Little League World Series (Wii)

snate · Post by **snate** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 9:43 am

This game came out earlier this week and I have not been able to find any reviews or impressions on the net. Anyone try it yet?

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:03 am

The back of the box says something like "basic reading ability needed to fully enjoy this game" and I ran the other way.

I too would like to hear something about it but the chances of this being anything decent are remote.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:16 am

If it tops Power Pros I'd be shocked. The only gameplay movie I've seen is this one:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DGP0vluQFRk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

There's enough in there to steer me away from the game. Particularly the constant swinging of the Wiimote and the slothlike speed of throwing to first. I'd like to hear some actual impressions though.

snate · Post by **snate** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:36 am

I think Ben Brinkman from the MVP series and the 2K series (briefly) is producing the game. That gives me some hope for the game.

snate · Post by **snate** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:35 am

Wow. I'm shocked that nobody cares about this game. No reviews or comments anywhere.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:22 pm

snate wrote:Wow. I'm shocked that nobody cares about this game. No reviews or comments anywhere.

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYN5yMYKY1Q

Auto fielding, and shake the 'chuck to run the bases AND get to the ball faster in the field, so that's nine innings of a hell of a lot of shaking...

btmmayor · Post by **btmmayor** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 2:35 pm

There are a few impressions on the gamefaqs boards as well.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 6:09 pm

webdanzer wrote:
snate wrote:Wow. I'm shocked that nobody cares about this game. No reviews or comments anywhere.
Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYN5yMYKY1Q

Auto fielding, and shake the 'chuck to run the bases AND get to the ball faster in the field, so that's nine innings of a hell of a lot of shaking...

Actually that's 6 innings of shaking since it's Little League. I checked out the DS version and thought it pretty much sucked. There was very little to it since hitting was timing based only. Pitching was select a pitch, aim the pitch, and draw the pitch on the touch screen. I'm sure the Wii version has you aim the pitch and use a throwing motion. Auto-fielding completely ruined any chance for me. This game seemed completely geared towards 6 to 10-year-olds. Nothing wrong with that but I couldn't see anyone over 10 getting much enjoyment out of it. Power Pros is much better IMO.

snate · Post by **snate** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:34 pm

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/wii/review/R127417.html

"An Amazing Wii Controlled Baseball game for those looking for their WIIsports sequel!"

This game is what I've been waiting for, forever on the wii. Finally, a wii baseball game that fully incorporates wii controls, and does so in a brilliant manner. While I LOVE the power pros series, it still has not evolved to the wii controls as a full option, and I've been waiting for a game like this. MLB 2k8 was atrocious.

Basically, to sum this up, it is like wii sports, but with better graphics, deeper gameplay, and a great challenge. I picked up Backyard Baseball 09 for Wii, and despite wii controls, it was a breeze on the most difficult difficulty.

Here, there are four levels of difficulty, adjustable on the fly in all modes, and the gameplay is incredible fun. There is exhibition, World Series Mode, Clubhouse (where you unlock lots of medals), and Challenge where there are a series of (actually) very fun challenges to play, such a batting and pitching contests that revolve around other sports like bowling or HORSE. The World Series mode is rather short, lasting only a couple hours, but the game tracks your progress and you are constantly unlocking trophies and such as you constantly beat the games' myriad of set scores and goals.

The only knocks on this game?
Negatives
-You don't control baserunning/stealing (although you can assure you get a close play by using a tension bar- similar to what the bigs for wii had)
-only 3 stadiums (though all three look beautiful, but more would have been nice)
-World Series mode is not very detailed like a full season or the crazy insane modes of MLB Power Pros 2008

