Please Post MLB 2005 Impressions

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:48 am

One of the best things about this game for me is the fact that you can change back and forth between Quick Play and Normal. I usually start the game in Quick Mode and start playing the game. As the game wears on, if it's a close game I turn Quick Mode off and slow the pace of the game down dramatically creating more suspense. The extra time between pitches really gets you tense in anticipation especially if you have men in scoring position. I know it's little but it makes the game more enjoyable for me.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:11 am

The lack of a check swing is really hard to get used to. I always over-use this feature in baseball games. It's hard to make up for golfing at a bad pitch. HH is burned into my mind where I could always have a check swing no matter where I was in the swing. MVP is tough for me because I tend to have twitchy fingers playing and so when I really want to swing I check swing.

Anyway, other than that this game is pretty gamen solid. I so one weird AI snafu that allowed my to have an infield single. The double plays are darn good.

Also I just want to say that while I think the game is rather good to look at, there's is lightyears of difference between WE and MLB. For some reason the animations are a bit stiff.

I know it has been commented before but the modes are awesome. Is there anyway in the career mode to take your created played and just paly as him, while having the CPU sim almost everything else.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:16 am

I am having a freakin blast with MLB.....I have played for 6 hours straight tonight and I don't want to stop playing.

I finally have hitting figured out(I have been playing on Veteran and am 2-4)

I used to hold the stick before the pitcher started his wind-up...wasn't doing much.

now on my first strike....I push it right after the delivery is started and only swing if the pitch is in the zone I am sitting on.

On strike 1 or 2...I push the stick in the direction of the zone the ball is headed for at the same time I swing...I have really upped my hit count.

I was averaging 6-8 hits a game and the last 2 games I have 12 and 14 respectively.

I love the ball physics...it is Winning Eleven and NHL2K3 worthy.

I also love the fact that the ball actually goes into the glove....one time I hit a low liner to RF...the RF dove...and the ball went just under his glove and to the wal...wicked stuff.

another time the CF dove for a drive into RC and the ball went right into his glove as he hit the ground...amazing.

a few tweaks here and there and this game is an all-timer.

I can look past the isues because the gameplay and franchise is so much fun.

and th stadiums....wow

check out Comerica...I hit one out and in the auto replay...there is a mural of sharks on the building outside of the stadium behinf RF...is that there in real life?...if it is then that is incredible detail

back to the game

Ed_Farias · Post by **Ed_Farias** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:23 am

Hey PigPen, just wanted to thank you real quick for pointing me here.

.

I will try and get up my impressions of MLB in a day or so. Right now I think I am going to trade in MVP for a PS2 headset

. That gives everyone some idea of how I feel about MLB.

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 5:57 am

no prob Ed, this forum is my favorite because it is well run and encompasses mature, passionate, respectful and fun group of guys.
who demand the best in sports games.....

you should hook up with us on Poker nigths.....usually Monday is PGR2 and Tuesday is Ghost Recon and Wednesday sometimes is Rainbow Six 3.

there is a Gamertag database here somewhere.

I just lost to the Pads 5-2....dropping me to 2-5. They lit up Dreifort early and Klesko put it away in the 7th with a 2 run blast.

I cannot solve Brian Lawrence...he shut me out in game 2 and I could only muster 2 runs and 6 hits in this last game...and Hoffman was lights out in the 9th.

BTW...Petco Park is beautiful in this game...I will have to check out a game in April while I am on vacation.

Ed_Farias · Post by **Ed_Farias** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 6:34 am

Sounds like a good time, I have GR and Rainbow Six

.

Well I am just really digging this game. I started my free agent franchise. Here is my lineup, I wanted to go with a young team that can be something special

.

Here is my lineup.

