Got it today and was able to play a quick 3 innings of the sim mode. You have the option to choose a swing method ala High Heat but I don't really know much about until I RTFM. I played an inning and a half at Wrigley and an inning and a half at Comiskey and both parks looked great. Probably the best Wrigley I've seen in a baseball videogame.
Player models are classic Slugfest and look nice and roidy. Player faces were sharp as well.
Pitching seemed like a cross between Inside Pitch and High Heat. Inside Pitch part: There is a ball in the center and you move it to which zone you want to throw in. If you move it up and to the left then a red ball will appear in the upper left portion of the strike zone and a blue ball will appear in the upper left just outside of the strike zone. Then you select ball or strike accordingly. High Heat part: Pitches seem to be sporatic ala HH. Just because you aim for the bottom outside corner doesn't mean you'll hit your area.
Pitches come in a little fast but seem toned down from the Slugfest mode. Pitches have plenty of movement and it will take some time getting used to them. I like that. There is also a significant difference between fastballs and changeups. I was fooled more than once on a changeup. I like that too.
I'm pretty sure I was using zone hitting but am not positive. If I aimed under a pitch the ball would be popped up. If I aimed inside of a pitch the ball would be pushed. AI pitching seemed pretty good as well. They changed up location and variety and threw balls on 0-2 counts. I have to get used to reading the pitches though before I can determine if walks can be drawn.
AI Hitting was nice as well. They will chase balls out of the zone and don't always swing at balls in the zone. They also don't always make contact in the zone and will make contact on a pitch out of the zone (usually for a foul or popup).
Overall I'm happy with the game and can't wait to really dive into it.
Anyone else please share some impressions as I've barely gotten my feet wet with this one. But I am encouraged.
Very brief Slugfest impressions
Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady
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ScoopBrady
- DSP-Funk All-Star
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Very brief Slugfest impressions
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
NO DOUBLE SWITCH!!!
It's a nostalgic trip back to the classic days of next-gen baseball video games, when the rules (or lack thereof, really) regarding substitutions dealing with pitchers are BROKEN. And what makes it worse, is you can't just turn the DH off (EDIT: actually, I mean turn it ON for the NL). So, I can't see myself playing too much of a season mode, I don't know, maybe the O's.
Played a Slugfest-style game, and had tons of fun. It was my first experience with the slugfet gameplay and it's pretty wacky, but I enjoyed it.
Also I played 4 inings in the MLB mode with the 'authentic' hitting (zone hitting, as opposed to the hit-it-where-you-want-to 'directional' mode, or the timing only 'slugfest' mode), and it feels pretty good. It's nice to be able to get to balls out of the strike zone, even just to foul them off. I really like the golf-style timing thingie with the pitching, sort of a simplified version of the MVP thing (it has no power element, only the timing on the release). What I like about it, is that when you miss, you really miss. Especially with the breaking balls, if you miss even a little, you miss with the pitch a LOT. I LIKE IT! So, that 0-2 curve ball, you can make sure it's low and in the dirt. Or that 3-1 fastball, you have to stick that target in the middle, otherwise you may well miss. It is a bit odd to me to have, basically, 9 distinct zones to pitch in as opposed to the more usual smoothly moving cursor. But really, it seems to work OK. Like Scoop said, even if you select the 'throw a strike' button, and hit the release-point cursor just right, you still might miss just out of the zone.
The best thing about it for me so far (besides that I don't hate it) is the play by play. Now, maybe it's just me, but I really find it funny. I hope they have a lot of bits, becaue it could get old, but I actually laughed out loud several times! Funny stuff! Fits the nature of the zany slugfest gameplay.
It's a nostalgic trip back to the classic days of next-gen baseball video games, when the rules (or lack thereof, really) regarding substitutions dealing with pitchers are BROKEN. And what makes it worse, is you can't just turn the DH off (EDIT: actually, I mean turn it ON for the NL). So, I can't see myself playing too much of a season mode, I don't know, maybe the O's.
Played a Slugfest-style game, and had tons of fun. It was my first experience with the slugfet gameplay and it's pretty wacky, but I enjoyed it.
Also I played 4 inings in the MLB mode with the 'authentic' hitting (zone hitting, as opposed to the hit-it-where-you-want-to 'directional' mode, or the timing only 'slugfest' mode), and it feels pretty good. It's nice to be able to get to balls out of the strike zone, even just to foul them off. I really like the golf-style timing thingie with the pitching, sort of a simplified version of the MVP thing (it has no power element, only the timing on the release). What I like about it, is that when you miss, you really miss. Especially with the breaking balls, if you miss even a little, you miss with the pitch a LOT. I LIKE IT! So, that 0-2 curve ball, you can make sure it's low and in the dirt. Or that 3-1 fastball, you have to stick that target in the middle, otherwise you may well miss. It is a bit odd to me to have, basically, 9 distinct zones to pitch in as opposed to the more usual smoothly moving cursor. But really, it seems to work OK. Like Scoop said, even if you select the 'throw a strike' button, and hit the release-point cursor just right, you still might miss just out of the zone.
