Here’s a quick look at everything I’ve been able to find out about all of the multiplatform 2004 baseball games so far. If you’re undecided about which one’s right for you, maybe this will help. Please let me know if I’ve missed any really crucial features from any of the games:
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ESPN Baseball
Previously...
World Series Baseball 2K3 won over game critics by straddling the line between arcade and simulation, while offering a fun franchise mode and ESPN presentation. The graphical look was bright, colorful, and texturiffic, but the player models were a touch generic/cartoonish and the animations were repetitive. The pick-up-and-play nature and easy learning curve nevertheless created a lot of fans.
Key changes/additions
-Online on all systems
-First-person baseball. There have been no details or screenshots yet, but it is confirmed as a new mode for the game. I’ll update the thread when some are released
-A much higher degree of ESPNtegration, including K-Zone pitching analysis, John Miller (Baseball Tonight) play-by-play, and Karl Ravetch game intros.
-ESPN Clubhouse. Again, there have been few details on this Cribs-like mode, but previous ESPN games give you a good idea what to expect
-An in-game momentum meter.
-Deeper franchise mode with more options and all the depth of the previous ESPN games
-The High Heat hitting system (more or less) is now the default
Positives
-Bumpy, shiny, bright, and colorful
-Fully ESPN-ized
-Simcade gameplay strikes a chord with casual fans and critics
-Players are now scaled, which means Juan Pierre will no longer be the same size as Mo Vaughn
-Presentation – already the game’s strong suit – has been beefed up even more
-720p HD on Xbox
Negatives
-Player models are still somewhat blocky and cartoonish, and there are very few player-specific animations
-Simcade gameplay may not suit hardcore baseball fans
-Spotty collision detection
-Flashy, but few long-term variations on the field
-Looks to have made the fewest offseason changes of the three multiplatform titles
Questions
-The fewest info of any of the multiplatform baseball games, so there are lots of unconfirmed details
----
MVP 2004
Previously...
EA canned the Triple Play series and created an entirely new engine for MVP 2003. There were some innovative ideas in the first year series, including gameplay that relied on swinging golf game-type meters that made the on-the-field experience more skill-based than stat-based. The look was bright, sharp, and clean and – like World Series – it targeted the simcade crowd. As a first-year series, however, it had some rough edges.
Key changes/additions
-Online on PS2 only
-All AAA and AA minor league teams are playable. Let me say that again... every single AAA and AA team is fully rendered and playable
-A revised hitting interface
-Lots of new options from the mound
-Fielding/defense options like diving and jumping are mapped to right analog stick for a “Gamebreaker” controls-type feel
-Much more depth and many more subtleties have been added to the franchise mode, including an innovative team chemistry/player morale scheme, scouts, and so on
-Hall of Famers and real MLB managers have been added to the game
-Tons of new modes and features
Positives
-A huge development team was brought in to make this a Madden-like franchise. Early buzz is that they may have succeeded
-A very good-looking game, particularly on PS2
-An impressive amount of changes and additions. Everything but the kitchen sink, which is likely to be added next year
-Gameplay has mass market appeal
-Top-notch EA production values
Negatives
-Very similar target audience as ESPN (similar artistic style, simcade gameplay)
-May not be the first choice for Xboxers, considering the lack of online support and overall PS2-ness
-Still an unproven series at this point
Questions
-It’s the rookie with all the potential. How much is real and how much is hype? We’ll see
----
All Star Baseball 05
Previously...
Widely acclaimed as staggeringly deep - Morrowind deep – and painstakingly authentic. However, the steep learning curve, somewhat awkward sim-style gameplay, and bland presentation turned off many critics and gamers.
Key changes/additions
-Online on all systems
-The new camera system - including a behind-the-pitcher “Broadcast” camera, a radical new fielder’s POV camera, and the ability to customize your gameplay views - greatly changes the on-the-field look
-The ability to slow down or speed up pitch speeds, which were not adjustable (and blazing fast) last year
-The High Heat-style “zone” hitting system is now the default, though you can still select from four hitting interfaces
-Pitch locations are now much more inexact, particularly as the pitcher tires
-Overhauled menu system and presentation, plus richer graphics
-Music ripping for Xbox (for menus and assignable as walk-up music for players)
-Much more of the series’ trademark depth and detail
Positives
-Possibly more options, modes, and unlockables than any sports game ever made. Nearly every feature that’s in every other game (except playable minor leagues) plus a lot more
-Definitely the most authentic multiconsole baseball simulation this year
-Mindblowingly, painstakingly detailed – from the exhaustive franchise and expansion options, to presentation perks like Spanish announcing and collision detection on long homers, to a long list of seasonal details like the ivy slowly growing in at Wrigley as the season goes on
-Photorealistic player models with more distinctive animations than any other title
-The development team aggressively addressed gameplay complaints in an attempt to ease the learning curve and iron out the rough spots
Negatives
-Still not nearly as flashy as its competitors
-No gameplay sliders
-Simulation style means it won’t appeal to as many game critics or casual baseball fans
-Unlike the other games, much of the work that went into this title slowly unfolds over dozens of season mode games rather than a single exhibition game
-Despite major improvements in depth/detail (last year) and gameplay/presentation (this year), many people have long since written the series off based on impressions of previous incarnations
Questions
-Widescreen still unconfirmed
-How playable with the “fielding cam” be?
---
Side by side
The Look
ESPN
MVP
ASB
----
ESPN
MVP
ASB
----
ESPN
MVP
ASB
----
Key features
ESPN: First person baseball; ESPN presentation; ease of play
MVP: Minor leagues; skill-based gameplay; franchise depth
ASB: Broadcast presentation; realistic style; modes and unlockables
Screens, movies and info
ESPN: Operation Sports
IGN
MVP: Operation Sports
IGN
ASB: Next Level
----
ESPN Baseball
Previously...
