MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

[RaychelSnr]

We recently changed our review process. Read all about how we do our reviews now.

Day One: Initial Impressions

Outside of the traditional 2K online league functionality and ranked/custom matches, there isn’t a whole lot to discuss when it comes to MLB 2K11 -- at least in terms of new elements. So consider this writeup more of a quick impressions piece about how the game plays online rather than an in-depth look at the online game modes and features.

That being said, in the five or so games I managed to play online, MLB 2K11 played a more stable game of baseball than it did offline. Gone were many of the graphical freezes when a ball was put into play, and lag was at a minimum aside from a very slight swing delay. As I found myself trying to mentally comprehend how this could be, I immediately realized that MLB 2K11 online is essentially MLB 2K11 offline minus the presentation.

Yes, there is no in-game presentation when playing the game online. No pregame introductions, no stat overlays when a player comes up to bat, no instant replays of big plays, no between innings highlights/box score, and worst of all, no in-game notification of what player is at bat.

Read More - MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

[notoriouzwun]

I thought the online was worse than offline personally. The outfielders hiccup and sometimes delay before actually chasing the ball, the swing still has a bad enough delay that it can throw you off when determining pitch location. All the little cheesy things are still in the game, holding back on power swings instead of actually having to time the swing. Bunting guys around the bags like its nothing even when playing the bunt or holding runners on. The online is the worst part of the game still. nothing ever changes for 2K in the online department. Honestly I feel like I bought 2K10 with minor changes.

[misterkrabz]

I tried mentioning your complaint (I have the same complaint) about your confusion about who is at bat, who is in the hole, who is hot and who is not by suggesting that some on screen stat boxes would be nice and I got flamed in these forums. I agree with you 100% and I made the exact same analogy about old school NES games doing a better job of this yet everyone here thougt I was stupid, that the screen was "too cluttered" already, and I was told to hit pause and find out...so maybe the reason we don't have this information handy (or on screen) is that maybe you and I are the only ones who care? IMO with all the on screen real estate (lower right and left hand corners fo the screen) there's no reason they shouldn't have this information available.

[BA2929]

I'd rather finish an online game in 30-35 minutes with MLB 2k11-lite, then sit there for 2 hours because the guy I'm playing wants to watch every single cut scene in its entirety. If there's minimal lag, I can deal with kind of not knowing who's up to bat 100% of the time.

[Fiddy]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

I'd rather finish an online game in 30-35 minutes with MLB 2k11-lite, then sit there for 2 hours because the guy I'm playing wants to watch every single cut scene in its entirety. If there's minimal lag, I can deal with kind of not knowing who's up to bat 100% of the time.

yup.. i agree!!

i have played the show online the past 3 years.. even though we used fast play, it still took about an hour or so.

dont get me wrong, i love my baseball stats, overlays, replays etc.. but if i want that stuff, i play offline.. when i play online i want to get games played in 30 mins or less!! im glad its 2k11 lite online..

[ghm125]

baseball in my opinion is meant to enjoy the cut scene and all the stuff that goes along with the game of baseball...thus the show is my choice,I can see guys who want to get a quick head to head game too,but the 2k is just too plain....loved the offline part with commentary,and there cut scenes...and to not at least have the option to turn ON all the bells and whistles online..is sad....

[Fiddy]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

baseball in my opinion is meant to enjoy the cut scene and all the stuff that goes along with the game of baseball...thus the show is my choice,I can see guys who want to get a quick head to head game too,but the 2k is just too plain....loved the offline part with commentary,and there cut scenes...and to not at least have the option to turn ON all the bells and whistles online..is sad....

agree.. they def needed to add that as an option for say unranked games at the least.

[Smokez4DAyz]

This guy complains they dont know whos in the game, guess you dont know baseball players. I recognized my whole yankees roster. If you bring up the substitution menu it shows whos up to bat, so.scratch that paragraph of bad review, you are forcing yourself to bitch and gripe about things you would never comment about in the show.

[Celtic34]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

Are you talking about the stadium announcer or the announcer. I Was playing online the other night and they were talking about McCutchen at the plate and were announcing everyone that came up. I didn't even notice and knew who was up. I didn't notice if the background stadium announcer was there or not though. I didn't have any issues with determining who was at the plate though because the announcers each time were definately announcing it.

All the necessary stuff was there like pitch counts and the batters contact and power ratings so i'm not sure what you are talking about there. It didn't seem stripped down too much to me. I didn't even notice it.

Yeah they got rid of replays it seems like and the swing analyzer and help stuff doesnt pop up but who cares. Taht stuff is annoying anyways.

Online I'd think you'd want more smooth transitions and a smoother playing game wouldn't you?

I'm still kind of baffled by these critiques. This is the best baseball game I've played in years.

Why not write an article and totally pan Madden because Snickers pops up every 5 seconds and concentrate your review on that? Or is EA all too powerful to say such a thing. Madden 11 got a great score and this game is getting really nitpicked? Kind of strange. So you are being hard on 2k and demand perfection from it and that's a good thing but giving Madden a free pass isn't?

I'd be more inclined to buy this stuff if you were consistant. Most people here if they critique madden like you are would have been banned a long time ago. But yes constructive criticism. Please go on.

So Madden is good because it has all this unnecessary clutter and is somehow more sim?

[WaddupCouzin]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

Maybe the time thing is a generational or the I'm in a different stage in my life thing, because I'm with the guys preferring the stripped down version of the game! I don't have an hour to spend with every signal nuance of the game. Online, I simply want a plug and play version of the game, (for me) no bells or whistles needed.

When my I played my friend over Xbox Live, the game was buttery smooth! No lag or anything.

[WaddupCouzin]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

This guy complains they dont know whos in the game, guess you dont know baseball players. I recognized my whole yankees roster. If you bring up the substitution menu it shows whos up to bat, so.scratch that paragraph of bad review, you are forcing yourself to bitch and gripe about things you would never comment about in the show.

I saw this too and I'm not quite sure where he's getting this because I was playing with the Rays and I knew all my players. Plus, I made substitutions all names were on the screens so I'm not quite sure what he means by this or maybe I'm not understanding what's being said.

[Ant13]

I just bought a PS3 2 days ago and i also bought mlb2k11. I wish i never did. I would rather have picked mlb the show which was right beside it on the shelf. MVP Baseball 05 for GameCube was alot better then this game. When will EA fix the Baseball video game market?
If your gonna do realistic graphics do them good. this game has horrible graphics.. Worst game graphic wise i have ever played.

[Ant13]

Also how do you even play online? all there is is online franchises. I just want to play 1 game at each time

[Hal Fowler]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

Seriously? You can play a ranked game or a pick-up; game with friends. You can play in a league or tournament. If you play friends or leagues stuff, you can use custom sliders.

When I saw this thread resurrected, I thought someone was going to post about the really cool improvements to online play since the patch. It is the first online baseball game to have true pitcher/batter battles in which you throwing a balls is not cheap.

I get why the reviewer would complain abut the stripped down presentation, but it just isn't realistic to keep all of it. But games can take 90 minutes as it is.

Baseball is kind a bad online game to begin with. I'd give 2K credit for making it possible to enjoy the game online.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: MLB 2K11 Online Impressions

I'm not sure what this was like pre-patch, but I just had a really smooth game against Trojan man. No lag, just an enjoyable experience.