World Series Baseball 2K2

"Some flaws, but a pretty good game"

When WS2K1 came out, I could not wait, after playing it for quite awhile, I was ready to throw it and the DC out the window. When I got wind of WS2K2 I checked out all the sites before it came out and hyped myself up.

GAMEPLAY
Well in 2K1 the biggest thing I hated was the fact that you could not use the D-PAD. I find the D-pad easier for game control than the stick. So when I heard that in this installment you could use the D-pad I was happy. I opened up the directions and in the directions they state you can change from analog to d-pad. According to the book on the main menu there is a option for controllers, if someone knows where this option is, please tell me where!! I was forced to use the analog stick, which is not as bad as I am used to. When I started a season with the Cubbies, I did it on Rookie level. I played one game, scorded 10 runs, banged out 22 hits, held the computer to 1 run and 3 hits.(Kerry Wood). I am a sports game puriest, I like realistic as possible games. So I started over a season on Pro level. I found the difference between Rookie and Pro level like high school and major league. Hate to see All Star level!!

GRAPHICS
I was very, very impressed with the graphics, I am a Cub fan, and Wrigley field looked impressive. The players batting stances are almost perfect. The pitching motions are just about right. The problems I found the ball travels off the bat way to fast, which was odd in the beginning, but after a few games I got used to it. When running the first the batter seems to stand frozen for a second, but gets going quick enough. The outfielders/infielders when they catch the ball look like there in pain, cause they bend over. Overall the graphics are pleasing to the eye, minor quirks but I got over it quick.

HITTING
Like I stated above, on Rookie level I was kiilin it, but on Pro level I found it hard to hit and score runs(4 runs in 6 games). In rookie level, before the ball is thrown it tells you were the pitch will land so all you have to do is put the cursor on it and swing.(22 hits, 10 runs). In Pro level that is all gone, you have to just guess. Yes I know it realistic, but when all you seem to muster is a weak grounder to the pitcher, come ON! The way I found to combat that was to put the camera on high view and swing at everything, trust me it works.

PITCHING
I found pitching easy, the speeds don't seem realistic, a 95 MPH fastball seems like a 80 MPH. But you get used to it. After I started using the Hot/Cold Zones my pitching numbers got better.

FIELDING
It looks cool, but you have to be precise, if you press the button to quick he will just stand there, making the 6-4-3 double play impossible. When the ball is hit to the outfielder it will be caught, but sometimes the ball looks out of reach but will be caught. Rarely the fielder will put up his glove and it looks good. The ball moves to quick, so when the ball is smacked past the shortstop and you moved the fielder the outfielder mimicks that and it could make a single into a triple very easy. No cut off man option, and I found the outfielder will throw bloopers back to the infield, so I would start the guy running then throw it and he throws a more line drive throw. Easy pop ups are dropped more than should be by major leaguers. Overall on the fielding the more you play the less you notice.

BASERUNNING
Stealing bases it fairly easy, this game will NOT let you get a great jump, if you leave before the yellow cursor is up you will get picked off. The computer never trys to pick off the runner from a base. If you smack one in the outfield the baserunner will always overrun the base which is kind of annoying, no major leaguers overrun on a clean rip. If you have a man on and are paying more attention to the advancing runner you would assume the batter would take the extra base but you have to control him. First couple games a gap shot was a single cause he would just overrun the base, but that is just how I see it. I have not seen a collision at the plate result in a ball getting knocked out so I am not sure if that is possible, looks good visually though.

CREATE A PLAYER
I of course created my self, I liked the fact that it was very detailed all the way down to sunglasses, which in the game you can't tell but it is a neat feature. If your a dark skinned Afro American, you will have to settle for a nice caucasian tan. I did not like the fact that you can max out on everything,(99's). There could have been more categories, beside fielding, hitting,power,speed. Also you can only creat up to 3 players, I would have loved to create a whole team of just created players, but you can't.
Also you cannot change the batting/pitching stances of your created player, it is a default setting.

TRADING PLAYERS
I found it hard to trade players with the computer, unless it is a position for position swap.(Delino Deshields for Juan Pierre), that is about it. You could trade Sammy Sosa for a less talented player , but not the other way around. But I guess that keeps the person from stacking a team but isn't that what it is all about! A override trade option would be nice. Since the game came out after the trade deadline, the rosters should have reflected that, but oh well. I did find Albert Belle on the free agent market though. The free agent market is deep, but it is hard to tell the players rating cause it is not a number but a bar. Also you cannot find the attributes of the player so it is a crap shoot with some of the no name free agents.

MISC.
I scored three runs in one inning in the pro level, was feeling good, but it seems whatever you score the computer will come right back with vengence no matter how masterful you pitcher has been.I don't see a 10 -0 game on pro being possible. I found hitting a home run tough.

ANNOUNCER
The annoucer is by himself, and is not to exciting, basically tells you whats going on with little player talk. A lot of times he will call a single in the outfield a chance for extra bases, and he can get a little behind, but it is better than nothing. The umpire gets drowned out by the announcer so you don't hear it at all. The crowd chatter is great, they will boo bad plays, will call out players names, and you always know where the peanut vendor is.

RATINGS

Gameplay-5/10
If there is a way to use the D-pad let me know!
Graphics-8-10
Some minor quirks with the graphics, but I have not found a better visually pleasing game.
Hitting-7-10
Very easy on Rookie, very diffucult on Pro, but it makes for a more realistic gaming experience
Pitching-9-10
Pitching is smooth and fluid, easy to pitch and nice pitch selection
Fielding-7-10
The ball moves off the bat quickly, which could cause a single to be a triple, and the players drop balls more than major leaguers should.
Baserunning-7-10
Stealing bases is pretty easy, don't like that they on clean singles they over run the base.
Create a Player-7-10
Could be deeper, more categories, and you can only creat 3 players
Trading Players- 7-10
One for one positional swaps are possible, but don't think you can stack a team. free Agency is deep, could use a different player rating system.
MISC-Can't really put a rating on this, just things I found annoying
Announcer-8-10
The announcer tells it like it is, nothing more, kind of bland, and calls things wrong, but the crowd chatter is worth the price of admission, neat.

OVERALL
I guess this game is much better than last years game. I played 11 games last night and still want to play more, so I think it is worth it to buy, if you are into baseball like I am, and you can over look the minor graphic, gameplay problems I don't think there is a better baseball game out there

8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/19/01, Updated 08/19/01