M. Cabrera (RF)
A. Kearns (LF)
A. Pujols (1B)
A. Jones (CF)
B. Boone (2B)
H. Blalock (3B)
D. Wilson (C)
C. Guillen (SS)

Backups
J. Michaels
H. Choi
O. Infante
A. Gomez
C. Porter
E. Diaz

Pitching
B. Zito
J. Beckett
M. Mulder
J. Bere
D. Wells

M. Rivera
T. Borland
M. Corey
S. Eyre
J. DAmico

Hopefully my poor bullpen will be all right. looks like a pretty good team, the CPU must have kept going for older guys

.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 7:01 am

At least you got my boy.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 12:48 pm

"I used to hold the stick before the pitcher started his wind-up...wasn't doing much. "

Actually it says that the longer you hold the stick in a zone the better chance you have to rip it, that is if it's in that zone

I'm digging the game much more than MVP but I'm still not completly satisfied (which games do that, right?). Still have my fingers crossed for ASB but it is getting shredded in reviews/previews. Hopefully those were early betas and the game will rock. At least you can chose your starting pitcher and lineup before a game. This almost ruins online play for MLB imo.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 1:37 pm

bkrich83 wrote:
Slumberland wrote:Man, I'm digging this game, warts and all. Playing on All-Star, with the pitch cursor off, I'm getting good stats, tight games, even walking a couple people. I'm not getting walked at all, mind you, but I'm getting over it. When I hit a home run I usually know how I've done it, and it's not just the sluggers who can hit them. My first home run in MLB was with Kaz Matsui, and I had a great, off-the-bench solo shot from Todd Zeile today when my Mets were down 3-0 against the Braves. Totally jumpstarted my offense. Same game, bottom of the ninth, two outs, score tied 3-3, men on first and third, Timo Perez pinch hits in the pitcher's spot and hits a sharp grounder up the middle. The second baseman manages to field it but is too deep to make a good throw. Perez beats it out, runner on third scores. Mets win, 4-3.

I like guessing the pitch and location right, but mis-timing it just enough to blast one just foul. You really feel the agony of a missed opportunity like that in MLB, due to the excellent ball-to-bat physics.

This is also the first baseball franchise mode that's really gotten me excited... SO many options. My favorite aspect is the "quotes" from players and fans regarding facilities, publicity, prices, and so on. Having specific complaints or praise put in the mouths of the actual players personalizes the whole team chemistry in a way MVP fails to, at least in my eyes. MVP's "happy face" system is nice and simple, but fails to convince me that I'm dealing with actual personalities... just symbols and letter grades. In MLB, having John Franco complain about flying coach is priceless.

I keep meaning to get back to MVP, but am only too happy to keep playing MLB instead, even with the occasional annoyances.
Slumberland you nailed my senitments. I am really digging this game. The more I play the more I dig it. I keep meaning to start playing MVP, but this game just offers me so much more. At first I was sort of so so on it. But as I got in to it, I have really started digging it. Franchise mode is a blast.

I agree with you guys 100%. Took me a few games to get into MLB, but now I'm absolutely loving it flaws and all. Great game.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 2:26 pm

The lack of sliders is really hurting me, though.

I'm on the highest level, and the CPU simply isn't getting hits off of me.

I mentioned difficulty might be a concern for me earlier. Since then, I've had two games where I didn't perform well at the plate.

Unfortunately, the CPU hasn't scored off me much in seven games (3 being the highest) and I've pitched 4 shutouts.

You guys aren't finding pitching easy?

(disclaimer: Yes, I am using the Yankees. They are my local team, and playing as Detroit isn't a solution for me..

)

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 2:52 pm

Web, are you playing with the pitch cursor off? The CPU generally doesn't score a ton off me, but the Pirates did manage to get 6 runs in the game I just played.

Ed_Farias · Post by **Ed_Farias** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:09 pm

Web, I noticed in the rewards section you buy both Always Max Pitch Speed and Always Max Pitch Break.. Maybe getting those two bonus items and turning them on will help.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:30 pm

I agree with Web. I am not finding much CPU offense. I am really starting to like the game though. I have accepted the lack of walks because the game does a lot right, but the lack of CPU challenge is a potential deal breaker.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 3:48 pm

I'm playing on All-Star with the pitching aids and vibration off...that's the only way to play these baseball games with a pitching cursor or pitching will always be too easy. The CPU isn't scoring profilicly against me, but realistic amounts or above realistic amounts in most games.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 4:01 pm

Yeah, thanks guys, but I do have the aids off.

