You know, often times it's the little things in games that endear themselves towards us. That make us smile and really enjoy games. Little animations between plays, crowds doing stuff, etc.
However, in 2K10, I find it's the little things that really detract from the game.
Overall, this is a great, playable game. My Player in particular is great fun - I've currently got a SS and SP in the Pirates working their way up.
The commentary in this game is just plain outstanding - and coupled with My Player mode, it's even sweeter. Gary Thorne is a great play by play. Steve and John do a great job as well, though I'm tired of hearing Kruk say they've won the last 6-10. Even when it's not true.
But the little things that detract from the game and spoil it for me are unfortunately numerous.
As many have stated, the uber-arms on all the fielders. Singles to the outfield should be automatic scores for guys on second base unless it's a line drive that drops right in front of the fielder. Often this is not the case. Why don't we have players on our team meeting us at the plate after a HR? Especially a clutch HR to tie the game and send it into extra innings?
Why are NPC player models so absurdly ugly? At the end of a My Player game, when my SS goes and congratulates the 3B (Adam LaRoche), the 3B model is horrible! Square hat that's too big for his head, ugly blocky textures on his face and body - it's like they just forgot or something.
The dirt on the infield is also quite lackluster. It offers no depth or feel. It's just a perfectly flat brown color. Same with the grass. Points for making the grass higher than the dirt though.
There's also something very wonky about the friction of the ball on the playing field. Often times I'll have a solid hit through the infield that squirts through, only to die about halfway out to the CF and the 2B or SS is 90+ feet away from the bag, picking up what the CF should have. Same with some high pops - we have 2B and SS roaming into the OF where the LF, CF or RF should be making the play.
Routes that AI outfielders take to the ball are frankly ********. Oftentimes they'll take a wrong route and miraculously fix it just before the catch - I suppose that's better than in 2K9 when they just completely let the fly ball pass them by for triples. Cutoff men are out of position and magically skate to where the fielder throws the ball. Base runners for the other team are speedsters down the base path to first on infield hits. Double plays are difficult to come by, even on well hit balls up the middle to the SS or 2B.
Then there's the annoyance that it feels like 25% of the game is played on FF. Animations, while fluid and looking great, needlessly speed up and ruin the flow of the game. We've all seen those ridiculous pick off attempts. Transitions between animations are lackluster at best - transitioning from moving to the ball and then magically stopping all your forward momentum and becoming planted is frustrating. Catchers are dart throwers to second base every time.
AI base runners are ******** with how long they wait to see if a ball drops before advancing - even when it's quite clear it's a hit. So many RBI's are lost to runners who don't make up their mind soon enough. I also notice that with two outs, runners on second don't take an angle back lead.
There are also the pitchers that are just absurdly outstanding fielders. As a SS in My Player, at least once or twice a game, I'm seeing my pitcher make fast-reflex catches on line drives back at him. Not to mention pitchers not getting injured while taking hits. I've smashed a line drive at a pitcher that bounced off his foot and dribbled 2ft away from him - and was thrown out by the pitcher. No injury to him either. We also can't forget those cheetah-reflex infielders who suck up line drives and ground balls like no tomorrow.
Why do we have pitchers throwing 130+ pitches in My Player mode, giving up 4+ runs and are still pitching in the 8th+? Why does the AI manager leave my My Player pitcher in the game for 8+ innings when I've given up 3+ runs? Why do AI pitchers stamina never go down?
Also - what about right side drills for the pitcher? Why is my pitcher so slow to come off the mound on a ground ball to the 1B? Every time they've hit one to the 1B, he's done the super-speed run to the bag to get the batter out. Why isn't my pitcher running up the line to cover?
There's so much I like about this game that it's the combination of all these little things I see throughout a game that frustrates me. How close 2K10 was to greatness, just to fall short with a lack of polish.
I sincerely hope they have the time/money to make a concerted effort to polish up these numerous annoyances. If they do, this could be one of the best PC games since MVP 05 (or ever).
