World Series Baseball 2K2

"Makes baseball look bad.."

Graphics 8/10
The graphics in this game were decent, but looked bad compared to those in WSB2K1. Visual Concepts should have kept the origonal engine from 2K1 and merely improved upon the origonal games flaws. Faces are not very detailed, crowds look worse, etc. The graphics could have easily been better, and this is a major flaw.

Gameplay 5/10
Horrible! Thats the only word that I can think of without swearing. When pitching, strikeouts ar rare, and it is hard to do on All-Star difficulty, etc. The only decent batting view in the game is low, all the others are impossible to hit with when you are not on All-Star (its already hard enuugh to hit). Fielding is decent enough but diving and jumping are useless. You can only jump at the wall, or at foul lines, and when you dive you dive over the ball rather than into it.

Difficulty 5/10
Difficulty varies too much from rookie to pro to all-star. Rookie to pro, increased AI and cannot see CPU's pitching cursor. Pro to All-Star, increased AI, cannot see own pitching and batting cursor or the CPU's. There should be a setting to only increase AI, or change handicap like 2K1.

Sound 7/10
Sound effects in this game are pretty good, better than those in 2K1 by far. The problem I have is the announcer. All I can say is he is an annoying *****. Play 2-3 games in a row and you will find yourself turning him off. Also, bats don't make enough sound. Play Ken Griffey Jr.'s Baseball for N64 and you will easily see what I mean. The
bats do NOT make enough noise when you hit a homer, etc.

Features 3/10
*choke* *hack* Damn! Franchise is horrible! Network is even worse! The Franchise mode is flawed for these reasons: No salary caps! Not enough minor league player, etc. Another thing i have noticed with franchise mode is after 10 years of franchise, Barry Bonds is 17, has max stats, and is 250 pounds. There is no randomization of players after the years making it mind boggling. Network mode is a last, desperate attempt to make the game better, but it lags to much to be any good. Custom players are beyond explanation. Created pitchers are worse! Unlike 2K1, the stats bar (shows how good a player is) does not show individual stats (clutch, power, speed, etc.).

Based on my own weighting system, i give this game a 4/10, horrible! Do NOT buy this game! Do NOT rent this game! Do NOT touch this game!

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 11/12/01, Updated 11/12/01