Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[Brooklynnets24]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Predictable.

and yet i still play NBA 2K9 the most out of all the games i own...It kinda stinks that im nto a fanboy

[~Guru~]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I am a show lover and hated this game last year...but this game is tight....I like the different feel to it over the show...

Love the pitching and the pitch camera...much better then the show...

love the presentation much better then the show...

I just gave up a run in the top second to the rays and the last batter up was Kaz...who tried to suicide squeeze with the bases juiced and 1 out...i was able to throw the runner out at the plate and then to first for the double play and only gave up that one run

then when it was my turn to bat in the bottom of the second...kazmir was taken out for a reliever...

[queens211]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I don't understand all the hating. Game is better than last year. Couple things to remember..........

1. Game is on pro mode. Any talk / complaining about the computer not taking strikes or anything being too easy is a moot point.

2. 2k Baseball has always needed some slider tweaking to make it play good IMO

Well said. I actually thought the game played way better than last years. As for the CPU taking strikes; I struck out Utley looking at a down and in fastball. Hopefully we will see more of this with slider tweaks.

[Woodcutta]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Two major problems I've already found.

First, I was trying to pick off Rollins and had him three times but Pena decided to jump towards Kazmir as he's catching the ball before he tries to tag Rollins. Finally picked Rollins off on the forth try after he decided to take another step off the bag.

Second, I was trying to track down a foul pop up with Howard and for some reason he couldn't get near enough to the ball to catch it. It was as if he hit an invisible wall. That could be a problem.

Other than not knowing the controls the demo was good. I didn't expect perfection and since the AI actually steals bases and doesn't swing at everything in the zone it was a little better than expected. Was a little pissed Ibanez wouldn't try and score on a passed ball and when I tried to make him it was too late and he got thrown out at third. Also, Howard made a few defensive plays he could never make in real life but I can live with that.

[King Gro23]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Not to beat around the bush, When I was the phillies I seen the AI take 4 strikes in one half inning
I really like the feel of the game, The commentary as metioned is flawless
I havent seen any players run through the wall, With sliders I think this could be an ultimate game,
I personally would adjust the batting camera, lower it and zoom it more

[Eddie1967]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Other than not knowing the controls the demo was good. I didn't expect perfection and since the AI actually steals bases and doesn't swing at everything in the zone it was a little better than expected.

Another person who sees what I see. This game is looking really good so far. The CPU hitters showed a good amount of patience against me.

[Sheamazin]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

for now, think it will be Thursday for the PS3.

Cool thanks dude!

[JonahFalcon]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

anyone notice that the CPU sucks at hitting curve balls?

I already posted I got 9 straight hitters throwing NOTHING but curves.

And only threw 27 pitches.

[JonahFalcon]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Just got done playing another game.

I can get the AI to take strikes, i think it just depends on the movement/placement. If you throw it almost anywhere near center of the zone they are going to hack

-CB

Which is what you want them to do. I am easily able to retire everyone on 2-3 pitches. 17 pitches in 3 innings? Ugh.

[JonahFalcon]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I really like the direction that 2K is going with the game. From the demo it seems they have a good base to work with in the future. However, being that the wife bought me a PS3 for christmas I think I'm going to pass on this years game and go with the Show. Hopefully 2K10 will be the one that gets over the top.

I notice people seem to like the faces but they look quite similar to 2K4 in my opinion. Griffey looks nothing like himself in this game.

So... you're saying 2K9 is a beta for 2K10? What if 2K10 is a beta for 2K11?

[Eddie1967]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Which is what you want them to do. I am easily able to retire everyone on 2-3 pitches. 17 pitches in 3 innings? Ugh.

Could be the level this demo is on.

[SoxFan01605]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I already posted I got 9 straight hitters throwing NOTHING but curves.

And only threw 27 pitches.

Sliders too. The breaking pitches are boardering on a cheat against the CPU...lol. I'm hoping the 3-step pitching option will ad back that layer of difficulty in pitching, but that won't do anything about the AI logic.

[Eddie1967]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I know a lot of people were annoyed by the ball/bat sounds in the videos but it doesn't seem as noticeable when you actually play the game. No where near as loud IMO.

[Rob_NYY]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Just played 3 games, and...eh. Just some bullet points:

- The graphics really need an upgrade next year. They need to totally re-do the uniforms, they look disgusting. They look plastic. The players' faces also look awful.

- For the real-time thing to work and look good, they need to take care of their awkward animations and find a way to make players transition into certain animations smoother. For example, Burrell hit a HR off me, and as he rounded the bases he just suddenly went into this animation that had him pumping his fist and celebrating as he rounded 2B. As soon as the animation was over he just suddenly went back to running and it looked awfully strange.

- I'm thrilled the framerate issue is a thing of the past (at least on the 360).

- After my first two games, I noticed my usual plan of taking pitches and working the count wasn't working because Kazmir was getting ahead all the time. So my 3rd game, I didn't even swing the first two innings. Kazmir retired the side in order with 9 pitches in the first. The 2nd inning, he retired the side in 11 pitches. Scott Kazmir throwing 2 balls in 2 innings is a joke. Hopefully, sliders can fix this.

- The CPU swings at pretty much every strike I throw. I can only remember one batter taking a called strike, and that was the pitcher. There were 2 or 3 others, but that's the only one I remember.

- The CPU has a REALLY hard time hitting curves. I think I could go the whole game throwing curves and pitch a shutout. I've yet to see a curve hit with authority. I'm going to play again and throw nothing but curves and see what happens.

- They need to really focus on sound next year. The stadium sounds need to be re-done, they are really outdated. The bat sounds are still terrible. And why the HELL is that organ still playing? I know he doesn't work on the game anymore, but KushGamer promised me the damn organs would not be in 2K9.

- The announcing is good, but only time will tell if it's repetitive or not. But I love the way they actually talk to each other in the booth.

- Some of the real-time stuff is great. The cuts to the batter, pitcher, or runner between pitches is beautiful. The bat boys collecting the bats is also great. But like mentioned above, they need to work on it, especially the animations. I also don't think looking at the pitcher standing there doing nothing for 4 seconds is necessary. Good idea, but it needs polish. I expect it to shine in 2010.


All in all, I'm actually disappointed. I know I haven't been the biggest supporter of 2K baseball, but I loved 2K7. 2K8 is something I'd rather forget. But for some reason, the last few weeks I was really starting to look forward to this game. But this demo is making me think twice. It's going to play terrible baseball out of the box as evident by the demo and the countless gameplay vids. Some heavy slider work is going to be in order to try and get this game to play real baseball.

VC should of made sure this game plays good baseball before anything else. That needs to be priority #1 and it obviously wasn't.

[kGinGreen]

Re: Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I already posted I got 9 straight hitters throwing NOTHING but curves.

And only threw 27 pitches.

This is why I've never been a huge 2k fan. I play all their games and like them but their AI is too scripted and can be broken and exploited way too easily. The only difference being is I was expecting that here. This game is going to have flaws that are going to be exploited after a month of real battle testing. Their games always come off great at first because of the presentation and what not, but it's 2k and their predictable AI.