Major League Baseball 2K8

"MLB 2K8 - Close to perfect, just not quite there yet"

When I first read about this game, I wasn't so sure about it as there seemed to be alot of problems that needed to be fixed on the demo that wasn't fixed when the game was released. I still bought the game none the less hoping despite the flaws this would still be a good game... boy was I right.

Game play - I've seen people complain about hitting and pitching, when actually it's really simple. If you own a XBox 360 then I'am going to assume you have played the game 'Skate'. If you have, then you'll understand how pitching works. For example, if you want to throw a curve ball then you hold the joy stick in the bottom corner and move it all the way around in a circle. It's hard at first, but after about 20 or so minutes of using it, it's really easy and really fun.

The new hitting people seem to have a problem with. I for one really enjoy it. In 2K7, you just pull the joy stick back and release and your batter swings the bat. Well this time you can pull the joy stick back and release and you either push the stick up for either a line drive, or a pop fly. Or you push the stick to the left going for left field, or push it to the right for right field. Hitting is really easy, and really fun. Why people have a problem with it, I have no idea.

Fielding is great. Fielding in a way is like the MVP series. In MVP they had the throw meter with how hard you're throwing the ball. Well 2K8 has that now. So fielding is definitely alot better than it was last year.

Game play - 10/10

Sound - The sound in this game is good and bad. Joe Morgan and John Miller are sadly back again in this game. I think they are even more worse this year than they were last year. For example, I'm playing as the Mariners, and Ichiro just hit a triple, and John Miller says "A nice stand up triple by Raul Ibanez" umm... WHAT?!

As for the crack of the bat, it's excellent. The crowd is louder, the ball hitting the mit is even a nice sound.

One of the worst things about this game is the soundtrack. It's just terrible, IMO. The main song they play throughout the game is the Drew Carey TV show theme from The Drew Carey Show. That song called "Ohio". When I'm the Seattle Mariners, and when Adrian Beltre hits a home run and they start playing "Ohio" is beyond me ever knowing.

Sound - 4.5/10

Lagging - People have complained about lagging in this game during cut-scenes. At first I wasn't having any problems, but then it started... kinda. When Miller & Morgan go to show a replay there is usually a 1 second pause delay. It's not something drastic that makes you not want to buy the game. It's also not something that you're really going to complain about like everybody else who is waiting for the perfect game which will just never happen.

Also, at the end of the game, they start showing highlights, and it's just lagging all over the place, and cutting out like no other. That last for about 3 - 5 seconds. It's definitely noticeable. Sometimes it's a pain when you are trying to get to the main menu. But other than that, it's not as bad as people make it out to be.

Graphics - Although the graphics could be better, they could also be alot worse. The graphics have taken a step backwards from 2K7. The grass looks like grass from a distance, but when you get a closer look it looks just like painted on grass. When a ball is hit to the outfield, the OF'ers look like little squished characters. Sometimes the OF'ers look like painted on characters because they look so small, and their faces are just smudged and all over the place. I'm playing this game on a 32" HDTV, mind you.

While graphic models look good... pitchers, in-fielders, batters, etc, the faces are still off. You would NEVER guess that it's Derek Jeter's face on Jeter's body. Although he has his exact stance in the game, the face's are definitely off. I noticed when I made a trade for Griffey to bring him back to the M's, and when I saw his face it looks NOTHING like Griffey. 2K7 had his face nailed down perfectly, but 2K8 sure doesn't.

While the graphics may be toned down a bit, the batting stances, pitching styles, swinging animations, and home run swings are 100% dead on, and simply AMAZING! 2K7 you would hit a home run with David Ortiz, and he wouldn't do his home run trot. Even if the ball is a wall scrapper, the player still does his home run trot.

Graphics - 6/10

Difficulty - It's a baseball game. You can adjust the sliders and make everything how you want. So this rating is going to be a 10/10 due to the fact that you can have this game how you want. Whether you want it easy, medium, or hard.

Difficulty - 10/10

Controls - The controls take some getting used to, that's for sure. But once you nail the controls then it's pretty simple. Give the game about 30 - an hour to get used to the controls. Instead of using the buttons to throw to first, second, third, or home, you are using the right analog stick. It's hard at first, but you'll get used to it after a while.

Controls - 8/10

Overall - This game has pros and cons. People don't know whether to choose MLB 2K8 or MLB 08 The Show, but I'm going to stick with 2K8. It's a great game once you get used to it. Nomore home runs being taken away constantly, better game play, graphics are a little worse, but over all the game is just amazing.

While some would say 2K7 is better, I say give the game a chance and don't just pass your judgment on a review. Because somebody could say the game is terrible and you could think it's the best game ever played.

While this game could have more enjoyable cut-scenes, better commentary, better graphics - facial wise, this game could be alot worse.

If you're looking for a game full of cut scenes this year, then go with The Show. The Show has just as much problems if not more than 2K8 does. While both games are GREAT, I'm sticking with 2K8 as the all around better game.

The main bad thing about this game, IMO, is the lack of an up-dated roster. You'll be quite surprised when you find out what players are NOT in the game, and what players are on the FA list that have already been signed by teams. It's not hard to put them on the team, but it's still nice to have an up-dated roster. Especially with Santana on the Mets (which in the game he's still on the Twins) and Bedard on the Mariners (which he is still with Baltimore). Hopefully 2K9 proves once and for all just how good the 2K series game be.

Rent or Buy - Definitely hands down BUY! this game is a must have for all baseball fans. The pros out-weigh the cons by a large margin. This game will tide over any baseball fan until either MLB 2K9, or MLB 09: The Show.

The only thing to make 2K series the best game next year is to add a Road To The Show. Just like MLB: The Show. It's what the 2K series needs to be the best baseball game ever.

Hopefully Brinkman will add that for MLB 2K9! =)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/17/08

Game Release: Major League Baseball 2K8 (US, 03/03/08)