Thanks folks - just had to get this off my chest.
However, in 2K10, I find it's the little things that really detract from the game.
Overall, this is a great, playable game. My Player in particular is great fun - I've currently got a SS and SP in the Pirates working their way up.
The commentary in this game is just plain outstanding - and coupled with My Player mode, it's even sweeter. Gary Thorne is a great play by play. Steve and John do a great job as well, though I'm tired of hearing Kruk say they've won the last 6-10. Even when it's not true.
But the little things that detract from the game and spoil it for me are unfortunately numerous.
As many have stated, the uber-arms on all the fielders. Singles to the outfield should be automatic scores for guys on second base unless it's a line drive that drops right in front of the fielder. Often this is not the case. Why don't we have players on our team meeting us at the plate after a HR? Especially a clutch HR to tie the game and send it into extra innings?
Why are NPC player models so absurdly ugly? At the end of a My Player game, when my SS goes and congratulates the 3B (Adam LaRoche), the 3B model is horrible! Square hat that's too big for his head, ugly blocky textures on his face and body - it's like they just forgot or something.
The dirt on the infield is also quite lackluster. It offers no depth or feel. It's just a perfectly flat brown color. Same with the grass. Points for making the grass higher than the dirt though.
There's also something very wonky about the friction of the ball on the playing field. Often times I'll have a solid hit through the infield that squirts through, only to die about halfway out to the CF and the 2B or SS is 90+ feet away from the bag, picking up what the CF should have. Same with some high pops - we have 2B and SS roaming into the OF where the LF, CF or RF should be making the play.
Routes that AI outfielders take to the ball are frankly ********. Oftentimes they'll take a wrong route and miraculously fix it just before the catch - I suppose that's better than in 2K9 when they just completely let the fly ball pass them by for triples. Cutoff men are out of position and magically skate to where the fielder throws the ball. Base runners for the other team are speedsters down the base path to first on infield hits. Double plays are difficult to come by, even on well hit balls up the middle to the SS or 2B.
Then there's the annoyance that it feels like 25% of the game is played on FF. Animations, while fluid and looking great, needlessly speed up and ruin the flow of the game. We've all seen those ridiculous pick off attempts. Transitions between animations are lackluster at best - transitioning from moving to the ball and then magically stopping all your forward momentum and becoming planted is frustrating. Catchers are dart throwers to second base every time.
AI base runners are ******** with how long they wait to see if a ball drops before advancing - even when it's quite clear it's a hit. So many RBI's are lost to runners who don't make up their mind soon enough. I also notice that with two outs, runners on second don't take an angle back lead.
There are also the pitchers that are just absurdly outstanding fielders. As a SS in My Player, at least once or twice a game, I'm seeing my pitcher make fast-reflex catches on line drives back at him. Not to mention pitchers not getting injured while taking hits. I've smashed a line drive at a pitcher that bounced off his foot and dribbled 2ft away from him - and was thrown out by the pitcher. No injury to him either. We also can't forget those cheetah-reflex infielders who suck up line drives and ground balls like no tomorrow.
Why do we have pitchers throwing 130+ pitches in My Player mode, giving up 4+ runs and are still pitching in the 8th+? Why does the AI manager leave my My Player pitcher in the game for 8+ innings when I've given up 3+ runs? Why do AI pitchers stamina never go down?
Also - what about right side drills for the pitcher? Why is my pitcher so slow to come off the mound on a ground ball to the 1B? Every time they've hit one to the 1B, he's done the super-speed run to the bag to get the batter out. Why isn't my pitcher running up the line to cover?
There's so much I like about this game that it's the combination of all these little things I see throughout a game that frustrates me. How close 2K10 was to greatness, just to fall short with a lack of polish.
I sincerely hope they have the time/money to make a concerted effort to polish up these numerous annoyances. If they do, this could be one of the best PC games since MVP 05 (or ever).
Thanks folks - just had to get this off my chest.
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