IGN review gives WSB2K3 (XBOX) a 9.1

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 3:18 am

It´s calling it the Baseball game of the year. I will pick this one up on Weds.
 
 <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_biggrin.gif"> [ This message was edited by: Rodster on 10-03-2003 23:19 ]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 11:56 am

Rodster:
 
 I have high hopes for WSB, too, as its bloated strike zone was the only thing that prevented it from being a really solid title last year.
 
 But be wary of any reviews by IGN. That site wouldn´t know a good baseball game even if its reviewer´s name was Ty Cobb or Roberto Clemente.
 
 I would wait to read a few reviews from more credible sites before racing out to buy a game based on an IGN review.
 
 If your heart was set on buying WSB before this review, go for it. But I fear for you if you´re basing your purchase on an IGN review.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 11-03-2003 07:57 ]

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 12:55 pm

"I have high hopes for WSB, too, as its bloated strike zone was the only thing that prevented it from being a really solid title last year. "
 
 Argh. I hate to keep harping on this, over on SR and now here...
 
 But did you lose at all last year?!
 
 The pitching model was broken. In over 30 games at the highest difficulty setting I had a team era of like .7...no joke. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_frown.gif">
 
 I´d have to see major evidence that the cpu can score at all before spending my cash on this game...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 1:00 pm

Web:
 
 Yeah, I lost a few games, which proves one thing: I suck at videogame baseball. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_eek.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

NoJoke · Post by **NoJoke** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 2:05 pm

Well, if it helps at all, I think the game is much improved. The strike zone, while still a little large, is much smaller than last year. Plus, the camera seems to have moved a bit making it a little easier to track the low pitches.
 
 So far I have really enjoyed the game. Just started a franchise with the Yankees. Won my first game 11-7. (Don´t fear, my practice games were all low scoring affairs). I need to tinker with the cpu control a bit to get more walks (although I did receive two intentional passes at proper times).
 
 The other killer from last year, the non-aggressive nature of the CPU baserunners is also improved. I´ve had double steals and extra bases taken properly. In fact, once, when I took my time getting the ball back to the infield on a line drive single, the runner booked into second. Definitely a heads-up play.
 
 I think the game is great so far. Last night I wanted to play, but sat for an hour fooling around in the franchise mode. Made sure I hooked Soriano up with a long term deal. Although he did milk me for a good bit a change claiming he was intent on testing the free agent market. I changed his mind, but it cost me. At least that bum Mondosi comes off the payroll next year.
 
 I´d be willing to give answering some questions a shot if anyone has any.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 4:27 pm

NoJoke:
 
 Thanks for the post.
 
 Have you played High Heat 2004, too? How does it compare to WSB?
 
 My baseball choices probably are down to those two, as I didn´t like ASB and MVP appears too arcadish from what I´ve read.
 
 Thanks,
 PK

NoJoke · Post by **NoJoke** » Fri Mar 14, 2003 5:02 pm

I´m a former PC High Heat player, but I haven´t played this year´s version yet. One great thing that happened in my last game of WSB that was missing from prior HH´s was the feeling a really getting a hold of a pitch. Giambi was up and I turned on an inside pitch and ripped a screamer down the line. Where it went made sense given the location of the pitch and the cursor. I can only describe it as the "physics" felt right. With HH you swing and then it goes somewhere, but the correlation is somewhat lacking.
 
 Pitching wise I always liked HH´s lack of a pitching cursor. You could pick a general location and pitch, but it would not necessarily go where you wanted. WSB replicates that feeling. With variable pitching on medium or higher, and the pitching cursor off, the ball usually goes in the vicinity if where you wanted but not exactly. I´ve had tired pitchers lay a fat pitch down the middle that I wanted to go to a corner of the plate. I have noticed, however, that the CPU seems overly susceptible to low changeups, but I may need to play with the sliders some more. 3-2 counts are exciting because of the tension of not wanting to throw it right down the pipe, but knowing you can´t paint the corners at will.
 
 I thought HH was beginning to lack in atmosphere. Again, I can´t say that holds true for this year´s version, but based on prior years, the gameplay, while outstanding, was getting stale. WSB´s atmosphere is better. The crowd gets vocal with two strikes or bases loaded, no doubt home runs have a great view of the ball going over the wall before the cut-scene starts, not to mention KC´s waterfall, Toronto´s fireworks, and Houston´s train. The animations are top notch. For instance, one a shot through the box, the pitcher may knock the ball down out of self-defense, and the ball will richochet to an infielder who´ll try to make the close play at first. Just a bunch of little things that may you say "That was cool".
 
 I rented ASB 2004. Didn´t like it. Franchise seemed very deep, but I had no desire to play that many games. I started several games, but only managed to finish one or two. It takes too long, and I had trouble hitting. The classic cursor wasn´t too bad, but, as many people have said, hitting is missile command, not baseball.
 
 For now, I´m very pleased with WSB, and I don´t really feel the need to test other games. Again so far my thoughts are pretty glowing, but I´m not a "fanboy" of Sega´s. Past WSB´s on the XBox and Dreamcast were extremely disappointing. Hopefully this one will keep shining.
 
 Hope it helps,
 
 Joe

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Sat Mar 22, 2003 9:30 pm

I´m getting the feeling that the PS2 version of WSB2K3 is significantly inferior to the XBox version. Can any of you comment on this?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Mar 23, 2003 10:11 am

Damn it, WSB is the only one of the four baseball games out now for the Xbox that I haven´t tried.
 
 I felt the same way as many about ASB. Just didn´t want to play multiple games. High Heat was realistic but drier than a popcorn fart. MVP was a huge jump in realism and quality from EA with a fantastic pitcher-batter interface, but it has some oddities in the field, to say the least.
 
 WSB is the last piece of my baseball gaming puzzle until Inside Pitch is released in May. I need to find it! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Take care,
 PK

JasonC · Post by **JasonC** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 4:14 am

We should have a WSB review for the PS2 up in a couple of weeks. I too am anxious to try it.