A review of the Genesis version in Next Generation gave strong approval to the game's new features, particularly the post-up move and the create-a-player feature. They gave the game a perfect five out of five stars, concluding, "While the action and graphics in Slam 'N' Jam... for 3DO are still superior, NBA Live '96 for the Genesis is the best basketball simulation out there, anywhere." Next Generation gave the SNES version a reduced score of four out of five stars, explaining that "the game's essential lack of defensive play and offensive strategy make this cart pale in comparison to Genesis' version as a simulator." The reviewer elaborated that in the SNES version the player can easily score with repeated dunks, and concluded that the game, though the best SNES basketball game yet released, pales against the Genesis version. They later named the Genesis version number 76 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time". Johnny Ballgame of GamePro said the SNES version "is bigger and badder than previous versions on the SNES, and it's the first to be comparable to the acclaimed Genesis versions of the past." He praised the new features, excellent controls, improved graphics, and "jammin' soundtrack". He found the Genesis version inferior to the SNES version with its smaller sprites, fewer colors, and less smooth opening music, but still outstanding in absolute terms. Johnny Ballgame was less enamored of the PlayStation version, stating that the removal of the create-a-player feature seen in earlier versions of the game, the substandard graphics, and the erratic camera make it an overall mediocre effort. He particularly remarked that the game fails to measure up to NBA ShootOut, which was released in the same month. The two sports reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly agreed that the graphics were not up to PlayStation standards, but maintained it to be the best basketball game then on the market. They gave it scores of 9.0 and 8.5 out of 10. A reviewer for Next Generation also felt it was better than NBA ShootOut, praising its vast array of options, features, and plays, though he criticized the unrealistic physics. He gave it four out of five stars, concluding, "Even EA admits that as far as technically innovative basketball games go, it's way behind Sony Interactive, Konami, even Crystal Dynamics. But when it comes to gameplay, NBA Live '96 is the most consuming basketball game on the market." In 1996, Next Generation listed NBA Live 96 as number 76 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", commenting that, "none do a better job than NBA Live '96 at managing to balance the offensive nature of the sport while incorporating the important defensive and strategic elements."
