Best BB game to buy???

[Bad_Intentions]

Ok, I rarely visit this board, but after seeing the WSB piece on ESPN Motion about the all-stars vs the all-star snubs, I couldn't help but notice how nice this game really looks. I was wondering whats the best baseball sim on the market??? I heard WSB's dynasty mode was great, but I dont have a clue about the particulars. I've played High Heat, Inside Pitch, and MVP in some electronic stores but not a whole lot. I've noticed the stadiums and lighting effects in Inside Pitch look great. I'm sure this has probally been discussed to death her, but i'm a noob to this board go easy on me

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more (Xbox only)
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

I own a PS2, and I've played all but ASB and IP (IP is Xbox only anyways). The one that I ended up getting was WSB 2K3. Now it is 100x better on Xbox in terms of FPS and graphics, otherwise the same enjoyable game nontheless... you'll find the weird injury glitch or find fictional players when they should really be in the game as a pro, but this game is just all-around. Now I only played a demo of MLB 2004, it's a 3-inning ANA vs SF, but I would choose that second in terms of playing the game. I'm sure that the franchise isn't that great.

MVP Baseball was only fun when I played with my friend. Most scores JUST got into double digits, really close games, etc. If you play against the CPU, you won't have much fun. And not to mention on Rookie mode it's a hammerfest for your team, but on Pro you will get a home run once every 4 games.

HH is plain boring to me. Very deep in stats though. Good franchise, but I would prefer WSB's franchise over it... the only thing that I like more in High Heat's franchise is that they have a full minor league system. Then there are TONS of sliders which eventually you will find the scores you want (both human and AI). On the field is BORING. Horrible graphics, horrible replays, horrible commentary, horrible cutscenes (I even forget if there are any), and it's not really that fun.

SlugFest... if you've played last year's, the graphics and stadiums are the EXACT same, except they did Camden Yards right this time and they added Great American Ballpark. Now there are some correct batting stances, commentary got funnier, they added home run derby mode which by the way is pretty good... no shots will be blasted out of the park on it. They now have manual replays which is really good... a game actually did the replay thing right. I own SlugFest 2003, but that's because I pre-ordered it... I should've rented it. However, I am having trouble winning on Trainee on 2004, so that means this one is SO much harder. It's fun to rent this, hear the new commentary, laugh while playing with your friends, punch a few guys, play home run derby, beat all 30 teams, unlock videos, then bring it back to Blockbuster.

Again, I can't say anything about ASB 2004 or IP 2003, but I own ASB 2002 and 2003, and since most people say gameplay is the same, then that means that the gameplay is not good. But now there are so many new features in every part of this game OFF the field. 70 stadiums, totally revamped franchise, an option to listen to the commentators en español, situation and pick-up game modes, etc. Lots of new features, self-shadowing, otherwise you are looking at ASB 2003 with a rectangular cursor, just like in the N64 days.

As for IP, I've played all of the other Microsoft games, and all I gotta say is I don't really like them. They do have their annoying points, but if you have Xbox and Xbox Live and if you are looking to play online, this is the only baseball game that you can do it with. Just like the other Microsoft games, I'm sure that the thing that makes this game so great is eye-candy... fluff... the little extras that people don't notice until it's there in a video game and make you go "Whoa cool." However, a lack of a franchise mode makes me never wanna buy it.

So, those are my 2 cents on those 7 games. Enjoy the read, and good luck.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more (Xbox only)
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

I own a PS2, and I've played all but ASB and IP (IP is Xbox only anyways). The one that I ended up getting was WSB 2K3. Now it is 100x better on Xbox in terms of FPS and graphics, otherwise the same enjoyable game nontheless... you'll find the weird injury glitch or find fictional players when they should really be in the game as a pro, but this game is just all-around. Now I only played a demo of MLB 2004, it's a 3-inning ANA vs SF, but I would choose that second in terms of playing the game. I'm sure that the franchise isn't that great.

MVP Baseball was only fun when I played with my friend. Most scores JUST got into double digits, really close games, etc. If you play against the CPU, you won't have much fun. And not to mention on Rookie mode it's a hammerfest for your team, but on Pro you will get a home run once every 4 games.

HH is plain boring to me. Very deep in stats though. Good franchise, but I would prefer WSB's franchise over it... the only thing that I like more in High Heat's franchise is that they have a full minor league system. Then there are TONS of sliders which eventually you will find the scores you want (both human and AI). On the field is BORING. Horrible graphics, horrible replays, horrible commentary, horrible cutscenes (I even forget if there are any), and it's not really that fun.

SlugFest... if you've played last year's, the graphics and stadiums are the EXACT same, except they did Camden Yards right this time and they added Great American Ballpark. Now there are some correct batting stances, commentary got funnier, they added home run derby mode which by the way is pretty good... no shots will be blasted out of the park on it. They now have manual replays which is really good... a game actually did the replay thing right. I own SlugFest 2003, but that's because I pre-ordered it... I should've rented it. However, I am having trouble winning on Trainee on 2004, so that means this one is SO much harder. It's fun to rent this, hear the new commentary, laugh while playing with your friends, punch a few guys, play home run derby, beat all 30 teams, unlock videos, then bring it back to Blockbuster.

