JackB1 wrote:I still see no specifics about why you guys dont like it???
Jack, I'm not completely qualified to say because I've only played the 2K demo. I've also tried to not be overt with mentioning one game in the other's thread or vice versa. I *do* look forward to giving the full game a reasonable try, but here are the early impressions based upon about half-dozen plays through the demo that need to be overcome.
Gameplay:
Batting:
2K8: While I liked the step and load idea last year, I could take or leave it. Similar to my post in the MLB08 thread, as I've gone back to Classic pitching in that game, maybe I am looking to get back to basics a bit with the player ratings influencing the at bat more than the step timing. On the other hand, I am *not* digging the guess pitch location. It seems to pick up too late and inconsistently and since *so* many CPU pitches are for strikes, I've ended up waving at about *every*pitch. To me it is incredibly hard to pick up whether a ball is in or out of the zone relative to MLB08. I recall this being easier by zooming in the camera but I didn't find the option in the demo.
08: While I know there is some debate about this, I *like* the guess pitch and location implementation of 08. If I guess FB, I may take an awkward hack if it's not, but I'll get the cue when I am right. To me, this simulates the batter mindset better. I might sit on a first pitch fastball and if I get no audio-visual indication, I'll be more inclined to take it. Same with batter's counts. Overall, I feel it helps me with my plate discipline and "thinking" like a batter. Overall, I experienced better hit variety in the Show demo relative to 2K.
Pitching:
2K8: I *like* the new pitching mechanic. Not sure I love it, but it is interesting. I think Web touched on some interesting consequences (the cutter) but I found that it *did* involve me in every pitch and felt rewarding to get the K by pulling the string. I'm afraid that it will go the route of the meter for me, but I do think something that is engaging yet allows misses of various sorts to be possible. And I need to get rid of the "meatball". One other problem I've had with the demo is I like to pitch largely to the catcher's call of the game. In the 2K demo it seemed to take a long time between pitches to receive the call.
08: As mentioned, I've gone back to classic pitching. I like that I've struck out batters on pitches out of the zone as well as frozen them on pitches in the zone. I think it's possible that this is good in 2K as well as I managed the latter in the demo. I will say that the battles where good batters foul of many pitches is very well done in 08. In the 2K demo, much more contact results in putting the ball in play.
Fielding:
2K8: Here the wheels come off for me a bit. In my brief time with the demo I've seen some *strange* things. Tracking a routine fly with Holliday, he raised his glove only to have the ball sail over his head. I posted something similar in MLB08 but it was a significantly longer run and it was a CPU player. In this case, the play was considerably simpler but he just waved at it. Players backing up throws take strange routes. I had a weak grounder fielded by the pitcher to his left and the second baseman, who had charged the play, ran between the pitcher and the first baseman (where throw would be) in order to back up first. Given that these fielder running animations lack fluidity, the back-up animations in general stick out like a sore thumb and detract from the experience. Also, is there automatic player switching? Because on a similar grounder, I was given control of the first basemen, but as I tracked the ball to my left, it suddenly switched to the pitcher and sent the first baseman to the bag. Since I was holding left, I pulled the pitcher out of the play, resulting in a switch to the second baseman. As I went to compensate for just having moved the pitcher, I pulled the second the second baseman off the ball causing it to have rolled, weakly, past all three players. Also, while I think the throwing meter is fine, but for me, pressure sensitive button presses suffice. I liken in to the football bullet or lob idea. I also just remembered that I've seen the pitcher snare too many line drives (too many line drives up the middle now that I think about it). One other thing stood out in my gameplay that defied belief was a play where my CF, running full out to the wall in center while tracking a long drive, caught the ball backhand at his heel. I've never seen anything like it.
08: In the demo, I saw a few instances of the problem where a grounder barely out of reach of a fielder rolls by without a real effort. I *haven't* seen it in the retail game (in fact, saw one where the second baseman did stab and come away empty) but I'm convinced it's in there. There can also be the problem of moving the wrong fielder as you're under the impression you're being given control of someone else. But overall, the impression of fielding in this game is much more smooth than that of the 2K demo.
Presentation:
2K8: While brief, I like the external shots of the stadiums. Many of the signature styles are incredibly accurate. I like the progression of time during a game (speaking of 2K7 here) and it is something that SCEA would do well to emulate, if they are allowed to make future MLB games. I do think that the graphics, however, are a step back from last year. Or perhaps that MLB took a more significant step forward, I'm not sure. I'll say that the graphics in 2K8 give me the impression of being quite sharp, but almost too sharp, almost stylized. By comparison, I think 08's graphics package is much more cohesive. I also think the overall feeling of the graphics is hurt badly by the jerky animations, stutter notwithstanding.
08: Commentary glitches exist but are far outweighed by the deep and accurate commentary. The crowd impresses in sound and in action. There are a slew of little touches that give the impression of being at the ballgame instead of playing the game. So far, that is the overall impression for me. 08 feels like an overall baseball experience. 2K8 reminds me that I'm playing a video game (albeit one that has the potential to be quite good). It may be overused, but as I said in an earlier post, the experience of 08 feels more "organic" in contrast to 2K8.
Assorted:
2K8: I like the trading card idea and the team building aspect. I think however, that many of the achievements are rather scattershot in their complexity. I think, realistically, I'd never fully take advantage of it but I might be wrong.
08: Needs to get their scoring and athoer assorted bugs ironed out. There is *very* little excuse for batters who put the ball in play on the final out of an inning to lead off the next. Hitters who go yard *should not* be on first for the next batter to drive in. It's a testament to how good the rest of the package is that people are putting up with these types of glitches, although I believe it will wear thin if more and more of these surface. While there is a considerable part of the 08 community who has unreal expectations for a patch ("can they patch in collision detection between playes?"), I would like to think that a scoring or situational correction like those above *is* a candidate for consideration for patching. By the way, while not the "baseball cards" of 2K8's collectible feature, I was pleased to stumble upon the Upper Deck cards of players at the lineup/rotation screens. Many of you who have it may already know, but you can pull up a "baseball card" of most players with the circle button. Then you flip it for tendencies, stats, etc. Nice touch.
I've only recently gotten on the PS3 bandwagon and in spite of all of the things I've said in this comparison, I'd like to give 2K a fair shot. But if I had to choose one between the two, it's the Show by a reasonable margin.
