With the NBA season upon us, gamers may be getting that urge to experience it themselves. In a sport that Electronic Arts has yet to sink its exclusivity claws into (though I'm betting it's next), there are a few choices for NBA games out there.

While none of the three I played struck me as outstanding, they all have something going for them.

The one I enjoyed the most was 2K Sports' "NBA 2K6." While this year's version doesn't have the ESPN presentation (thanks to EA), it's still the most solid basketball game out there, and the closest to a simulation game.

While it hasn't changed drastically since last year, "2K6" has a few changes worth noting.

First is the Dual Player Control, which lets you select a teammate, then issue a play for him to run using the directional buttons. This is nice because it lets you avoid the difficulty of pulling off a full-team play.

Also new is the shot stick. This feature is either love it or hate it, and I'm leaning toward the hate it camp. It maps the different shot types (fade-aways, runners, etc.) to the right analog stick, so conceivably you could play most of the game without using any of the other buttons. But I found this too error-prone for my tastes (I had trouble finding the "sweet spots" for each type of shot). I suppose with enough practice somebody could master it, but I preferred to stick to the regular shot buttons.

In addition, team personalities shine through. Teams have their own styles of play, so what may work against one team might not against another.

"2K6" has a deep franchise mode, which this year lets you fine-tune individual player development. The 24/7 mode also is fun - you create a player and tour courts across the United States, completing challenges and playing minigames.

And "NBA 2K6" has the best-looking graphics, with realistic movements.

If you're wanting more of an arcade feel, try EA's "NBA Live 06." While it's not as solid as "NBA 2K6," it's still a worthwhile option.

The biggest addition to "Live 06" is its freestyle superstar moves. These are powerful plays that certain players (ie. the most famous) can pull off at any time.

While these are certainly fun to watch and add excitement, they're also a bit overwhelming to the competition. There's no limit on how many superstar moves you can use during a game, so it's easy to walk over the competition with them. Still, they're a nice, fun addition to the gameplay.

Dynasty mode also incorporates these moves with a player evolution feature which lets you train players, possibly turning them into superstars.

These changes certainly add a more powerful, arcade-like feel to the gameplay, which should appeal to some players. Player movements still need a little work, however, as they look like they're skating across the court instead of running.

That leaves a game that has a lot of potential but doesn't quite work. Sony's "NBA 06" makes a valiant effort at something different with its The Life: Volume 1.

Basically, it's a basketball role-playing game. You start out as a junior college player looking to make it into the NBA. After a short "customization"screen (in which you can only change the looks a little bit, and you can only play as a point guard), you set off to achieve your dreams through a series of challenges. Movies telling your story appear throughout the game.

It's an interesting idea, one that I think would appeal to anyone tired of playing just single games and seasons.

Unfortunately, it still needs some work. For starters, the load screens. Every group of challenges is followed by a minute-long load screen. I felt like I spent half the game waiting.

Other than that, the goals system was too frustrating, at least in my less-than-expert hands. I found myself having to repeat the same goal over and over and over because I couldn't quite pass it. And if you don't pass it, that's it. There's no way to move on. So if you have, say, five goals to meet in a game, and you meet four before time runs out, you're out of luck. And some of these goals are hard, especially with the slow control responses I frequently got, another of the issues.

A game should be a challenge, but at times I felt like tearing my arms off in frustration.

Other than The Life mode, there are the usual choices, minus a dynasty mode, but plus lots of minigames. And I did like the shot meter that told you when to let go of the ball and the momentum meter that helps your team play better.

Overall, though, "NBA 06" needs work. With some better controls and a better organized The Life, maybe I could be persuaded to put it on par with the other games.

All the games have online play, with the exception of the GameCube version of "NBA Live 06," of course.

"NBA 2K6" would be the best choice for anybody, but "NBA Live 06" is also solid and might appeal to those who prefer less realism. Take a pass on "NBA 06" unless you're curious about The Life.