PSP Games Comparison: NBA 09 vs NBA Live 2009

As many of you already know, I no longer have a PC, I have not decided which game console to buy yet, and my good ol’ phat PSP is still with me. I am a basketball gamer but unfortunately I have no choice but play NBA Live on PC or PSP. I just got my hands on the PSP release of both Sony’s NBA 09: The Inside, and EA Sports’ NBA Live 09. I got the Live 09 a few days earlier and it was the first one to be played and reviewed. A week later, I gave NBA 09: The Inside a try. Here’s how they fared based on my experience.

Graphics: NBA 09: The Inside wins handily. No match.
Gameplay: I’m a sucker for easy use of crossovers, spin moves, pick and roll, and post ups. They were easier to execute in NBA 09: The Inside. In NBA Live 09, it’s so easy to steal the ball. In NBA 09: The Inside, it’s too easy to block a shot. NBA Live has more set plays. Both have their flaws but The Inside has the edge on this one.
Speed: NBA Live 09 was too slow on my PSP. The Inside now leads 3-0.
Fantasy Mode: Now this is the game mode that matters most to me. And although Live 09 was slower, I find its features more adequate than what The Inside can offer.

Summary: I am actually disappointed with both of them. If I had no other options, I’d pick the NBA 09: The Inside. But I have other options. It looks like I will have to buy a PS3/Xbox 360 so that I could play NBA 2K9. Another remote possible solution would be to use my sister’s laptop to play NBA 2K9. For now, I’m just gonna have to play SmackDown vs Raw 2008 until the 2009 release comes around. Happy gaming everyone.