The baserunner is leaning
toward third, the lead getting bigger and bigger.
Angels’ left-handed pitcher
Jarrod Washburn, hesitates, then spins and fires to the bag. The runner
is dead meat, caught napping on the basepaths, and … wait! He’s safe????
There is no way he slid under the tag. This is one of those moments when
you expect the manager to charge from the dugout and kick dirt all over
the umpire’s shoes, or at least chew on him a mite. The only problem is
that this isn’t real-life, this is cyber baseball, and that doesn’t happen.
EASports’ MVP Baseball 2003
is an amazingly graphic trip to the ballparks of the Major League. The
game is a real treat for the eyes and the ears, and though it does hit
a foul ball or two in gameplay aspects, the program proves that when it
comes to PC sports gaming, EASports is definitely a league leader.
MVP Baseball purportedly
sports a new look and new game feel, and EASports has really cranked up
the heat on the graphics. Players bear the facial features and some of
the animations are remarkably similar to their Major League counterparts.
Game features include a new
player interface that simplifies the keyboard driven commands and really
allows players to take control of the game; the franchise mode has definite
goals and salary guides that players must take to heart; picture-in-picture
baserunning allows gamers to see the runners on the basepaths through inset
frames; an intuitive strike zone that incorporates a batter’s true strengths
and weaknesses; player council with Major Leaguers offering advice; and
the home run showdown in which players hit for targeted distance.
In addition to utilizing
the keyboard, the game can also be configured for a gamepad. However, the
keyboard commands for this program are extremely easy to use and should
not take users more than 15 minutes to get a good handle on the controls.
But what will amaze gamers
are the graphical elements. Ok, Randy Johnson on the cover is terrific.
On the load screen well, not so good, but in the game this dominant
lefty is amazing to watch.
The pitch is delivered and
the batter slaps a dying quail to short right field. The second baseman
is on a dead run and at seemingly the last moment, he dives, stretched
out and snatches the ball from the air. The movements are so amazingly
lifelike that there were times where the overriding sound was a gasp of
wonder from the game players. With some games, a replay is just a pause
in the gameplay. With MVP 2003, a replay is often a chance to re-experience
the superb animation and game rendering. Dynamic lighting, seamless environments
that mirror the real fields of the MLB, and wonderful game physics make
this program a joy for the eyes.
Of course, there are some
graphical setbacks, but those lie in the peripheral elements. For example,
the crowds are not the best, and are mostly ineffective in adding to the
environment of a big-league game.
The AI is generally solid,
with computer controlled teams mostly making the right choices in given
situations. But again, there are some breakdowns.
The ball is grounded weakly
down the first-base line and the first baseman charges in, fielding the
ball about 10 feet down the line and three feet inside fair territory.
The player hesitates, then runs horizontally into foul territory, almost
as though trying to run to the bag, but unaware of where it was. The runner
is safe and the play is ruled a single. That is the second error. If the
coding allows for the mistake to be made, then it would seem that the game
should be smart to enough to realize the ball was fielded cleanly, with
time to get the runner, but an error occurred on the part of the first
baseman.
For the wheelers and dealers,
and those fans that want to take control of a team, the franchise mode
is great fun. Whether making trades, signing free agents, releasing players,
managing the team budget, this game is rich with the details of managing.
The home run contest is a
head-to-head competition for the first player to reach a certain distance,
with bonus points for dingers.
MVP Baseball 2003 is a terrific,
joyful game that is amazing to look at, a delight to listen to and exceptionally
fun to play. The player interface is so much easier to navigate through,
making this game a nice friendly improvement over previous EASports MLB
titles. This is a game that PC baseball fans should enjoy.
This game is rated for Everyone.
Gameplay: 8.8
There are some load times,
but once into a game, the action is seamless and the game is quite stable.
Graphics: 9.4
This game looks amazing.
Some of the players’ heads seem a little big, proportionally for the bodies,
but the animation is amazing.
Sound: 9
The play-by-play and musical
score are both excellent. The crowd noise is average for the genre.
Difficulty: Medium
The challenge is in making
the right substitutes at the right time in order to win a game. The player
interface is designed for ease of use, and there are several difficulty
levels, as well as assisted options to suit most players’ ability levels
Concept: 9.2
This game has some very
solid options, and the player interface is nicely designed. There is a
learning curve of 10-15 to get really familiar by the control elements.
Multiplayer: 9
The game is fine for the
single player, but this game is supported through EA Online, and taking
on another real player is truly where the challenge lays.
Overall: 9.3
Graphically this game slides
past the competition to deliver a first-rate experience. This is definitely
a big league experience in the genre of baseball games. From outstanding
graphics to the excellent soundtrack, EASports has everything here that
will appeal to fans. While there are some minor failings, this game is
pennant winner.
