MLB Power Pros 2008 – WII – Review

Sports games have started to
turn a corner, taking a road back to the early days of gaming.  Instead of being
an in-depth, almost simulation like experience, we’re starting to see sports
games focus on just having fun.  Forget the complex pitching and hitting
patterns, just swing your controller like you’re swinging a bat or throwing a
pitch.  Say bye-bye to the motion captured ultra realistic player models, which
still don’t look quite right.   Instead say hello to marshmallow shaped
characters that will probably remind older gamers of the classic RBI Baseball
series.  MLB Power Pros 2008 doesn’t try to reinvent the baseball videogame;
instead it provides a rather thorough and entertaining game that should satisfy
your baseball cravings.

 

The first thing that will catch
your eye about MLB Power Pros 2008 is the look of the characters.  While you get
all of the MLB players and team, what you don’t get is the look of a typical
baseball game.  Instead we get characters that are truly old school Japanese
influenced: short stocky blobs with the trademarked look of Big Head and Big
Eyes.  You get all of the stadiums but with none of the ultra fine details you
see in other big name sport games.  MLB Power Pros 2008 looks like it appeared
from a late 1980’s video game only with a nice coat of gloss and polish. 
Believe it or not the look is a breath of fresh air compared to the games that
try way too hard to look exactly like a real baseball game.

 

 

 

Gameplay wise MLB Power Pros
2008 is a mix of motion sensing controls and the atypical controller layout.  
The game supports several different configurations from the Wii Remote only,
Classic Controller, Wii Remote & Nunchuk and the GameCube controller.  However
you must be aware that the Wii Remote motion controls are limited to only one
game mode, appropriately titled the Wii Remote Mode.  Motion sensing controls
aren’t the big focus with MLB Power Pro 2008, which is disappointing considering
capabilities of the Wii Remote.  Also there are only two game options in the Wii
Remote Mode: Exhibition Game and Home Run.  Just as in other Wii baseball games
all of the action is controlled by swinging like a bat or throwing a pitch using
the Wii Remote. 

 

The Classic Controller, Remote
& Nunchuk and GameCube controller settings all play very similar to each other. 
The only differences are the button placement on the specific controllers but
the functionality is still the same.  Batting is performed by moving the left
analog stick to move the bat’s “sweetspot cursor” during the pitch.  If you
connect with the correct sweetspot you should end up with a better hit. 
Actually swinging the bat is a simple button press at the right moment of the
pitch.  You have a grid display up that will show you the location of where the
pitch is headed but you never know the speed or curves the pitch might take
before it reaches the plate.  There is an option for a Big Swing which should
give you a more powerful hit but it can easily cause you to miss the pitch.

 

 

 

Pitching is just as fundamental
as the batting with everything done by button presses in the regular portions of
the game.   You can select from several different types of pitches (with some
having a secondary type as well) and the direction of where the pitch should end
up.  Catching, fielding and the rest of the controls are performed with the same
typical controller setup as pitching and batting.  It really is a shame that we
only can use the motion controls on a Home Run derby and a stripped down
exhibition game.  I know we might not want to confuse gamers with too many
gimmicky motion sensing movements but at least tailor the full game to fit the
strengths of the controls. 

 

 

 

Even with the lack of motion
sensing controls the rest of the game really is a deep baseball package, just
presented in an old school type of look.  There are plenty of modes available in
the game that should please newcomers and hardcore gamers alike.  Success mode
starts you off on a Double A team called the Green Apples as you try to make it
to a AAA club and then finally on to the Major League.  You start off by
creating your character, what type of player and position you will play and then
practice during the year (off season and regular season) to build up your
stats. 

 

You can focus on several
different areas of practice such as hitting, fielding, accuracy, etc.  Practice
too hard and you will injury yourself but don’t practice enough and you will
never increase the capabilities of your player.  Success mode also includes
other events such as purchasing items to increase your performance such as food
or better equipment.  There is even a relationship piece in the game where you
can build friendships with other players on the team.

 

MLB Life mode is very similar
to the Success mode except this time you can start off on a farm team for one of
the MLB teams.  You can even take over the career of one of the current players
in the league or import your character from the Success mode.  You will keep
playing until your player is eligible to retire, which can include life changing
events such as getting married.  Season mode is a deep mode that lets you play
through the regular season of your favorite MLB team.  There are plenty of
options you can customize in the Season mode such as an Expansion Mode where you
can create your own teams, a Dream Draft where all of the teams have to start
over with their rosters. 

 

 

 

Home Run mode is just as the
name describes: a Home Run Derby.  Knock as many balls out of the park as
possible.  League mode lets up to six team players/teams compete in their own
customized league.  Practice mode is straight forward enough; you practice on
various parts of the game.  The Shop/Baseball card section lets you spend points
you earn in other parts of the game to purchase Baseball cards or other items. 
These are more superficial than anything since they don’t have a huge impact on
the rest of the game.  Finally Arrange mode allows you to customize a current
MLB team to your liking.  Change pitchers, names, jersey numbers, etc all based
on your ideas.

 

 

 

Honestly I really didn’t expect
MLB Power Pros 2008 to come packaged with so many different modes.  I saw the
game and it immediately reminded me of RBI Baseball from the way back machine. 
I assumed wrong that it would only be a superficial game of simple arcade
gameplay.  Sure you get some arcade style gameplay with the Wii Remote mode and
the Home Run modes but the rest of the game is rather deep.  The visuals might
fool you into thinking this isn’t a serious game but it can probably hang with
the other big name MLB games on the market.  Yet the visual charm of the game
will probably bring in younger gamers and even some old school gamers who
haven’t played a baseball game in a while.

 

Gameplay 7.2 

Batting in the game can be a
tough challenge especially when you start off in one of the simulation modes. 
Your character just won’t have enough power to get big hits for big plays.  The
sweetspot batting really didn’t seem to produce consistent results.  Most of the
time, I found myself striking out or hitting the balls short in Success or MLB
Life mode.  I would go from hitting 2 for 3 in one game to getting no hits in
four straight games.   It just seemed really strange that I was missing pitches
that I knew I had the perfect read on. 

 

Graphics 8.0 

Yes the graphics have a retro
look to them but they still looked great to me.  Seeing all of the marshmallow
players running around on the field and getting the cheesy anime style scenes
just felt right in MLB Power Pros.

 

Sound 8.0 

Nothing much in the music
department since you hear more of the sound effects than anything else.  The
play by play announcer was really good at keeping up with the action, even with
some strange plays.

 

 

Concept 8.0 

I would love to see more games
like this where you get the complete package but with a redefined retro look. 
This game still plays like a baseball game but it just doesn’t feel like any
other baseball game thanks to the visuals.

 

Multiplayer 7.5 

Sadly, no online multiplayer
just local console only multiplayer action.  Exhibition mode only lets up to two
players while League mode can have up to six different players. 

 

Overall 7.7 

MLB Power Pros 2008 is a solid
baseball game for the Wii that is lacking in what the Wii does best, Motion
controls.  Only a small portion of the huge buffet that is MLB Power Pros 2008
takes advantage of the motion sensing controller.