Re: 3DO really dropped the ball with this year\'s HH
Even though I fear that I will get bashed here.....I too am not entirely happy with this incarnation of HH.
I will start by saying I have been a high heat player since it's first game on the PC in 99? The graphics were horrible but I got hooked on it's gameplay. I have played every years version since on PC and even liked the PS2 version last year. IT just feels like baseball.
Now I try the Xbox 2004 version and something feels weird. Even the pitcher batter interface seems slightly different. The timing.....the animation.....something makes it feel like I don't have as much control over the swing. And the hit's feel.....well...honestly more canned than on previous high heat games. I went back to my PC and played HH 2003 for a reference and it played great. I loved it and the hitting felt spot on. The instant I hit the button the bat head was in the zone. On XBOX 2004 the bat seems slower and I am having a hard time getting good wood on the ball. Therefore I go through games with way too many slow rollers and bloops to infielders and very few solid hits. Even solid hits for outs. In HH2003 for PC I make outs but I line out, fly out to deep outfield and hit rocket grounders that get scooped up for outs.
Now....that being said....I am only comparing HH to it's previous incarnations. I am not even referencing the other console baseball titles that are out there. I know from experience that it is the best game as far a realism goes.
Despite the little gripes I have about the way hitting feels the outcome of games seems accurate. The score and number of hits are about right. But I feel like some of the outcomes of at bats are predetermined a little too much. I've heard this complaint of previous HH titles but never felt it was true. But I don't entirely feel like I have as much say in what happens when I am at bat as I did in older versions.
One other thing I can say I noticed that feels like there is some level of scripting that I never saw in older HH games. I have played about 9-10 games so far and in each game there is at least one at bat where the CPU pitcher will throw me 3 straight balls. The pitcher has had masterful control up to this point and suddenly throws horrible pitches that are not even close to the plate. I then sit on the 3-0 fastball and the next pitch is FAT. Piped it right down the middle. I crush it for a HR. I felt great cause I worked the count and one the duel. But when this same thing started to happen every game and I always hit a HR or a double or at least a solid hit on a 3-0 pitch I started to feel like I was being gifted this hit. In other words the CPU was setting me up to crush it everytime this pattern of pitches happen. I hope I am wrong.
Again....I love HH in general but so far this version is just leaving me feeling a little "iffy". And every other time I tried the previous HH for the first time I was always excited and blown away.
Even though I fear that I will get bashed here.....I too am not entirely happy with this incarnation of HH.
I will start by saying I have been a high heat player since it's first game on the PC in 99? The graphics were horrible but I got hooked on it's gameplay. I have played every years version since on PC and even liked the PS2 version last year. IT just feels like baseball.
Now I try the Xbox 2004 version and something feels weird. Even the pitcher batter interface seems slightly different. The timing.....the animation.....something makes it feel like I don't have as much control over the swing. And the hit's feel.....well...honestly more canned than on previous high heat games. I went back to my PC and played HH 2003 for a reference and it played great. I loved it and the hitting felt spot on. The instant I hit the button the bat head was in the zone. On XBOX 2004 the bat seems slower and I am having a hard time getting good wood on the ball. Therefore I go through games with way too many slow rollers and bloops to infielders and very few solid hits. Even solid hits for outs. In HH2003 for PC I make outs but I line out, fly out to deep outfield and hit rocket grounders that get scooped up for outs.
Now....that being said....I am only comparing HH to it's previous incarnations. I am not even referencing the other console baseball titles that are out there. I know from experience that it is the best game as far a realism goes.
Despite the little gripes I have about the way hitting feels the outcome of games seems accurate. The score and number of hits are about right. But I feel like some of the outcomes of at bats are predetermined a little too much. I've heard this complaint of previous HH titles but never felt it was true. But I don't entirely feel like I have as much say in what happens when I am at bat as I did in older versions.
One other thing I can say I noticed that feels like there is some level of scripting that I never saw in older HH games. I have played about 9-10 games so far and in each game there is at least one at bat where the CPU pitcher will throw me 3 straight balls. The pitcher has had masterful control up to this point and suddenly throws horrible pitches that are not even close to the plate. I then sit on the 3-0 fastball and the next pitch is FAT. Piped it right down the middle. I crush it for a HR. I felt great cause I worked the count and one the duel. But when this same thing started to happen every game and I always hit a HR or a double or at least a solid hit on a 3-0 pitch I started to feel like I was being gifted this hit. In other words the CPU was setting me up to crush it everytime this pattern of pitches happen. I hope I am wrong.
Again....I love HH in general but so far this version is just leaving me feeling a little "iffy". And every other time I tried the previous HH for the first time I was always excited and blown away.
I believe 3DO does everything within their budget to make HH the best baseball game they have money to build. I think the throw animations alone are a monstorous step for this series, it shows they knew the animation or lack thereof last year needed fixed. They added franchise mode which was sorely needed to keep up with ASB and WSB. The Minor Leagues are a welcome addition as well. To me this game is leaps and bounds above last year's title. The sound was done but couldn't be implemented, I can live with that b/c it still plays the best game of baseball. 
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