A HH guy's take on the Great Baseball Madness of '04

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:53 pm

Whew-

So many games, so little time. And it's only going to get crazier with ESPN and ASB on the horizon. With HH out of the picture, all I wanted was a realistic and fun game to play out a season with. So far it's been a confusing ride to say the least...

MVP-I have such conflicting feelings about this one. I love the pitching meter, presentation, fielding and sliders (for the most part). I hate the lack of CPU steals or walks, bugs, and turning double plays...

I have convinced myself beyond a shadow of a doubt that EA left out pitcher control on purpose. I mean, frakin' bullpen grace (whatever the hell that is) is adjustable with a slider but not the CPU pitching control???!!!I dunno, call me cynical, but this seems like something to hype for next year's version. ("New and Improved with Walks AND Steals!!!!!!"). This is just maddening for a sim guy like me. Whatever, EA.

MLB-Would MLB be the way to go in '04? There is a lot to like about this one. Really smooth animations, very nice gameplay and those batting and pitching stances. Oh lord, yes. They have litterally hundreds of stances. To me, this adds so much realism in the game.

But there were a few stumbles on the way to paradise. No editable players (goodbye Barry Bonds). OK...No check swings....hmmm....Roster management is a little off...And oh yeah, no walks or steals either.

Dammit!!!!!!!

But it's still a lot of fun. This game is a keeper for the career mode and the franchise modes alone (I could rant for pages). Just played a great game where my bullpen lost its mind in the ninth, giving up four runs. But you know what? It was fun.

Love the pace, love the Play of the Game replay, lots to love here. A keeper. But will I still want to play my 162 season out with it? I don't know for sure yet. That brings me to...

WSB-I was the only one on Earth who liked the OXM demo. I dunno, it was just fun. And guess what? I got walked. And the CPU stole. It just played a competent and realistic game. And lo and behold, I got a hold of the slider list, and it is most comprehensive. Everything you would want tweaked can be tweaked. And online play? Think I'll get this one, too.

In conclussion, it looks like it will take two games to muster up the greatness of one HH game. If WSB is realistic or can be customized to play a realistic game, it will be a nice complement to MLB.

As a Cub fan, the term "wait till next year" is always close to my heart. And looking at another offseason for MVP, MLB and all the other games to iron out their kinks (along with hopefully a new HH), you have to be really excited for just that.

Next year.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am

I remember being so excited, heading over to the store for ASB 2002, thinking that the sky was now the limit for baseball video games. After all, what couldn't they do with the technology now available?

And here I am, three years later still waiting for that "complete" (not perfect) baseball title. You know, something that at least touches upon all the major elements of major league baseball, like WALKS for instance. I really, really like MLB 2005, but I find it hard to believe that we are now looking ahead towards the last (or next to last) cycle of baseball releases on the current systems for a baseball game without any glaring omissions.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:45 am

Yep, and the sad thing is that the next consoles will keep focusing on glitz and graphics, while the realism we yearn for will always play second fiddle.

LazyScumbag · Post by **LazyScumbag** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 12:07 am

ruling out hh 2004?

i am going to pick this up. if you can download roster updates over xbl, i don't see why more people aren't just sticking with old reliable.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:20 am

I'd be all over HH 2004, but there are no official roster updates for the Xbox, and the clunky interface has prevented anyone from putting together a workable, homemade roster.

AJColossal · Post by **AJColossal** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:40 am

Wait just a second.....

Will XBL be offering a roster update this year?

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:47 am

No way. I wish.

I'd even be mildly pleased with a roster update for Inside Pitch. That game was fun online.

LazyScumbag · Post by **LazyScumbag** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:40 pm

oh, okay. in that case, i will still get hh 2004 for xbox (no gaming on pc for me), but i'll do a fantasy draft.

the other games are a joke compared to hh imo. if walks don't come naturally, it's not baseball. i can live without the rosters, i will play a season with my fantasy mets.

Blublub · Post by **Blublub** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:44 pm

I had HH Xbox as well as WSB, and I ended up taking HH back. I can't remember why exactly but something drove me nuts - I think it was endless pickoff attempts by the CPU at second.