The first name in second reads.
The Guru grades MLB 2K9
2K Sports hits a grand slam with MLB 2K9
"Hello all you wahoo maniacs, and welcome to the first edition of teepee talk!"
I should have known, once I saw the golden boy Tim Lincecum on the cover, that this was going to be a doozy. Keep in mind I understand that the average video game fan is hard pressed to like any baseball game, heck, I even have a hard time playing baseball games; From the length, to the realistic approach, and the repetitive in-game commentary.
But with MLB 2K9 one word came to mind: Wow! Now, keep in mind I have an Xbox 360, but my goodness, everything from graphics to in-game commentary is not only vastly improved from previous years, but original. There have been several improvements on what was already a game that took a huge chunk out of EA Sports' armor.
Starting with the game modes:
Franchise; where the player can take control of their favorite team and control every aspect of the team, from the bigs all the way down to the minor leagues. Cut players, trade players, or even negotiate new contracts. This mode gives you the opportunity to be in control of the team from top to bottom.
Postseason: Skip all the day-to-day stuff and get right to the goods. Pick your teams play out your series and remove Derek Jeter as Mr. October
Play Now: Pick the teams, line them up, and play ball.
Home Run Derby: Who says you can't put Ryan Howard up against the bottom half of the order for the Washington Nationals and win a derby title?
However, the best new addition comes in the form of living rosters, and living rosters is bananas! Every week during the season 2K is releasing a roster update which will automatically be downloaded to your Xbox, giving you the most up-to-date roster info available. Cool! Neat! But, also included is the ability to track a player and have their actual stats reflect how the player performs during your online, play now, or franchise games! Yep, told you it was bananas!
Pitching and hitting are now done with the right and left joysticks.
To swing the bat you pull back the right joystick and then thrust upward when the ball crosses the plate. Want to go opposite field? Use the left joystick and push it to the left or right, then up or down for a fly ball or a grounder. FYI- Chipper Jones, like MacGyver doesn't need a lot of help hitting the ball! Yikes!
Pitching is a little more difficult -- think of the right joystick as a clock with only hours on it. A curveball, for example, starts at one, then you move the joystick in a circular motion around the clock until you get to six. At the same time the, the speed with which you move in the circle determines the velocity and movement of the pitch. Sounds confusing? It is, sorry, just play it a few times you will get the hang of it, but not before Francisco Liriano got lit up by the Brewers in my game... yeah, the Brewers! (Sorry Danny.)
Overall, this game will keep you interested throughout the entire season, unless your favorite team plays in the AL East and is not named: Boston, New York, or Tampa Bay!
Guru's Grade: 4 out of 5
Have you played the game yet? Have some thoughts about 2K sports? Or having a hard time understanding why people even play sports games? Lets head to the Postgame!
I should have known, once I saw the golden boy Tim Lincecum on the cover, that this was going to be a doozy. Keep in mind I understand that the average video game fan is hard pressed to like any baseball game, heck, I even have a hard time playing baseball games; From the length, to the realistic approach, and the repetitive in-game commentary.
But with MLB 2K9 one word came to mind: Wow! Now, keep in mind I have an Xbox 360, but my goodness, everything from graphics to in-game commentary is not only vastly improved from previous years, but original. There have been several improvements on what was already a game that took a huge chunk out of EA Sports' armor.
Starting with the game modes:
Franchise; where the player can take control of their favorite team and control every aspect of the team, from the bigs all the way down to the minor leagues. Cut players, trade players, or even negotiate new contracts. This mode gives you the opportunity to be in control of the team from top to bottom.
Postseason: Skip all the day-to-day stuff and get right to the goods. Pick your teams play out your series and remove Derek Jeter as Mr. October
Play Now: Pick the teams, line them up, and play ball.
Home Run Derby: Who says you can't put Ryan Howard up against the bottom half of the order for the Washington Nationals and win a derby title?
However, the best new addition comes in the form of living rosters, and living rosters is bananas! Every week during the season 2K is releasing a roster update which will automatically be downloaded to your Xbox, giving you the most up-to-date roster info available. Cool! Neat! But, also included is the ability to track a player and have their actual stats reflect how the player performs during your online, play now, or franchise games! Yep, told you it was bananas!
Pitching and hitting are now done with the right and left joysticks.
To swing the bat you pull back the right joystick and then thrust upward when the ball crosses the plate. Want to go opposite field? Use the left joystick and push it to the left or right, then up or down for a fly ball or a grounder. FYI- Chipper Jones, like MacGyver doesn't need a lot of help hitting the ball! Yikes!
Pitching is a little more difficult -- think of the right joystick as a clock with only hours on it. A curveball, for example, starts at one, then you move the joystick in a circular motion around the clock until you get to six. At the same time the, the speed with which you move in the circle determines the velocity and movement of the pitch. Sounds confusing? It is, sorry, just play it a few times you will get the hang of it, but not before Francisco Liriano got lit up by the Brewers in my game... yeah, the Brewers! (Sorry Danny.)
Overall, this game will keep you interested throughout the entire season, unless your favorite team plays in the AL East and is not named: Boston, New York, or Tampa Bay!
Guru's Grade: 4 out of 5
Have you played the game yet? Have some thoughts about 2K sports? Or having a hard time understanding why people even play sports games? Lets head to the Postgame!
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