA Genesis
Genre: Sports
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Sports
Released: 1997
Players: 1-2
Region: USA

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How to play NBA Live 98 online

Getting Started

First, you'll see a title screen and then a menu to choose game mode - Exhibition, Season, or Playoffs. Pick your favorite NBA team from the 1997-98 roster. Once the game starts, you control one player on offense and defense, with the CPU handling teammates unless you switch via the A button. The objective is simple: score more points than the opponent by the end of four quarters.

The core loop involves inbounding the ball, dribbling upcourt, passing to open teammates, and taking shots. On defense, you try to steal or block shots and grab rebounds. The game uses a real-time clock and a shot clock (24 seconds) to keep pace. New players should focus on learning the timing for passes and shots - each button press has a slight delay that becomes predictable with practice.

Important mechanics: holding the B button while running uses turbo (drains player stamina), and pressing Z near a teammate can trigger a quick play call. Substitutions happen automatically during stoppages or can be done from the pause menu. Don't worry about complex strategies at first - just drive to the basket or look for open jump shots. The game offers four difficulty levels, so start on Rookie to get the hang of it.

CONTROLS

Controls

Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
X: A button
S: B button
Z: C button
A: X button (6-button pad)
Q: Y button (6-button pad)
E: Z button (6-button pad)
Enter: Start / Mode

NBA Live 98 FAQ

Is NBA Live 98 considered easy to pick up or challenging?

The game includes several difficulty settings, from Rookie to All-Star, so it can be as forgiving or tough as you want. Controls are straightforward for a Genesis sports title, making it accessible for newcomers who understand basic basketball rules.

Is NBA Live 98 an official release, a fan hack, a prototype, or another kind of build?

It is an official commercial release by EA Sports for the Sega Genesis. No modifications, prototypes, or fan-made versions exist under this exact filename.

Is there anything iconic or memorable about NBA Live 98?

The cover features Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway, and the game was praised for its fluid animation and realistic team play for its time. It also introduced a more detailed play-calling system compared to earlier Genesis basketball games.

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