Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Grondar · 12-15-2003, 11:05 AM

I have played All-Star Baseball, MVP 2003, and World Series baseball.

You mentioned you kids playing the game, so I would steer clear of All-Star Baseball. To get realistic at bats you need to use a cursor batting scheme, and it is very difficult and takes a lot of practice to find limited success with.

World Series Baseball is a good game. The graphics are pretty, it has a lot of historic uniforms, and the interface and general control is very manageable. The one gripe I have with World Series is that throws from the outfield are lobbed, instead of line drives. Therefore, runners are able to get extra bases on outfield hits, as the fielders put so much air under their throw. And this is not configurable to the best of my knowledge.

Again, you mentioned kids, and to me the game that I think kids would really enjoy would be MVP 2003. The pitching interface is unique in that it has a meter that you have to stop a cursor in to determine pitch speed and accuracy. It works very well, and while I did enjoy it a lot, I also feel younger kids would really like the interaction and control over their pitches. Batters have a hot and cold zone that is viewable and this works very well. If you throw a hanging curveball in Sheffield's hot zone, he will likely put it over the fences.

I am really impressed with the graphics. They are crisp and the players are recognizable for the most part. Fielding is "semi-automatic." By that I mean that you can control the fielder and have him run after fly balls, but he will automatically dive or leap for balls when necessary. For the most part, this auto aspect works well, although sometimes it may result in passed balls and an extra base or two.

All the games have a franchise mode that is very well done. In MVP while simulating games (provided you choose to do this) little info boxes pop up when you are in a key part of the game, and it asks if you wish to enter the game and take over.

I played High Heat as well. It was realistic, but didn't have all the bells and whistles that the other games do. It's a good game of realistic baseball, but it just needs some spark or excitement to keep things fresh.

My recommendation would be to get MVP Baseball. I think it is the game that kids will have the most fun with, and at times it may be a little over the top with homeruns, but there is a difficulty level to make the opponent tougher.

My one gripe with MVP was that when playing against the CPU, the CPU batter would never swing at balls. Their eye is "too good," in that if the ball isn't a strike, they won't swing. Even if it is just 2 inches off the plate. This is the one issue that midly annoyed me, as it made it more difficult to strikeout batters. This would also be the one issue I would like to be addressed for next year's release, and I would be content with the game.

All the games are good. All-Star Baseball's cursor batting is very difficult and takes a lot of work to learn. World Series is a good game that does a lot of things right. High Heat is probably the closest to being a "pure sim" but it also is kind of dull and unexciting compared to the others. MVP is a very solid and fun game, and I think it would be the most fun for kids, especially those interested in 2 player play.

MVP's pitching meter keeps pitching fresh and fun, and batting isn't overly complicated. Also, when fielding a ball and throwing, a power meter fills up. The harder the throw, the higher the chances of pulling the 1st baseman off the bag.. Throw it too ligthly and the runners will be safe. It makes fielding incredibly fun, and also a sort of art you have to master.

I was hoping to get All-Star Baseball through an Extra Innings deal, but I didn't. Therefore I didn't get a baseball game last year, but I played MVP a lot at my friends. He has since traded it in and I regret that, as I would have bought it from him. It is a blast to play and does a great job of making baseball fun and exciting, while also maintaining realism.

Good luck with your decision. All the games are good, so it will be tough to make the wrong choice.

Sony's MLB 2004 is the only game I haven't played, and wouldn't recommend. Sony's sports games (Gameday, Faceoff, MLB 2004) have really gone downhill and are not even considered contenders with the sports games released by other companies.

Take care.

12-15-2003, 11:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Grondar Junkie Location: Pa, USA	I have played All-Star Baseball, MVP 2003, and World Series baseball. You mentioned you kids playing the game, so I would steer clear of All-Star Baseball. To get realistic at bats you need to use a cursor batting scheme, and it is very difficult and takes a lot of practice to find limited success with. World Series Baseball is a good game. The graphics are pretty, it has a lot of historic uniforms, and the interface and general control is very manageable. The one gripe I have with World Series is that throws from the outfield are lobbed, instead of line drives. Therefore, runners are able to get extra bases on outfield hits, as the fielders put so much air under their throw. And this is not configurable to the best of my knowledge. Again, you mentioned kids, and to me the game that I think kids would really enjoy would be MVP 2003. The pitching interface is unique in that it has a meter that you have to stop a cursor in to determine pitch speed and accuracy. It works very well, and while I did enjoy it a lot, I also feel younger kids would really like the interaction and control over their pitches. Batters have a hot and cold zone that is viewable and this works very well. If you throw a hanging curveball in Sheffield's hot zone, he will likely put it over the fences. I am really impressed with the graphics. They are crisp and the players are recognizable for the most part. Fielding is "semi-automatic." By that I mean that you can control the fielder and have him run after fly balls, but he will automatically dive or leap for balls when necessary. For the most part, this auto aspect works well, although sometimes it may result in passed balls and an extra base or two. All the games have a franchise mode that is very well done. In MVP while simulating games (provided you choose to do this) little info boxes pop up when you are in a key part of the game, and it asks if you wish to enter the game and take over. I played High Heat as well. It was realistic, but didn't have all the bells and whistles that the other games do. It's a good game of realistic baseball, but it just needs some spark or excitement to keep things fresh. My recommendation would be to get MVP Baseball. I think it is the game that kids will have the most fun with, and at times it may be a little over the top with homeruns, but there is a difficulty level to make the opponent tougher. My one gripe with MVP was that when playing against the CPU, the CPU batter would never swing at balls. Their eye is "too good," in that if the ball isn't a strike, they won't swing. Even if it is just 2 inches off the plate. This is the one issue that midly annoyed me, as it made it more difficult to strikeout batters. This would also be the one issue I would like to be addressed for next year's release, and I would be content with the game. All the games are good. All-Star Baseball's cursor batting is very difficult and takes a lot of work to learn. World Series is a good game that does a lot of things right. High Heat is probably the closest to being a "pure sim" but it also is kind of dull and unexciting compared to the others. MVP is a very solid and fun game, and I think it would be the most fun for kids, especially those interested in 2 player play. MVP's pitching meter keeps pitching fresh and fun, and batting isn't overly complicated. Also, when fielding a ball and throwing, a power meter fills up. The harder the throw, the higher the chances of pulling the 1st baseman off the bag.. Throw it too ligthly and the runners will be safe. It makes fielding incredibly fun, and also a sort of art you have to master. I was hoping to get All-Star Baseball through an Extra Innings deal, but I didn't. Therefore I didn't get a baseball game last year, but I played MVP a lot at my friends. He has since traded it in and I regret that, as I would have bought it from him. It is a blast to play and does a great job of making baseball fun and exciting, while also maintaining realism. Good luck with your decision. All the games are good, so it will be tough to make the wrong choice. Sony's MLB 2004 is the only game I haven't played, and wouldn't recommend. Sony's sports games (Gameday, Faceoff, MLB 2004) have really gone downhill and are not even considered contenders with the sports games released by other companies. Take care. __________________ "Yes, I rather like this God fellow. He's very theatrical, you know, a pestilence here, a plague there. Omnipotence. Gotta get me some of that." -Stewie