I'll give it some more time, maybe play a bunch of series against the Sox or so for a while, see if things get better.

If not, though, and thanks to the lefty MVP thing, for me I'm looking at an oh fer two start for the baseball games.

While MLB does do a lot right, it's not a keeper for me if the CPU can't put up a fight.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 4:32 pm

webdanzer wrote:Yeah, thanks guys, but I do have the aids off.

I'll give it some more time, maybe play a bunch of series against the Sox or so for a while, see if things get better.

If not, though, and thanks to the lefty MVP thing, for me I'm looking at an oh fer two start for the baseball games.

While MLB does do a lot right, it's not a keeper for me if the CPU can't put up a fight.

I suppose the CPU could put up a better challenge, but did you play ASB last year? If MLB's pitching seems easy to you, ASB would be a cakewalk. There are important differences between the pitching in the two games. For one, in MLB, you have to take into account the movement of pitches when you aim. This takes time to get used to, especially since there is quite a difference in pitch types and how much each pitch moves depending on the pitcher. In ASB, pitches basically end up where you aim them, sinker or fastball. Also, there is more variation in a pitcher's control in MLB compared to ASB, but not as much as WSB.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 4:37 pm

I know, Parker, I'm worried about the ASB difficulty as well.

Here's hoping that the supposedly new and more difficult 'Legend' level makes for more of a challenge...though I doubt pitching will be significantly less precise.

Last year's ASB went back, well, for many reasons, but largely because it could be a HR derby as well once you got used to the pitch speeds.

vinny-b · Post by **vinny-b** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:17 pm

Derek:

By chance, you pitching from 'pitcher point of view' (the fartherest one)? Thus far (thru 3 games) the CPU is putting up a fight. My last outing being a 7-3 ripping of Vasquez, compliments of the Gurrereo-lead Angels. Playing on veteran, with all aids turned off.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:29 pm

How are you guys dealing with the lack of check swings??

The hit variety might not be on the level of MVP but it seems the ball travels slower to the outfield and there's more friction in the grass which is nice to see. Also the OF delay is a little more pronounced than other baseball games but it's just like MVP where as the CPU well help you move them into correct position. So it evens out.

I think the batting interface other than the lack of check swings is a very close to HH. Hitting homeruns doesn't feel like an impossible feat, although maybe on the side of getting lucky and not waiting for mistake pitches.

I do wish their wasn't that wierd delay to throw a pitch even on fast mode. I don't know if it's something I'm doing or what.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:54 pm

JRod wrote:How are you guys dealing with the lack of check swings??

I guess I just figure it's either part of the game or it's not.

I like having it, and I really like the 'excuse me' tappers in MVP, but it's much less of a problem for me than is the difficulty in bunting in MVP. A big part of that difficulty IMHO is the fact that it is so hard to pull the bat back. IRL it is soooooooo easy to be ready to bunt, and then take the bat back at the last instant to get the ball, but not in MLB! The animation takes forever, so you better know pretty quick (essentially within the same amount of time as if you were swingnin away) if it's a ball.

Don't like it. Plus, it seems way too hard to make contact with bunts.

This bothers me way more than the lack of check swings.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 1:23 am

JRod wrote:How are you guys dealing with the lack of check swings??

I'm getting used to it, but it still costs me at least 5 swings and misses a game.

I also love the hit variety. I love hitting in general, although it seems a little too hard to hit high pitches or any pitch out of the strike zone.

I do wish their wasn't that wierd delay to throw a pitch even on fast mode. I don't know if it's something I'm doing or what.

Yeah. It seems like there is a strange delay while pitching from the stretch.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 2:14 am

Was finally able to rent MLB today, and I have to say I am pretty underwhelmed at this point. I need to spend more time with it, but I am seeing a lot of shortcomings. And for the record, although I am new to the series, jumped right to allstar for these impressions.

-Yes, what is up with that delay on pitches? Adds 5-10 minutes to gametime. Very annoying.

-User walks seem to be even worse than MVP. Could be that I am learning the strike zone (scaled strike zone is very nice BTW), but I have yet to walk once, whereas in MVP I can walk at least once every game.

