First off I would like to say that if someone wants this buried in the "official impressions" thread they can paste it there themselves. Secondly I don't post very often on these or any boards so you can either keep reading or go play with you boardie buds and make goofy comments about a noob or post virgin. I really don't care but have read enough to figure its coming.
Anyway to the meat of my topic.
I would like to qualify myself by stating that I started sports gaming back with a handheld Mattel Football game with the little red LED's and have played virtually every system and nearly every sports game published since the early 80's. I should also state that I really enjoyed last years version of MLB 2K and still think my favorite baseball game of all time was the MVP series by EA. I am a gamer who enjoys a good game over stats and cool graphics and animations over great interfaces. With that said...
I loaded MLB2k8 with anxious feelings. I was suspicious like most of the whole "no reviews" muzzling by 2K and the fact that they had dodged alot of questions.
Nice menu system and front end. Nothing great but done well. Easy to find things and while a little akward saving changes, one can quickly figure it out and be on his way.
The first game I played was Boston versus Colorado. Just went in cold and jumped right into a game. I will admit that I breezed through the pitching tutorial and just tried my hand. Well I had my *** handed to me to the tune of 7 runs in two innings. I couldn't hit or pitch.
Hmmm... I thought aloud. So back to reading and observing. After several more tries at games and getting hammered I finally figured out the pitching deal. The problem is the discription and the fact that the menus show the arrows on the sticks in the pictures so small you can't tell what is up or down or left or right.
Once I figured out that the pitching interface is nothing short of a golf swing meter with fancier movements, I was on my way! I practiced until I was getting over 80% on all three facets of pitching. So back to a game I go. Well well well!! Three innings in and I am only down by 1. Batting is now the issue. I can sit em' down like a pro as long as I only follow Variteks guidance about 40% of the time. (Dude love the fastball high and outside?!?) anyway, unless I am ********, the hitstick 2.0 instructions are screwed up. The bottom line is that you can hit fairly well as soon as you realize that the 2.0 version is stats based with a little bit of timing and direction thrown in. You have to pull back and then push forward, left or right at the proper time to get a decent hit.
Another observation at this point is that the same issue as the last few is still in the game. Until a batter gets on base, the pitches, hits, fielding and all else are sluggish and a little choppy. Once a guy is on base the game loses virtually all choppiness and slow down. Wish someone would fix this...
The fielding is pretty good except in one area and I admit it may be my fault but why do the infiedlers insist on whatching a ball bounce toward them and refuse to auto move toward the ball like good little anmimatrons?!?! I had three plays basically ruined by the pitcher, SS and 1st Baseman staring at each other as a ball trickled up inside the base line. Crazy!!
The graphics are nice!! Except the cheap folks at 2K decided to re-cycle the intros from last year. Same panning of the stadium, same views. Nothing new here.
The players and fields look great IMO. I did notice the pitcher runs like he has a board in his butt while trying to field a ball. Pitching is top notch though and I find myself actually nodding to the catcher who gives the 1,2,3, or 4 sign to indicate the prefered pitch.
Absolutely makes you feel like you are there pitching in real game.
The baserunning is easier to control IMO. Left trigger twice sends the lead runner two base forward, etc... very nice.
I don't see the whole card thing catching on very well but who knows.
A few nice graphics I have seen are,
Glove flicked under armed saves to bases.
Jumping and diving catches at bases when throws are off on accuracy.
There are a few things that really dig into my butt.
The graphics of a fielder who is manouvering under an fly ball look absolutely ********. The guy does some goofy stutter step thing that looks a little like a river dance under gunpoint.
The other thing I have seen that I don't get is on two occasions I have seen a guy called out at first when he was already turning around when the ball finally arived at first. its like he misses the bag or something when he crosses first.
Overall I do like this game. Once I figured out the pitching deal I am really learning to love the interface.
I would say it will end up being a great game once people quit bitching about it and try to learn it ain't your Grandpa's video baseball game. 2K really set some high goals and I think they met most of them pretty well.
Anyway to the meat of my topic.
I would like to qualify myself by stating that I started sports gaming back with a handheld Mattel Football game with the little red LED's and have played virtually every system and nearly every sports game published since the early 80's. I should also state that I really enjoyed last years version of MLB 2K and still think my favorite baseball game of all time was the MVP series by EA. I am a gamer who enjoys a good game over stats and cool graphics and animations over great interfaces. With that said...
I loaded MLB2k8 with anxious feelings. I was suspicious like most of the whole "no reviews" muzzling by 2K and the fact that they had dodged alot of questions.
Nice menu system and front end. Nothing great but done well. Easy to find things and while a little akward saving changes, one can quickly figure it out and be on his way.
The first game I played was Boston versus Colorado. Just went in cold and jumped right into a game. I will admit that I breezed through the pitching tutorial and just tried my hand. Well I had my *** handed to me to the tune of 7 runs in two innings. I couldn't hit or pitch.
Hmmm... I thought aloud. So back to reading and observing. After several more tries at games and getting hammered I finally figured out the pitching deal. The problem is the discription and the fact that the menus show the arrows on the sticks in the pictures so small you can't tell what is up or down or left or right.
Once I figured out that the pitching interface is nothing short of a golf swing meter with fancier movements, I was on my way! I practiced until I was getting over 80% on all three facets of pitching. So back to a game I go. Well well well!! Three innings in and I am only down by 1. Batting is now the issue. I can sit em' down like a pro as long as I only follow Variteks guidance about 40% of the time. (Dude love the fastball high and outside?!?) anyway, unless I am ********, the hitstick 2.0 instructions are screwed up. The bottom line is that you can hit fairly well as soon as you realize that the 2.0 version is stats based with a little bit of timing and direction thrown in. You have to pull back and then push forward, left or right at the proper time to get a decent hit.
Another observation at this point is that the same issue as the last few is still in the game. Until a batter gets on base, the pitches, hits, fielding and all else are sluggish and a little choppy. Once a guy is on base the game loses virtually all choppiness and slow down. Wish someone would fix this...
The fielding is pretty good except in one area and I admit it may be my fault but why do the infiedlers insist on whatching a ball bounce toward them and refuse to auto move toward the ball like good little anmimatrons?!?! I had three plays basically ruined by the pitcher, SS and 1st Baseman staring at each other as a ball trickled up inside the base line. Crazy!!
The graphics are nice!! Except the cheap folks at 2K decided to re-cycle the intros from last year. Same panning of the stadium, same views. Nothing new here.
The players and fields look great IMO. I did notice the pitcher runs like he has a board in his butt while trying to field a ball. Pitching is top notch though and I find myself actually nodding to the catcher who gives the 1,2,3, or 4 sign to indicate the prefered pitch.
Absolutely makes you feel like you are there pitching in real game.
The baserunning is easier to control IMO. Left trigger twice sends the lead runner two base forward, etc... very nice.
I don't see the whole card thing catching on very well but who knows.
A few nice graphics I have seen are,
Glove flicked under armed saves to bases.
Jumping and diving catches at bases when throws are off on accuracy.
There are a few things that really dig into my butt.
The graphics of a fielder who is manouvering under an fly ball look absolutely ********. The guy does some goofy stutter step thing that looks a little like a river dance under gunpoint.
The other thing I have seen that I don't get is on two occasions I have seen a guy called out at first when he was already turning around when the ball finally arived at first. its like he misses the bag or something when he crosses first.
Overall I do like this game. Once I figured out the pitching deal I am really learning to love the interface.
I would say it will end up being a great game once people quit bitching about it and try to learn it ain't your Grandpa's video baseball game. 2K really set some high goals and I think they met most of them pretty well.
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