To put it bluntly, the gameplay of the iPhone version of NBA Live feels constricted. The way the controls have been set up either make it very difficult or impossible to do many of the moves and actions that are necessary in a basketball game.
On offense, NBA Live's controls only consist of moving your character, doing one of four possible dekes, passing the ball, and shooting it. The dekes are very hard to pull off because you must flick a tiny blue button in one of four directions. Since there are only three controls to choose from, offensive strategy pretty much consists of dunking the ball or shooting a 3-pointer.
On defense, the controls are frustratingly limited. One can only move, jump, and change character. Essential controls are missing such as stealing the ball or setting the feet to draw a foul. In a real basketball game these actions are vital for strategy, yet none of these are available in NBA Live.
While the limited controls might be a deterrent for some, the gameplay isn't too bad overall. It's brisk and exciting, and the game redeems itself with a couple of cool features. One example is the shot indicator. Appearing as a ring under the player, this indicator will turn different colors depending on your chances of making the shot. Another cool feature is the playbook. Even though there are only three offensive and three defensive plays included, it's good to run the odd play in NBA Live.
