The Bigs

"Flaming Pitches, Laser Hits, A Good Time had by All"

This game is... unusual. In a world of baseball games, it stands out of the first non-sim type in a while. It looks back to the days of arcade baseball, and soups it up with next-gen graphics and some fun game modes.

Gameplay:
My last baseball game was MLB 1999, so forgive my lack of background knowledge. This game throws out the old "aim your bat" mode that had you position your bat where you thought the ball would hit. Instead, you bat by simply aiming the ball where you wish (a must in this game, as I will explain later) and hitting one of 2 buttons, power or contact, when the ball crosses the plate. Fielding is equally simple; position a player where the ball will be for a catch, or hit the a button to dive/jump for a ball. This triggers a cinematic "Great Catch" opportunity. One gameplay frustration is that the computer makes... many great catches. They seem to know if the ball will come their way before it leaves your bat, and thus dive early aand cach them. They also rob homeruns a bit too much for my tastes. You can rob as well, through a timed button pressing sequence. The buttons required to catch a ball in tough situations really make it seem an accomplishment when you pull it off. Pitching is a simple meter.

Graphics:
Wow. This is one pretty game. It has a fully rendered (though graphically unimpressive) crowd, that will boo, clap, stand up, and do other things with the flow of the game. Players usually look like themselves. A-Rod is especially well done; in fact, most of the star players are. Many lower-level players are a bit more generic. Your rookie for career mode is quite customizable, and you can make a reasonable look-alike of yourself if you so wish.

Replay:
This game is fun to play with friends, especially when you get it amped up into the flaming hit fun it can be. I can't tell you about multiplayer, but if it is anything like home play it should be entertaining. In addition, rookie mode is a blast. I built a shortstop and slowly built him up into the next big thing. It's tons of fun watching a player evolve in rookie mode, as well as learning to manage fatigue, new players, and lineups. Its surely a mode that you'll be coming back again and again for. The game also includes a minigame, Home-Run Pinball. It's definitely fun, and can get competitive.

Overall, this game is serious fun and should not be overlooked for a nice, arcadey baseball fix.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/30/07