Major League Baseball 2K5

"Mediocre Game of Baseball"

I have given this game chance after chance after chance. I am tired. I am frustrated. I really really wanted to like this game. I should have known that from the moment I started seeing the pass ball glitch, (which I know is fixed by the sliders, although it should never have been there in the first place), that I should have ran far away. MVP Baseball 2005 wins hands down this year and here's why.

Negatives:

1) Fielding is terrible. You never feel like you are in control, especially in the infield when you are holding your breath hoping that your all-star shortstop doesn't boot ball, and than do that lame animation where he stands up and turns his head looking for the ball. Animations should never get in the way of fielding, but it does constantly in this game. When an outfielder starts to go into his animation to stop, turn, and bring his glove up to catch it, but the ball has already gone over his head, there is a problem. In real life baseball, outfielder's react to the ball and where it is, they don't just run to the spot where they think the ball is going to be and get set every time. They lunge, they dive, they jump, they do whatever they can. (See MVP Baseball 2005 for examples of how a fielder should react to the ball.) Here is an example of terrible fielding. Eric Gagne pitching bottom of the ninth, up by 3 runs. Strikes out the first batter. Gives up a single to the next batter. Kent boots the ball on the next batter, man on first and second. Gagne strikes out the next batter. Cesar Isturis boots a routine grounder, and the man on second scores. Now there is a man on first and second, two outs, up by two runs. Next batter, single to right field, man on second scores, man on first to third. Next batter, singles paast Isturis, while he was getting into his fielding animations, letting another routine grounder eat him up, game over. Two errors, and a questionable past ground ball in the game. I don't care if I lose, but to lose because I had NO control over the animations and the horrible fielding, is not acceptable.

2) Animations are the worst ever. What happened? I don't remember World Series Baseball 2K3 being this bad in the animation department. Why do the fielders look like girls when they throw the ball? How comes the batter ALWAYS pulls his head when he swings the bat? Why do the fielders go into slow motion diving and lunging antimations? How come everyone stops and turns on a dime? Where is the physics on the ball? Hit a foul ball down the line, the ball hits the ground, then suddenly spins towards the wall, with no bounce to it. WTH?

3) Bugs and glitches abound. The franchise is majorly bugged. The pass ball glitch. The lack of collision detection. The animation stopping short after your outfielder catches the ball and than throws it into the stands. Play a 100 or so games like I have and you will see a lot.

4) Graphics are not as good as everyone thinks. Look at the game. Behind the gorgeous 480p exterior, lies one ugly game. NOT one face looks like the real players. They are absolutely horrendous. How come EVERY single ball player is thin and fit? What's with the lack of collision detection? How come the stands are filled with 90% men in the cutscenes to the fans? Notice that? You'll see maybe one or two women in the crowd. It looks pretty at first glance, but so does the Mona Lisa.

There are more negatives, but I'm tired and don't feel like continuing. Do not buy this game. Buy MVP Baseball 2005, much smoother, better playing, and around more fun.

Postives:

K-Zone, Presentation, Confidence Meter, and announcing. That's it. End of story. Thus those do not make up a good ball game. Very very mediocre ball game.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 09/06/05