World Series Baseball 2K3 won over game critics by straddling the line between arcade and simulation, while offering a fun franchise mode and ESPN presentation. The graphical look was bright, colorful, and texturiffic, but the player models were a touch generic/cartoonish and the animations were repetitive. The pick-up-and-play nature and easy learning curve nevertheless created a lot of fans.
Key changes/additions
-Online on all systems
-First-person baseball. There have been no details or screenshots yet, but it is confirmed as a new mode for the game. I’ll update the thread when some are released
-A much higher degree of ESPNtegration, including K-Zone pitching analysis, John Miller (Baseball Tonight) play-by-play, and Karl Ravetch game intros.
-ESPN Clubhouse. Again, there have been few details on this Cribs-like mode, but previous ESPN games give you a good idea what to expect
-An in-game momentum meter.
-Deeper franchise mode with more options and all the depth of the previous ESPN games
-The High Heat hitting system (more or less) is now the default
Positives
-Bumpy, shiny, bright, and colorful
-Fully ESPN-ized
-Simcade gameplay strikes a chord with casual fans and critics
-Players are now scaled, which means Juan Pierre will no longer be the same size as Mo Vaughn
-Presentation – already the game’s strong suit – has been beefed up even more
-720p HD on Xbox
Negatives
-Player models are still somewhat blocky and cartoonish, and there are very few player-specific animations
-Simcade gameplay may not suit hardcore baseball fans
-Spotty collision detection
-Flashy, but few long-term variations on the field
-Looks to have made the fewest offseason changes of the three multiplatform titles
Questions
-The fewest info of any of the multiplatform baseball games, so there are lots of unconfirmed details
----
MVP 2004
Previously...
EA canned the Triple Play series and created an entirely new engine for MVP 2003. There were some innovative ideas in the first year series, including gameplay that relied on swinging golf game-type meters that made the on-the-field experience more skill-based than stat-based. The look was bright, sharp, and clean and – like World Series – it targeted the simcade crowd. As a first-year series, however, it had some rough edges.
Key changes/additions
-Online on PS2 only
-All AAA and AA minor league teams are playable. Let me say that again... every single AAA and AA team is fully rendered and playable
-A revised hitting interface
-Lots of new options from the mound
-Fielding/defense options like diving and jumping are mapped to right analog stick for a “Gamebreaker” controls-type feel
-Much more depth and many more subtleties have been added to the franchise mode, including an innovative team chemistry/player morale scheme, scouts, and so on
-Hall of Famers and real MLB managers have been added to the game
-Tons of new modes and features
Positives
-A huge development team was brought in to make this a Madden-like franchise. Early buzz is that they may have succeeded
-A very good-looking game, particularly on PS2
-An impressive amount of changes and additions. Everything but the kitchen sink, which is likely to be added next year
-Gameplay has mass market appeal
-Top-notch EA production values
Negatives
-Very similar target audience as ESPN (similar artistic style, simcade gameplay)
-May not be the first choice for Xboxers, considering the lack of online support and overall PS2-ness
-Still an unproven series at this point
Questions
-It’s the rookie with all the potential. How much is real and how much is hype? We’ll see
----
All Star Baseball 05
Previously...
Widely acclaimed as staggeringly deep - Morrowind deep – and painstakingly authentic. However, the steep learning curve, somewhat awkward sim-style gameplay, and bland presentation turned off many critics and gamers.
Key changes/additions
-Online on all systems
-The new camera system - including a behind-the-pitcher “Broadcast” camera, a radical new fielder’s POV camera, and the ability to customize your gameplay views - greatly changes the on-the-field look
-The ability to slow down or speed up pitch speeds, which were not adjustable (and blazing fast) last year
-The High Heat-style “zone” hitting system is now the default, though you can still select from four hitting interfaces
-Pitch locations are now much more inexact, particularly as the pitcher tires
-Overhauled menu system and presentation, plus richer graphics
-Music ripping for Xbox (for menus and assignable as walk-up music for players)
-Much more of the series’ trademark depth and detail
Positives
-Possibly more options, modes, and unlockables than any sports game ever made. Nearly every feature that’s in every other game (except playable minor leagues) plus a lot more
-Definitely the most authentic multiconsole baseball simulation this year
-Mindblowingly, painstakingly detailed – from the exhaustive franchise and expansion options, to presentation perks like Spanish announcing and collision detection on long homers, to a long list of seasonal details like the ivy slowly growing in at Wrigley as the season goes on
-Photorealistic player models with more distinctive animations than any other title
-The development team aggressively addressed gameplay complaints in an attempt to ease the learning curve and iron out the rough spots
Negatives
-Still not nearly as flashy as its competitors
-No gameplay sliders
-Simulation style means it won’t appeal to as many game critics or casual baseball fans
-Unlike the other games, much of the work that went into this title slowly unfolds over dozens of season mode games rather than a single exhibition game
-Despite major improvements in depth/detail (last year) and gameplay/presentation (this year), many people have long since written the series off based on impressions of previous incarnations
Questions
-Widescreen still unconfirmed
-How playable with the “fielding cam” be?
---
Side by side
The Look
ESPN
MVP
ASB
----
ESPN
MVP
ASB
----
ESPN
MVP
ASB
----
Key features
ESPN: First person baseball; ESPN presentation; ease of play
MVP: Minor leagues; skill-based gameplay; franchise depth
ASB: Broadcast presentation; realistic style; modes and unlockables
Screens, movies and info
ESPN: Operation Sports
IGN
MVP: Operation Sports
IGN
ASB: Next Level
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