Positives
+very anime inspired look, replete with cool little cinemas on special plays
+A mix of sim and fantasy
+Batting controls are awesome, allowing for indian chops, uppercut swings, and level swings
+Pitch delivery is amazing and emulates real motions, complete with the twist of the hand
+the bonus system can be very fun when mastered- it becomes very strategic, and helps you get the play on that much needed extra base or deep fly ball
+Excellent computer ai, that while not rubberbanded like the old Midway games, definitely plays harder when losing; I've played two complete World Series modes and have had maybe two blowout games; everything else has been close with a lot of extra inning games.
+Graphics are beautiful, and have that same wiisports clean look, but with much better textures and background detail- A huge step from wii sports and even cleaner looking than Power Pros

Graphics:10/10
For Wii, a beautiful game with excellent animations and beautiful stadiums. They all have tremendous detail, and the ball physics are excellent, as the ball realistically bounces off every surface. No hits look the same.

Sound: 6/10
Very Generic. The broadcaster is good (well known also), though the characters are introduced only by number, and not by name. A slight knock, but one that irked me.

Gameplay; 10/10
Wii sports Baseball, but with MUCH more control. The gameplay is super fun. I consider this the funnest baseball experience yet on the WII. Superb control over pitching and batting, with the fielding being semi controlled by the ai, leaving you to make only the big plays like diving leaps or jumps at the wall to rob a homer. A power meter exists similar to the Bigs, but unlike there, where it was only for pitching or batting, it becomes an essential strategic tool for baserunning and fielding as well.

Replayability; While it lacks the depth of a Power Pros, which is arguably the deepest sim experience given it's reached it's fifteenty console release in Japan, the World Series mod and actually very fun minigames make it replayable for the long term until another baseball game comes along that can mimic the excellent gameplay of this game.

8.5/10

Overall though, this is an amazing game, and I love it! Pure fun! Baseball is one of the great sports that translates amazingly to the wii with proper controls!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/11/08

Game Release: Little League World Series 2008 (US, 08/05/08)

LAking · Post by **LAking** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:10 pm

If that review is any indication i think I might enjoy this one. I actually liked wii sports baseball. I always wished it was a little deeper. Doesn't have to be sim but I want something that really uses the wii remote and it looks like this game delivers. I'll have to rent this one.

snate · Post by **snate** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:19 pm

I still can't believe that no major publications have reviewed this one yet. I'm also shocked at the lack of interest on DSP and OS.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:29 pm

Based on what BTM said about the 'basic reading required' comment, this has been pegged as a 'kids game'. I don't know what your experience is in searching the major review sites on the web for halfway-decent reviews on 'kids games,' but they are pretty hard to come by.

As I mentioned above, all the controller shaking turns me off, and any Wii game that features a lot of it (other than shortish party mini-games and such) is pretty much a guaranteed no-sale for me personally.

snate · Post by **snate** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:51 am

Well I bought the game and I think it has some real potential. They graphics are very good and the controls are in depth and interesting. The game can be tailored from simple to complex. You can turn on auto fielding and running to simplify things and cut out the shaking if that is not your cup of tea. I turn it off for my 4 and 5 year old to simplify the game to just pitching and hitting. They played a full game vs each other last night and had an absolute blast. They love it. I played some single player vs the computer with all the controls active and it was challenging and fun. If you have any questions let me know.

MizzouRah · Post by **MizzouRah** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 10:34 am

Saw commercials for this game last night.. looks fun.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:06 am

Yeah, I'm interested to see if my son gets into it. It seems all he plays right now is the baseball game on Wii Sports. Thanks for the impressions thus far Snate.

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:11 am

I missed the commercial yesterday, but my son came running in and said it was for DS too. Is this right?

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:34 am

SEMINOLE wrote:I missed the commercial yesterday, but my son came running in and said it was for DS too. Is this right?

Yup. My DS version impressions are above.

Nozzleman_216 · Post by **Nozzleman_216** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:10 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:
SEMINOLE wrote:I missed the commercial yesterday, but my son came running in and said it was for DS too. Is this right?
Yup. My DS version impressions are above.

Damn it! Missed that too LOL!! Thanks