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Major League Baseball 2K9
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Graphics & Sound:
Of all the sports turned into videogames, baseball seems to be the hardest to consistently get right. Though on the surface it seems like a simple game (that is, if you believe Ebby LaLoosh's good friend), there are a lot of little things going on in the background that make a big difference. For the most part, 2K Sports' Major League Baseball 2K9 ( MLB 2K9) gets it right, or at least the simple things. It's fun and accessible. However, like the real thing, the smaller details make the difference.
The "big thing" with sports games is how close it looks to the real thing. If this was the most important aspect of the game, MLB 2K9 would walk away with a near-perfect score. The camera angles are ripped straight from real television broadcasts and the stadiums are immaculate representations of the real thing (minus the ads). Even the digital incarnation of real-life players are perfect, perhaps to a fault. MLB 2K9 gets eerily close to the uncanny valley; the players look great, to the point where there's something just "off" about them. Although the animation is slick, it is still a little too mechanical and smaller player details (such as the "bright" color palette) become a bigger deal than they would otherwise. Still, MLB 2K9 looks good and will not disappoint.
MLB 2K9 introduces a new broadcast team, Gary Throne and Steve Phillips. As far as presentation goes, the commentary is far-and-away one of the best things about MLB 2K9. Commentary is delivered as naturally as current game technology will allow. The commentators will reference plays that happened earlier in the game (complete with a video replay), which is really good if you're featured and not that great if it's about the other team. Additionally, if something happens on the field while the duo is talking, they will stop their conversation, comment on the play, and then go back to their story. |
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Gameplay:
Major League Baseball 2K9 could be considered a bare-bones experience, especially when taken alongside other sports games. It's missing some features, though there's still a lot of game here.
One of the few brand-new options is Living Roster updates. Whenever big moves happen in the MLB, the next time you play the game, it will update the rosters accordingly. You can turn the option off if you would rather keep your team together in the event management makes a bone-headed move, but for purists, the option is awesome. The only caveat to Living Rosters is that real-life roster moves will not affect your Franchise. Once you begin a new Franchise, rosters are locked in and any changes that occur are made by you.
If you want a shot at the World Series, but don't feel like going through a 162-game season to get there, you can jump into Playoff Mode and play through a short tournament. You can also play in Exhibition and Homerun Derby. All of the offline modes are available online, including Franchises. However, as of right now, online games are basically just massive home run fests thanks to a few glitches.
While the gameplay is, for the most part, playable there are a number of smaller issues and glitches the pop up and ruin the game. Looking around the Internet, there are various reports of the game being a buggy mess; however, these reports are wide-spread and seem to be inconsistent among players. I encountered a few bugs, but missed out on others - so it seems like everyone is having their own personalized experiences. I ran into a few issues with framerate stutters or timely chops in animation that would cause my players to miss catching balls or, in some cases, release throws a little late. I also ran into instances of players walking through walls or, on rare occasions, becoming stuck on the field. Players can also run through each other, which is pretty handy when two guys are chasing the same ball.
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Difficulty:
Out of the box, Major League Baseball 2K9's difficulty is fairly erratic. Home runs aren't that rare and hit percentages are really high. Batting is mapped to the Right Analog Stick and feels a little more natural that pushing a button at the right time. The system is similar to last year's; pull back on the stick then push forward when you're ready to swing. Compared to last year, you only have to make two movements instead of three, so the system feels better. While at bat, the Left Analog Stick controls the hit's direction, which at this moment can create an absurd number of home runs if you press up on the stick. This will hopefully be patched later on.
A.I. is overly aggressive and will swing at just about anything. If you try to hit the strike zone, A.I. batters will eventually find a way to get a big hit. However, if you can work the periphery, you can pile-up a few strikes. However, the A.I. isn't that gullible and will eventually find a way to get some hits. So, if you're a player used to undefeated seasons, MLB 2K9 will be a bit of a wake-up call.
The good news with MLB 2K9 is that everything can be adjusted in the menus. If something isn't working out the way you want, you can adjust the in-game sliders to meet your needs. You can also throw in addition options. If you want a little more challenge at the plate, you can activate Batter's Eye or Zone Hitting. Batter's Eye challenges you to set an area where you expect the ball to go and, if you choose right, it's usually a good thing. With Zone Hitting, you need to line the thick part of the bat with the area the ball ends up in. |
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Game Mechanics:
The series' Precision Pitching System has been tweaked and for the most part works well once you wrap your head around it. Rather than assigning different pitches to each of the face buttons, they are mapped to motions on the Right Analog Stick. In a sense, the system is similar to pulling off moves in Street Fighter; left, then a quarter-circle around dials up a curve ball. It's a really interesting system, especially when you throw in the simple timing mechanic. During throws, a yellow circle will appear indicating the quality of the pitch. A good, tight pitch is ideal; though consistently nailing them is a challenge. If you aren't able to get the timing down, the game is still playable, though you can expect some batters to have a field day with your pitches. Even on the default settings, the A.I. seems to know exactly how to take advantage of bad pitches.
Fielding has, and likely will always be, one of those areas that I never think a videogame gets right. When a ball is hit, a grey circle appears on the field indicating the area it will likely hit. As it gets closer to the ground, the cone of error gets smaller. If you can get you player into position, he'll catch the ball. By default, players will go after the ball without you controlling them, though they aren't likely to take that many chances and really go after the ball. There's also a noticeable lack of fielding speed, particularly when you try to take control of a player. The only fielding mechanic that works the way it should is throwing. Throws are based on a timing-based gauge; if someone gets an extra base or error off a bad throw from outfield, it's your fault.
If you're looking for a good baseball game and only have access to an Xbox 360, Major League Baseball 2K9 is your game; it has its problems, but still offers a fun, decent game of baseball. |
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-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker |
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