NBA Live 95

{{Short description|1994 basketball video game}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox video game | image = Nba-live-95-e14932.jpg | caption = Cover featuring the [[1994 NBA Finals]] between [[Houston Rockets]] and [[New York Knicks]] | developer = [[EA Vancouver|EA Canada]] (credited as Hitmen Productions) | publisher = [[EA Sports]] | composer = Traz Damji | series = ''[[NBA Live]]'' | platforms = [[MS-DOS]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] | released = {{Plainlist| * '''Super NES''' * {{vgrelease|NA|October 1994|EU|1994|JP|December 16, 1994}} * '''Genesis''' * {{vgrelease|NA|1994|EU|October 28, 1994<ref name='ctw503'>{{cite magazine |title=EA SPORTS NET PROFIT|magazine=Computer Trade Weekly|issue=503|publisher=Opportunity Publishing|date=5 September 1994|page=9|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/9/90/CTW_UK_503.pdf|access-date=23 January 2026}}</ref>}} * '''DOS''' * {{vgrelease|NA|1995}} }} | genre = [[Sports video game|Traditional basketball]] [[Simulation video game|simulation]] | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]] }}

'''''NBA Live 95''''' is the follow-up to ''[[NBA Showdown (video game)|NBA Showdown]]'' and the first ''NBA Live'' title in the ''[[NBA Live]]'' [[video games]] series from [[EA Sports]]. It was published by EA Sports and released in October 1994. The cover features an action shot from the [[1994 NBA Finals]].

It introduced what would become standard elements in the series, including the [[Isometric graphics in video games and pixel art|isometric]] on-court perspective and the turbo button used to give players a temporary burst of speed. The game's engine is a modified version of EA Sports' ''[[FIFA International Soccer]]'' engine, using the same perspective. The game was re-released with ''[[NBA Live 06]]'' as part of the EA Retro Series. ''[[Game Players]]'' gave the Super NES version its "best sports game award" in their Super NES division on the January 1995 issue of their magazine.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1995 |title=NBA Live 95 |magazine=Game Players}}</ref>

''NBA Live 95'' was followed by ''[[NBA Live 96]]''.

==Version differences== The SNES version of the game featured the 1993-94 NBA rosters, while the Genesis version of the game featured the up-to-date 1994-95 rosters (minus most of the year's rookie class). Both versions featured limited roster management functions, however in the Genesis version, only players in the starting lineup could be traded. Additionally, there was no Create-a-Player function or a Free Agent pool to draw from.

The PC release featured updated rosters accurate as of the 1994–95 season's trade deadline, and included the entire rookie class of 1994.

The Sega Genesis version was included in the [[PlayStation 2]] version of ''[[NBA Live 06]]''.

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | rev1 = CD Player | rev1Score = 8/10 (PC)<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 1996 |title=NBA Live 95 Review |url=https://archive.org/details/CDPlayer0196/page/n61/mode/2up |journal=CD Player |language=German |access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref> | NGen = 5/5 (SNES)<ref name="NG">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1995 |title=Finals |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |issue=1 |page=104}}</ref> | Fam = 8/10 (SNES)<ref>''読者クロスレビュー - NBA LIVE '95''. Weekly Famitsu. No.323. Pg.39. 24 February 1995.</ref> | Allgame = 4.5/5 (SNES)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott Alan Marriott |title=NBA Live 95 (SNES) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7437&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115130049/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7437&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref> }}

''[[GamePro]]'' wrote of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] version that it "improves on last year's ''[[NBA Showdown (video game)|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.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 1994 |title=NBA Live Jams to the Top |page=186 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |issue=65}}</ref> In February 1995, ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine's Reader Cross Review gave the Super Famicom version of the game an 8 out of 10.<ref>''読者クロスレビュー - NBA LIVE '95''. Weekly Famitsu. No.323. Pg.39. 24 February 1995.</ref>

''GamePro'' rated the Genesis version positively, though they commented that the cooperative multiplayer tends to be confusing. They noted that players take command of basketball players, coaches, and general managers, saying that this adds variety and depth to the gameplay.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1995 |title=Hoop it Up with NBA Live '95 |page=116 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |issue=66}}</ref>

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' review of the SNES version rated it five stars out of five, stating, "''Live '95'' emerges as the best basketball sim' available."<ref name="NG">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1995 |title=Finals |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |issue=1 |page=104}}</ref>

In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared the original ''NBA Live'' the 57th-best computer game ever released.<ref name="cgw150">{{Cite magazine |last=Staff |date=November 1996 |title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=148 |pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98}}</ref>

The game's notable success helped launch EA's other sports games. Both ''[[Madden NFL '95]]'' and ''[[Triple Play Baseball '96|Triple Play Baseball]]'' outsold their competitors, ''[[NFL '95]]'' and ''[[World Series Baseball '95|World Series Baseball]]'', respectively, for the first time following ''NBA Live'''s release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NLI Research Video Game Sales |url=https://www.nli-research.co.jp/en/report/detail/id=51236?site=nli |publisher=NLI Research Journal}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * {{MobyGames|id=/nba-live-95}}

[[Category:1994 video games]] [[Category:DOS games]] [[Category:EA Sports games]] [[Category:Electronic Arts games]] [[Category:Hitmen Productions games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:NBA Live]] [[Category:Sega Genesis games]] [[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Video games set in 1994]] [[Category:Video games set in 1995]]