Again, I can't say anything about ASB 2004 or IP 2003, but I own ASB 2002 and 2003, and since most people say gameplay is the same, then that means that the gameplay is not good. But now there are so many new features in every part of this game OFF the field. 70 stadiums, totally revamped franchise, an option to listen to the commentators en español, situation and pick-up game modes, etc. Lots of new features, self-shadowing, otherwise you are looking at ASB 2003 with a rectangular cursor, just like in the N64 days.

As for IP, I've played all of the other Microsoft games, and all I gotta say is I don't really like them. They do have their annoying points, but if you have Xbox and Xbox Live and if you are looking to play online, this is the only baseball game that you can do it with. Just like the other Microsoft games, I'm sure that the thing that makes this game so great is eye-candy... fluff... the little extras that people don't notice until it's there in a video game and make you go "Whoa cool." However, a lack of a franchise mode makes me never wanna buy it.

So, those are my 2 cents on those 7 games. Enjoy the read, and good luck.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more (Xbox only)
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

I own a PS2, and I've played all but ASB and IP (IP is Xbox only anyways). The one that I ended up getting was WSB 2K3. Now it is 100x better on Xbox in terms of FPS and graphics, otherwise the same enjoyable game nontheless... you'll find the weird injury glitch or find fictional players when they should really be in the game as a pro, but this game is just all-around. Now I only played a demo of MLB 2004, it's a 3-inning ANA vs SF, but I would choose that second in terms of playing the game. I'm sure that the franchise isn't that great.

MVP Baseball was only fun when I played with my friend. Most scores JUST got into double digits, really close games, etc. If you play against the CPU, you won't have much fun. And not to mention on Rookie mode it's a hammerfest for your team, but on Pro you will get a home run once every 4 games.

HH is plain boring to me. Very deep in stats though. Good franchise, but I would prefer WSB's franchise over it... the only thing that I like more in High Heat's franchise is that they have a full minor league system. Then there are TONS of sliders which eventually you will find the scores you want (both human and AI). On the field is BORING. Horrible graphics, horrible replays, horrible commentary, horrible cutscenes (I even forget if there are any), and it's not really that fun.

SlugFest... if you've played last year's, the graphics and stadiums are the EXACT same, except they did Camden Yards right this time and they added Great American Ballpark. Now there are some correct batting stances, commentary got funnier, they added home run derby mode which by the way is pretty good... no shots will be blasted out of the park on it. They now have manual replays which is really good... a game actually did the replay thing right. I own SlugFest 2003, but that's because I pre-ordered it... I should've rented it. However, I am having trouble winning on Trainee on 2004, so that means this one is SO much harder. It's fun to rent this, hear the new commentary, laugh while playing with your friends, punch a few guys, play home run derby, beat all 30 teams, unlock videos, then bring it back to Blockbuster.

Again, I can't say anything about ASB 2004 or IP 2003, but I own ASB 2002 and 2003, and since most people say gameplay is the same, then that means that the gameplay is not good. But now there are so many new features in every part of this game OFF the field. 70 stadiums, totally revamped franchise, an option to listen to the commentators en español, situation and pick-up game modes, etc. Lots of new features, self-shadowing, otherwise you are looking at ASB 2003 with a rectangular cursor, just like in the N64 days.

As for IP, I've played all of the other Microsoft games, and all I gotta say is I don't really like them. They do have their annoying points, but if you have Xbox and Xbox Live and if you are looking to play online, this is the only baseball game that you can do it with. Just like the other Microsoft games, I'm sure that the thing that makes this game so great is eye-candy... fluff... the little extras that people don't notice until it's there in a video game and make you go "Whoa cool." However, a lack of a franchise mode makes me never wanna buy it.

So, those are my 2 cents on those 7 games. Enjoy the read, and good luck.

[ChicagoSparty]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
MuffinMcFluffin said:
HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
I agree, but with some supplemental commentary:

HH is sim-based, but not really physics-based. Therefore, the gameplay seems very canned and pre-determined.

MLB produces somewhat realistic scores, but the on-the-field play is not all that realistic.

My vote goes to WSB. With the sliders I'm using, the scores are realistic, stats are realistic, gameplay is fairly realistic, but most of all, the unpredictability is there, and the gameplay does not seem canned at all.

[ChicagoSparty]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
MuffinMcFluffin said:
HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
I agree, but with some supplemental commentary:

HH is sim-based, but not really physics-based. Therefore, the gameplay seems very canned and pre-determined.

MLB produces somewhat realistic scores, but the on-the-field play is not all that realistic.

My vote goes to WSB. With the sliders I'm using, the scores are realistic, stats are realistic, gameplay is fairly realistic, but most of all, the unpredictability is there, and the gameplay does not seem canned at all.

[ChicagoSparty]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
MuffinMcFluffin said:
HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
I agree, but with some supplemental commentary:

HH is sim-based, but not really physics-based. Therefore, the gameplay seems very canned and pre-determined.

MLB produces somewhat realistic scores, but the on-the-field play is not all that realistic.

