Someone in another thread mentioned alternating between playing 2k9 and 2k10, so for the heck of it, I thought I’d do the same. After going back and playing a couple of 2k9 games (after months of not playing) I’ve come to the conclusion that 2k9 is the better of the two. Here’s why. Note, this is based purely on gameplay.
I apologize for the length of this post......
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2k9:
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Fielding:
Pros:
Fielding is much more realistic in 2k9. The CPU team actually bobbled a couple of grounders resulting in base hits. I actually threw an error trying to throw to my first baseman. My first baseman had to jump up off the bag to catch two balls and stretch on multiple occassions to make the catch for the out (more animation variation). Also, you can actually make various diving plays!
Cons:
A bit touchy when positioning your outfielder trying to catch a fly ball, but once you get the hang of it, it’s no big deal. This is not ideal, but certainly not a deal-breaker.
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Pitching:
Pros:
Much more realistic. I actually threw two “base on balls”, hit a batter as well as threw a wild pitch to the backstop. Pitches are much more random (even when trying to hit the same spot with the same exact pitch type is much more difficult and random & therefore, more realistic).
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Batting:
Cons: Unlike 2k10, you can’t intentionally foul off balls
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Stats:
Cons: Too difficult to find “in-game” stats on opposing team. It’s just easier w/ 2k10 to find in-game stats when trying to make pitching decisions, etc.
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Simability (sim options):
Cons: You can’t sim half innings, full innings, etc, which really is a bummer.
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Presentaion & graphics:
Pros: Graphics are arguably better in 2k9 than 2k10. Great presentaion – it’s nice to be able to see all of the batter nuances between pitches.
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Cons: The games can be long, but that’s what “hurry up” mode is for.
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2k10:
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Fielding:
Cons: Way too “automated” and easy. Lack of diving plays by the user (I’m twenty five user games into my franchise and have made one diving play….one! I have not seen one error, not one (throw meter simply doesn’t work). Fielders have “rocket arms”. Zero infield pop-ups or catching balls in foul territory. Fielding is extremely flawed and ridiculously unrealistic.
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Pitching:
Cons: Way too easy to pinpoint my spots on every pitch, w/ very little randomness. Lack of giving up walks to the CPU. No wild pitches. Lack of randomness is the best way to describe the pitching experience.
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Batting:
Pros: I like the fact that you can foul off balls intentionally at the plate. I also like the contact swing versus the full “power” swing.
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Stats:
Pros: I like the stat overlays during the game and the in-game stats seem more easily accessible than in 2k9.
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Simability (sim options):
Pros: It’s nice to be able to sim an inning or two or whatver you want for that matter. 2k10 has nice sim options.
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Presentation:
Pros: I know 2k spent a lot of time trying to perfect the “pitcher-batter” duels, which is fine, but to be honest I don’t see a huge difference from 2k9.
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Cons: No batter nuances are shown between pitches, not even through a “slower” game option. Not enough player animations. No injuries?!
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Everyone reviewing 2k10 mentions a significantly better game, but I’m just not seeing it. I know they touted their new “pitcher-batter” duel experience, but I honestly don’t see a huge difference in the pitcher batter duels from 2k9. They added some great things to 2k10, but removed some great things from 2k9. With the horribly unrealistic fielding and way too easy pitching in 2k10, I feel that 2k9 is the better of the two. Stat overlays and sim options are nice, but realistic gameplay for me trumps all. As someone else in another thread mentioned, 2k9 just might go down as the most underrated baseball game in history. This 2k series is so close to being great.
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I urge you to go back and put 2k9 back in for a few games and take the 2k9 / 2k10 challenge….I almost guarantee that you’ll like the actual gameplay of 2k9 better.
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I know I missed some things and only concentrated on overall gameplay. I personally haven’t even tried the “my player” mode yet - maybe “my player” mode is enough to push 2k10 past 2k9.
Thoughts anyone?
