It’s that time of year
again when the boys of summer are preparing for the upcoming season and the
excitement of Spring Training is giving baseball fans dreams of their team
finally making it to the World Series. You can practically smell the scent of
victory and defeat and of men that will become legends . . . ah yes Spring
Training is here. And the best part about all of this is that MLB 2004, Sony
and 989 Sports first PS2 baseball title, will allow baseball fans to experience
all of this first hand.
The game features enough
game modes to really sink your teeth into such as Exhibition mode, an in-depth
Home Run Derby, All-Star Game and Playoffs (where you can also skip ahead and go
directly to the World Series). There’s also Manager Mode, which allows you to
step into the shoes of a big league manager as you call the shots while your CPU
team plays the calls you make. There is Season Mode and a Career Mode (where
you can take a team or a created player and build them up through ten seasons.
Yet the most creative of these modes is Spring Training where you create a top
prospect and place him on a team to earn MLB Status points to take him all the
way to the Hall of Fame.
These modes also allow you
to realign the divisions anyway you see fit and this makes for some really
interesting fantasy drafts that can change your favorite team completely. If
you imagine your favorite team with Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds and Roger
Clemens . . . it can be done! You can also create your own players, deciding on
everything from his pitching speed to his ideal height and weight. Taking your
creation through various seasons, your player can pick up points and experience
along the way and he can even be traded.
While impressive in number
and in depth, the game modes share one thing in common–a fast pace. You’ll be
surprised how quickly this game moves along. Pitchers toss fastballs much more
quickly than you can anticipate them you’ll be astonished how an inning passes
by in this game. Much of this is due to the batting/pitching interface that’s a
lot like the All-Star Baseball series. While pitching, you select your pitch
type and then move the ball anywhere within the cursor. While batting, you’re
given a quick heads up where the pitcher is about to toss the ball. This makes
it easier to take a pass on swinging at wild pitches.
On the field, though,
things change . . . much of it not for the better. For one thing, this is where
the game’s flaws become really noticeable and very disappointing. One fault
that shows up rather regularly is after the CPU batter manages to hit a long
ball out towards centerfield. While you’re expecting your player to scoop the
ball up the ball in question hits the ground and bounces over your player who
now has to scramble back to get it. If somebody hits a ball near the foul line,
your player just stands over the ball as if unsure to pick it up or just leave
it there until the next batter takes the plate. On the plus side, though,
tossing the balls anywhere on the diamond is easy. Catching is easy too since a
huge ball icon appears on the location where the ball will land, giving your
player ample time to get in there and catch it.
Another disappointment
comes in the form of the game’s graphics that end up being just average. The
ballparks themselves–like Shea Stadium, for instance–look a lot like the real
deal . . . only they lack those little details you see in other baseball titles
like High Heat Major League Baseball 2004. In fact, the ballparks look pretty
plain. The player models, though, do make up for this since their movements are
wonderfully realistic whether they’re preparing to steal third base or ready to
take a swing. The facial details are decent enough that you can identify your
favorite diamond king, although the lighting could have been a lot
better–especially when batters are walking up to the plate.
Sound-wise, the game also
lacks that finesse that would have more than made up for the lackluster
visuals. Strangely enough, the best ambience sound effects are heard when you
put the game on pause. You can hear the vendors selling peanuts and hotdogs,
the stadium announcer’s booming voice through the PA system and the occasional
heckler whose voice rises among the lively chattering of spectators. You’ll
love the sound your bat makes when it rips a ball out to centerfield or hear the
ball smack against your glove as you catch the ball. The play-by-play and color
commentary gives the game a televised feel that sounds really authentic thanks
to Vin Scully and Dave Campbell.
MLB 2004 has all the
makings of a really great baseball game, but its gameplay flaws keep this game
from competing with the big boys. Still, despite the many low points in the
graphics and control department, this is still a pretty entertaining game that
will, hopefully, show its true potential next year. Until then, I recommend
this one as a rental if you want a taste of a fast-paced baseball title.
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#Reviewer’s |
Gameplay: 6.6
Many of the game’s glaring flaws are
directed at the gameplay, although there are things this game does manage to get
right. For the most part, though, there are a few flaws that are hard to
overlook such as the way the ball “bounces” on the ground sometimes, making it
rather difficult to pick it up. Then there are little things such as the
fielders’ inability to pick up a ball near the foul line and simply standing
over the ball until the camera moves away. The cursor-based batter interface
does work, though. Guessing pitches is easier this way, giving gamers a chance
to concentrate on the actual hitting.
Graphics: 6.0
The game’s visuals will definitely
not impress any gamers considering the fact that much of what is seen here is
rather plain to look at. Stadiums do resemble their actual counterpart, but
they lack the heavy detail seen in other baseball titles. The crowd looks great
when the camera swings around when introducing the next batter, but from a
distance they resemble a colorful, shimmering mass. Even the blue skies look
rather plainly.
The player models are
decently done and their movements are as smooth as the framerate. The players’
movements are wonderfully realistic and watching them pitch or swing a bat just
looks so natural. Gamers will find that the face scans are not dangerously
close to the real thing but at least it is good enough to identify your favorite
players.
Sound: 6.5
As far as the ambience sound is
concerned, you’ll find it adequate enough to get the job done. What is odd
about it, though, is that in the pause menu you’ll find the background sounds
more prominent. Things such as vendors and hecklers can be heard more easily as
is the collective voices of the fans in attendance. The more you play the more
the game sounds just like a televised event.
The commentary is done
nicely since it’s always a treat hearing Vin Scully call the plays throughout
the game. His vocal presence just makes the game feel you’re playing a
televised game and I’m sure hardcore baseball fans will just enjoy hearing him
get into the game. The color commentary, done by ESPN’s Dave Campbell, though
can become rather repetitive in many places.
Difficulty: Medium
The opponent AI won’t dazzle you
with some intelligent plays in any of the difficulty setting you choose, but
they do manage to challenge you enough that they will have you directly focused
on the game. You’ll find that the opposing team plays exactly the way they
should. The other players are also prone to making mistakes, although few of
these mistakes are due to some flaws.
Concept: 8.0
Thankfully, MLB 2004 showcases
plenty of game modes–including the creative Spring Training mode that gives
gamers the choice of concentrating on your favorite team (changing everything
including the lineup) or concentrating on a single player you create (placing
him on your favorite team and building him up to star status). You can create a
player down to his weight to whether or not you’d like him to have a moustache
or a goatee.
Multiplayer: 7.8
There are enough multiplayer modes
here for you and a friend to quickly get into such as the Exhibition mode or the
more elaborate ones such as the All-Star Game and Season. Your friend can also
create his own player and pit him against your own creation. Either way, this
game is just a more fun going up against a friend.
Overall: 7.3
MLB 2004 is a noble effort by 989
Sports and it certainly is one of their finest sports titles, but the game’s
many faults hold this game back from playing in the same field as many of the
recent baseball titles out there. With a little work, however, this is a series
gamers should look forward to seeing next season. In the meantime, baseball
fans should turn elsewhere.
