The arcade fun comes from the exaggerated speed of the game and the dozens of new moves you can pull of with players using the right analog stick. Live 2003's attention to NBA details, rules and style of play is completely legitimate, yet gamers are given the freedom to repeatedly create exciting highlight-worthy plays that would keep the crowds cheering and coaches stressed out. Nine times out of ten schizophrenic sports games that try to force-feed wild over-the-top antics into an obvious basketball sim with rules and dimensions and everything end up pissing off fans of either type of game. The most interesting aspect of NBA Live 2003 is that it somehow brings blatant arcade and simulation elements together to coexist peacefully in one game.