I apologize for the length of this post......
ffice:office" /><O
></O>2k9:
<O
></O>Fielding:
Pros:
Fielding is much more realistic in 2k9. The CPU team actually bobbled a couple of grounders resulting in base hits. I actually threw an error trying to throw to my first baseman. My first baseman had to jump up off the bag to catch two balls and stretch on multiple occassions to make the catch for the out (more animation variation). Also, you can actually make various diving plays!
Cons:
A bit touchy when positioning your outfielder trying to catch a fly ball, but once you get the hang of it, it’s no big deal. This is not ideal, but certainly not a deal-breaker.
<O
></O>Pitching:
Pros:
Much more realistic. I actually threw two “base on balls”, hit a batter as well as threw a wild pitch to the backstop. Pitches are much more random (even when trying to hit the same spot with the same exact pitch type is much more difficult and random & therefore, more realistic).
<O
></O>Batting:
Cons: Unlike 2k10, you can’t intentionally foul off balls
<O
></O>Stats:
Cons: Too difficult to find “in-game” stats on opposing team. It’s just easier w/ 2k10 to find in-game stats when trying to make pitching decisions, etc.
<O
></O>Simability (sim options):
Cons: You can’t sim half innings, full innings, etc, which really is a bummer.
<O
></O>Presentaion & graphics:
Pros: Graphics are arguably better in 2k9 than 2k10. Great presentaion – it’s nice to be able to see all of the batter nuances between pitches.
<O
></O>Cons: The games can be long, but that’s what “hurry up” mode is for.
<O
></O><O
></O>2k10:
<O
></O>Fielding:
Cons: Way too “automated” and easy. Lack of diving plays by the user (I’m twenty five user games into my franchise and have made one diving play….one! I have not seen one error, not one (throw meter simply doesn’t work). Fielders have “rocket arms”. Zero infield pop-ups or catching balls in foul territory. Fielding is extremely flawed and ridiculously unrealistic.
<O
></O><O
></O>Pitching:
Cons: Way too easy to pinpoint my spots on every pitch, w/ very little randomness. Lack of giving up walks to the CPU. No wild pitches. Lack of randomness is the best way to describe the pitching experience.
<O
></O>Batting:
Pros: I like the fact that you can foul off balls intentionally at the plate. I also like the contact swing versus the full “power” swing.
<O
></O>Stats:
Pros: I like the stat overlays during the game and the in-game stats seem more easily accessible than in 2k9.
<O
></O>Simability (sim options):
Pros: It’s nice to be able to sim an inning or two or whatver you want for that matter. 2k10 has nice sim options.
<O
></O>Presentation:
Pros: I know 2k spent a lot of time trying to perfect the “pitcher-batter” duels, which is fine, but to be honest I don’t see a huge difference from 2k9.
<O
></O>Cons: No batter nuances are shown between pitches, not even through a “slower” game option. Not enough player animations. No injuries?!
<O
></O>Everyone reviewing 2k10 mentions a significantly better game, but I’m just not seeing it. I know they touted their new “pitcher-batter” duel experience, but I honestly don’t see a huge difference in the pitcher batter duels from 2k9. They added some great things to 2k10, but removed some great things from 2k9. With the horribly unrealistic fielding and way too easy pitching in 2k10, I feel that 2k9 is the better of the two. Stat overlays and sim options are nice, but realistic gameplay for me trumps all. As someone else in another thread mentioned, 2k9 just might go down as the most underrated baseball game in history. This 2k series is so close to being great.
<O
></O>I urge you to go back and put 2k9 back in for a few games and take the 2k9 / 2k10 challenge….I almost guarantee that you’ll like the actual gameplay of 2k9 better.
<O
></O>I know I missed some things and only concentrated on overall gameplay. I personally haven’t even tried the “my player” mode yet - maybe “my player” mode is enough to push 2k10 past 2k9.
Thoughts anyone?
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