-Pitching is different, especially with the release point aiming. Although I have only walked one batter thus far, I would say there is the potential there to walk the cpu every now and again, which is a step up from MVP. I do miss the pitching meter though, and I feel almost bored and detached just watching my pitcher go through the windup and not controlling anything after playing MVP.

-Fielding is a mixed bag. Yes, on most groundballs you really don't do anything as the cpu does it all for you. I do like the smooth controls whereas MVP is a little jerky, but I really miss how MVP has made fielder ratings more important. I also find myself really missing the throw meter from MVP. I think it is great for weighing throws from the outfield and strikes a perfect balance for offline throws, whereas in MLB basically every throw to second from the OF is perfect and comes in on the fly. It just seems so simplified. One time I did see a relay get screwed up and the throw to third was wild. Unfortunately the game didn't seem ready for that, and I was stuck with a close up view of my 3b standing on the bag even though the ball was somewhere in foul territory. I ended up switching players a few times and running around like a blind man till my little arrow controlled guy happened to come across the ball. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your perspective), the cpu runner on third stood there watching this whole mess and didn't budge. Also, is there some way to turn off that action cam crap that keeps changing views when you throw? I HATE the fielding view in this game. I have it on high but it is still to close for me. Can this be changed?

-One other problem with fielding--the freezing and move into FMV sequence is really annoying too. I am seeing my OF stop right before the ball lands and letting it drop for a single when it looks like I definitely could've had it with a dive or shoestring catch. Same applies to balls off the wall where the game won't let you move all the way back and forces you to play it off the wall. Then there's also the weird instances where your player has to spin to face the right direction and thus slows down his release (anyone else having a problem turning a DP because of this?) MVP '03 got ripped for these issues, and while it isn't as pronounced in MLB, kinda sucks that's it's there at all.

-Brings me to rundowns. Do they exist in this game? Twice I have been caught in between bases and both times the cpu stood there with the ball at the lead base and left me all day to retreat a base.

-I was impressed by the stadiums.

-Hitting a blatant rip off HH, but I'm not complaining at all about that one. I am striking out a ton because I keep swinging so early (still used to MVP speed), but I am still getting runs on the board with a few HRs sprinkled in. Nicely done.

-Challenge certainly looks to be an issue. I feel really confused pitching at times (have all aids off), yet the cpu sure ain't hitting me much. I worry that I will be totally shutting them down in no time.

-One other thing about pitching--I'm having a ton of trouble getting the CPU to chase pitches out of the zone with two strikes. I have gotten it a few times, but they are real disciplined up there. I personally think that is the most underrated aspect of MVP as I think EA nailed that part.

Most people are saying this game gets better with time, so now I can only hope it applies to me. At this point I fear I'll be seeing an 0 for 2 thus far on baseball games though, as I really can't see myself playing a season in MLB or MVP.

Honestly, if I had to choose one at this point I would definitely go with MVP. Neither game has walks right, and they each have a number of little quirks. The only thing that stands out to me about MVP is I feel much more in control and immersed in the game. Between the pitching and throwing meters and the picture-in-picture swing replays, MVP just grabs me a lot more and makes feel like I'm part of the game whereas MLB seems a little tedious at the moment. Clearly I am the minority, so feel free to rip. Just one man's opinion.

EDIT: I should also note that I am comparing it to MVP PC, where the graphics look much nicer, there are nice downloadables and hardly any load time compared to ps2.

OmflShark · Post by **OmflShark** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 2:50 am

Web,
I am playing with the Reds, and the computer is lighting me up for at least 5 to 6 runs a game, if not more. Of course, the Reds pitching staff is quite a bit different then playing with the Yankees pitching staff. The more I play this game the more I enjoy it. I am playing on Veteran skill level for the moment.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 2:53 am

I think it may just be my team's pitching stats.

Just played two more games, *everything* off, from a variety of camera angles, and the cpu scored 2 and 1 runs.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:55 am

Hitting really isn't that much like High Heat. As far as I know, you don't get power bonuses in HH depending on how early you guess a pitch location and point the analog stick. It's a fairly unique system.