THE GOOD: Fantastic opening. Fantastic ballparks. Awesome in game animations (pitchers warming up in bullpen is great. All games should have this.) The game truly looks wonderful and is a lot of fun. Much better than MVP. Really "feels" like baseball and I love the old time feel rather than the modern fast paced openings of so many other games. The features within the game take a back seat to no other game.
THE BAD: The gameplay is far behind HH and WSB. The user can draw walks, but doesn't really give up many if he doesn't want to. For example, 3-2, bases loaded bottom of the 9th, 3-2 count, what do you think I'm going to throw? Automatic strike. Now, it may be hit, cause it's in the strike zone, but this game never gives you the feeling you're biting your nails and then......Arrrgh, you walked him. Sometimes, I want to try to throw a strike but can't for whatever reason. Secondly, too many fly balls, especially to center (zone batting, hate cursors). Thirdly, too many hit batters. Fourth, no variation in a fastball by Randy Johnson and Matt Mantei. Both hard throwers. Johnson's ball should have more movement. Fifth, no lefty/righty so strategy is gone. Doesn't matter in this game. Sixth, too many Willie Mays over the shoulder grabs. Not realistic.
Now, don't get me wrong. This is FUN GAME and I think the in game features are the best compared with the other games. No other game packs in as much from broken bats, to collision detection. Just missing out on the pticher batter interface (no walks results in bad pitch counts) and the gameplay elements described above. "Feels" like baseball, just doesn't play like it. Love that bullpen warm-up, though. Just my take.
THE BAD: The gameplay is far behind HH and WSB. The user can draw walks, but doesn't really give up many if he doesn't want to. For example, 3-2, bases loaded bottom of the 9th, 3-2 count, what do you think I'm going to throw? Automatic strike. Now, it may be hit, cause it's in the strike zone, but this game never gives you the feeling you're biting your nails and then......Arrrgh, you walked him. Sometimes, I want to try to throw a strike but can't for whatever reason. Secondly, too many fly balls, especially to center (zone batting, hate cursors). Thirdly, too many hit batters. Fourth, no variation in a fastball by Randy Johnson and Matt Mantei. Both hard throwers. Johnson's ball should have more movement. Fifth, no lefty/righty so strategy is gone. Doesn't matter in this game. Sixth, too many Willie Mays over the shoulder grabs. Not realistic.
Now, don't get me wrong. This is FUN GAME and I think the in game features are the best compared with the other games. No other game packs in as much from broken bats, to collision detection. Just missing out on the pticher batter interface (no walks results in bad pitch counts) and the gameplay elements described above. "Feels" like baseball, just doesn't play like it. Love that bullpen warm-up, though. Just my take.
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