All-Star Baseball 2005 – XB – Review

The characters were bigger, the graphics were sharper, and it featured a
higher resolution than anything the Saturn or PSone could offer.  While the
Saturn could be upgraded with more memory, the PSone could not, and only
Nintendo 64’s upgrade gave games better graphics.  At a time when having the
best-looking game was an integral part of success, All-Star Baseball had
advantages that no one else could compete with.

Years later things
changed.  Now that everyone is used to seeing realistic polygons, and now that
pretty games cost millions to make, things are slowly going back to the way
they once were: gameplay first, graphics second.  We still get to experience
beautiful games — and lucky for us All-Star Baseball 2005 just happens to be
one of them — but the thing we hope to talk about most is how well the game
plays.  [Since there’s a lot to say about the gameplay here, let’s start the
review right by going into detail about it…]

It’s probably safe to say
that everyone who’s reading this review has played a baseball game before.  If
that’s not the case, no worry; All-Star Baseball 2005 has two things that’ll
ease you into the series: rookie controls and a tutorial mode.  The rookie
controls are unbelievably easy.  Players are required to do only one thing:
bat or pitch.  If you’re pitching and your computer-controlled opponent
happens to hit the ball outfield, sit tight and do nothing.  Assuming the ball
is in the vicinity of one of your players, he will run toward the ball and
catch it automatically.

Once you’re done
mastering the basics you’ll want to move onto the many game modes that ASB
2005 has to offer: Franchise, Expansion, Pick-Up Game, This Week In Baseball,
Trivia Game, Batting Practice, and Home Run Derby.  The Franchise and
Expansion modes are very similar: start a team, take it through 20 seasons,
and do your best to make it to the Hall of Fame.  Expansion differs because it
lets you create a custom franchise: any league, mascot, city or stadium can be
chosen.  You can also do a player draft that opens the door for players who
would only be available if the MLB had an expansion draft this year.

This Week In Baseball (TWIB)
puts players in many of the challenging situations that the real players faced
during the 2003 season.  My interview with

ASB 2005 producer Tom Green gives the best example: "’A Leaping Alou’ puts
gamers in control of the Cubs’ left fielder as he dives into the stands to
corral the foul pop which cost the Cubs Game 6 and a trip to the World
Series."

Pick-Up Game is a
variation of the Quick Play mode.  Players are more randomized; two are
randomly chosen at each position from the AL and NL rosters, as well as the
bonus teams.  This mode doesn’t break any new ground, but it is another
challenge to conquer for those of you who wish to master the game.

Batting Practice lets you
further refine your batting skills.  Choose a player, select any pitch (which
can be thrown by a left- or right-hander), and swing that bat as hard as you
can.

Broadband users will be
thrilled to know that ASB 2005 is compatible with Xbox Live.  Once logged in,
players can compete online in a head-to-head exhibition game.  (I haven’t
played the PS2 version yet, but I’m told its online content is the same.)

If you take a look at the
screenshots of ASB 2005 you might think, "Yeah, this game looks good, but is
it really a step up for the series?"  See the game in action and your doubts
will be eliminated.  ASB 2005 is packed with subtle, realistic details that a
picture cannot recapture.  Take the players’ skin for example.  You only see
their arms, hands, and faces.  But the textures and appropriate light and
shadowing give them a very convincing appearance.  Noticeable textures also
appear on the players’ uniforms, which look like they are made of a material
that’s closer to cloth than polygons.

All-Star Baseball 2005 is
the best next-gen ASB game to date.  The game is a joy to control, even when
using the more complex control schemes.  On the easiest setting it feels like
a realistic version of MLB Slugfest; on the hardest setting it can compete
with the other simulation games on the market.  One of my favorite things
about the game is the pitching system.  As your aim starts to get out of
range, the controller shakes, letting you know that you need to adjust your
aim.  The more out of range your aim is, the more the controller shakes.  This
clearly alerts the player that he’s doing something wrong every single time.

Gameplay: 8.5
Arcade controls
from a realistic, simulation-style baseball game?  It hasn’t worked before,
but that didn’t stop Acclaim from making an attempt.  ASB 2005’s gameplay has
a short learning curve, but the long-term challenge and overall addictiveness
make it hard to put down.

Graphics: 8.6
This game is fun
to watch.  The audience looks flat (kind of like paper cut-outs), but they’re
much more lively than the polygon-based audience that other sports games use. 
Certainly your eyes should be on the ball, not the fans, but a human’s eyes
can only stay focused on a single object for so long.  When eyes wander in
this game, they won’t be bored.

Sound: 8
Good commentary
from Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons.  Sound effects are clear, and the music
is decent but not heard very much.

Difficulty: Medium
Easy to learn,
tough to master.

Concept: 7.5
A great update to
a great game series.

Multiplayer: 7.5
The exhibition
mode is cool, but it would have been nice to have a few more online options.

Overall: 8.5
This game has all
the stars.  All the action.  All the things you love about baseball.  It must
be All-Star Baseball 2005.  One hour with this game and you’ll understand why
Derek Jeter is proud to have his picture on the box.  The combined excellence
of great gameplay and great graphics make for one of the most entertaining
experiences you can have with a baseball game.  This is the series that got me
into baseball in the first place.  If you’re not into it yet, take a swing at
ASB 2005.