"EA Delivers Great Gameply, Subpar Create-A-Stadium"

The third, and possibly final, installment of Electronic Arts' MVP Baseball series has arrived just in time for spring training. Take 2 Interactive, who produce the Sega 2k5 series, has signed an exclusive deal with Major League Baseball making it the only third-party company able to use the MLB license. In reaction, EA has completely revamped MVP.

“MVP 2005” comes closer to the real thing than any other baseball video game to date. One new feature that adds to the realism is the hitter's eye. When a pitcher is making his delivery the ball flashes red for breaking pitches, green for off-speed pitches or stays white if he throws a fast ball. This feature simulates how major league hitters “read” the pitch as its coming toward the plate.

Gamers have the option to customize “MVP 2005” to their liking by using the gameplay sliders. Everything from hitting contact to outfielder speed to throwing accuracy can be tweaked, as well as many other categories. It's the little touches like foul balls going off hitter's feet, managers arguing missed calls, dingers that bang off the foul pole, amazing homerun robbing catches and batters rushing the mound after being hit by pitches. Also, every team has three playable minor league teams.

“MVP 2005” also features an owner's mode where gamers step into the shoes of an owner of a MLB franchise. The first thing gamers have to do in owner mode is build a stadium. While the option of building a stadium is exciting, the options for the stadium are not. There are only a handful of field sizes to choose from, so gamers who want to make 40-foot outfield walls and fences that are 450 feet deep, look elsewhere. Owner mode does, however, give gamers the opportunity to set ticket and concession prices to make money and add onto their stadium.

Two mini-games have been added to “MVP 2005.” In the batting game, ramps are set up in the field and the hitter is given a direction to slap the pitch. The pitching mini-game is similar to Tetris. The strike zone is broken up into squares and the pitcher tries to hit the different colored boxes with the corresponding pitch. The bigger the group of boxes hit with a pitch, the more points the pitcher will be awarded. Gamers can use points earned in the mini-games to purchase throwback jerseys, old school stadiums and legendary players.

GRADE: 9 Despite having a disappointing owner mode, gamers may not need to buy a new baseball game for a few season due to the realism of MVP Baseball 2005.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/11/05