My vote goes to WSB. With the sliders I'm using, the scores are realistic, stats are realistic, gameplay is fairly realistic, but most of all, the unpredictability is there, and the gameplay does not seem canned at all.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

There I just re-edited my post.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

There I just re-edited my post.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

There I just re-edited my post.

[Vince]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ChicagoSparty said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
MuffinMcFluffin said:
HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
I agree, but with some supplemental commentary:

HH is sim-based, but not really physics-based. Therefore, the gameplay seems very canned and pre-determined.

MLB produces somewhat realistic scores, but the on-the-field play is not all that realistic.

My vote goes to WSB. With the sliders I'm using, the scores are realistic, stats are realistic, gameplay is fairly realistic, but most of all, the unpredictability is there, and the gameplay does not seem canned at all.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Would you mind sharing your sliders with us?

[Vince]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ChicagoSparty said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
MuffinMcFluffin said:
HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
I agree, but with some supplemental commentary:

HH is sim-based, but not really physics-based. Therefore, the gameplay seems very canned and pre-determined.

MLB produces somewhat realistic scores, but the on-the-field play is not all that realistic.

My vote goes to WSB. With the sliders I'm using, the scores are realistic, stats are realistic, gameplay is fairly realistic, but most of all, the unpredictability is there, and the gameplay does not seem canned at all.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Would you mind sharing your sliders with us?

[Vince]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
ChicagoSparty said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
MuffinMcFluffin said:
HH= Heavy simulation
MVP= Fun 1 on 1 with your friend/s
SlugFest= Over-the-top arcade fun
WSB= Enjoyable in every aspect on and off the field
IP= Online play, nothing more
MLB= True-to-life (animations, scores, etc.)
ASB= Feature frenzy (go nuts )

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
I agree, but with some supplemental commentary:

HH is sim-based, but not really physics-based. Therefore, the gameplay seems very canned and pre-determined.

MLB produces somewhat realistic scores, but the on-the-field play is not all that realistic.

My vote goes to WSB. With the sliders I'm using, the scores are realistic, stats are realistic, gameplay is fairly realistic, but most of all, the unpredictability is there, and the gameplay does not seem canned at all.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Would you mind sharing your sliders with us?

[mjb2124]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

The only 2 games I've played are WSB and HH.

WSB's OK. I just found it too easy, no matter what sliders I used (and I've tried many). I even tried LEGEND, but still same results (granted if I made a mistake pitching on LEGEND, I paid more, but I still wound up striking out 15+ batters). If you know how to pitch, you'll find yourself striking out 16-18 hitters every game. Even with guys like Kris Benson and Kip Wells. It wasn't the CPU swinging and missing balls (until I had 2 strikes) it was the CPU swinging and missing at pitches that were on the corner of the plate. All pitching aids were off. Just not real fun for me. Playing an entire game felt like work. Graphics and Franchise are excellent. Eye Candy's excellent. Just didn't play well for me....

As for HH, I get realistic results and that's what I want. I enjoy the game a lot. Just the other night, I had my closer in and a tie game in the 13th inning. CPU had a guy on 3rd. I threw a low curve, CPU pulled a suicide squeeze and beat me. Excellent decision by the CPU to try for it at that time. Unlike some, I don't find the gameplay boring at all. Graphics are decent (not great), animations are decent, commentary isn't great (no game has good commentary), franchise is good etc... Game plays great. If you are really into baseball, then I'd suggest HH.

Best bet is to rent though. As you can see, we all have very differing opinions as to what we like in a game. Just my conclusion, but HH has excellent gameplay and lesser graphics, WSB is a lot of eye-candy, but doesn't play well.

[mjb2124]

Re: Best BB game to buy???

The only 2 games I've played are WSB and HH.

WSB's OK. I just found it too easy, no matter what sliders I used (and I've tried many). I even tried LEGEND, but still same results (granted if I made a mistake pitching on LEGEND, I paid more, but I still wound up striking out 15+ batters). If you know how to pitch, you'll find yourself striking out 16-18 hitters every game. Even with guys like Kris Benson and Kip Wells. It wasn't the CPU swinging and missing balls (until I had 2 strikes) it was the CPU swinging and missing at pitches that were on the corner of the plate. All pitching aids were off. Just not real fun for me. Playing an entire game felt like work. Graphics and Franchise are excellent. Eye Candy's excellent. Just didn't play well for me....

As for HH, I get realistic results and that's what I want. I enjoy the game a lot. Just the other night, I had my closer in and a tie game in the 13th inning. CPU had a guy on 3rd. I threw a low curve, CPU pulled a suicide squeeze and beat me. Excellent decision by the CPU to try for it at that time. Unlike some, I don't find the gameplay boring at all. Graphics are decent (not great), animations are decent, commentary isn't great (no game has good commentary), franchise is good etc... Game plays great. If you are really into baseball, then I'd suggest HH.

Best bet is to rent though. As you can see, we all have very differing opinions as to what we like in a game. Just my conclusion, but HH has excellent gameplay and lesser graphics, WSB is a lot of eye-candy, but doesn't play well.