The best thing about it for me so far (besides that I don't hate it) is the play by play. Now, maybe it's just me, but I really find it funny. I hope they have a lot of bits, becaue it could get old, but I actually laughed out loud several times! Funny stuff! Fits the nature of the zany slugfest gameplay.
Last edited by Zeppo on Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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ScoopBrady
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The weirdest thing happened to me with this game. When I checked it out quickly at my brothers there was no pitching meter thingy (you can ask him he saw it), when I get home and play a game there it is. I was like WTF happened? After the initial shock, running through the game options to see where I missed it, and thumbing throught the manual to find some sort of explanation for it (still don't know how it happened by the way) I settled down and played a game. The pitching is great. I actually walked 4 guys and had several deep counts. I drew 2 walks as well, both towards the end of the game when I started getting used to the pitch movements and stopped swinging at everything in sight. Makes me think I could have squeezed at least 2 more walks had I been playing that way all game.
There are some really nice things about the game in sim-mode but don't expect a total sim. It's a rewarding experience complimented by the fun Slugfest mode. If you like Slugfest then you really owe it to yourself to pick this game up. If you're only looking for a sim I suggest you look elsewhere. It's really cool to have 1 game that lets you play 2 different styles of baseball depending on your mood. Can't wait to try this one out on Live but that might not be til this weekend since I'm checking out ICS 2005 (is my boner in your way?
, sorry bout that ) tomorrow night and early work schedule on Friday prevents me from going online Thursday night. I'll look for both of you Friday night Zep and Bdoughty and anyone else who ends up getting it.
There are some really nice things about the game in sim-mode but don't expect a total sim. It's a rewarding experience complimented by the fun Slugfest mode. If you like Slugfest then you really owe it to yourself to pick this game up. If you're only looking for a sim I suggest you look elsewhere. It's really cool to have 1 game that lets you play 2 different styles of baseball depending on your mood. Can't wait to try this one out on Live but that might not be til this weekend since I'm checking out ICS 2005 (is my boner in your way?
, sorry bout that ) tomorrow night and early work schedule on Friday prevents me from going online Thursday night. I'll look for both of you Friday night Zep and Bdoughty and anyone else who ends up getting it.I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
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laurenskye
- Starting 5
- Posts: 786
- Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:00 am
- Location: Muskegon, MI
Online you can choose what type of game (Slugfest, MLB, or Custom) when you set up a game. I assume you can set all the options as you wish for the Custom-style game.
The pitching golf-swing thingie is only in MLB mode, not slugfest mode. And you can't punch the guy with the ball in MLB mode
.
In MLB mode with the pitch meter, the pitches can go all over the place. I had CPU guys (playing on Veteran, which I think is the next-to-hardest diff. level) swinging at high heaters up in their eyes, and chasing breaking balls in the dirt, even ones that I missed the release point thingie. Of course, I also had them get 3 walks and 2 hits in an inning.
Like Scoop said, this won't satisfy anyone in need of a realistic sim baseball game, but it's not bad. I took at look at the franchise mode, and the rosters are kind of weird. Like, I couldn't get rid of Mo Vaughn. He's on the Mets big-league roster (you have a small pool of AAA players), but I couldn't send him down. Also, there only seem to be 2 lineups, no-DH and DH, you can't set a "vs. Lefties" type lineup, as you can in most games.
I probably won't even touch that mode until a roster d/l, assuming it is accurate. And the sub rules (i.e. impossible to double switch) really have me bummed for season play. In a game like this, I can deal with that problem in casual, head-to-head games, but it would drive me insane in a season mode.
I am very curious to try the slugfest game head-to-head. I think it could be pretty amusing.
The pitching golf-swing thingie is only in MLB mode, not slugfest mode. And you can't punch the guy with the ball in MLB mode
.In MLB mode with the pitch meter, the pitches can go all over the place. I had CPU guys (playing on Veteran, which I think is the next-to-hardest diff. level) swinging at high heaters up in their eyes, and chasing breaking balls in the dirt, even ones that I missed the release point thingie. Of course, I also had them get 3 walks and 2 hits in an inning.
Like Scoop said, this won't satisfy anyone in need of a realistic sim baseball game, but it's not bad. I took at look at the franchise mode, and the rosters are kind of weird. Like, I couldn't get rid of Mo Vaughn. He's on the Mets big-league roster (you have a small pool of AAA players), but I couldn't send him down. Also, there only seem to be 2 lineups, no-DH and DH, you can't set a "vs. Lefties" type lineup, as you can in most games.
I probably won't even touch that mode until a roster d/l, assuming it is accurate. And the sub rules (i.e. impossible to double switch) really have me bummed for season play. In a game like this, I can deal with that problem in casual, head-to-head games, but it would drive me insane in a season mode.
I am very curious to try the slugfest game head-to-head. I think it could be pretty amusing.
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Cincinnati_Kid
- Starting 5
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- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Homosassa,Florida
guys my eb wont have it till tommarow some tech problem with the dallas branch ??
my son and i have gotten alot of fun out of the last couple slugfest games so im looking forward to it
anyway one question...
in the mlb mode does AI try to knock you off the bases with the thrown punches....or does it play like baseball
im not worried about the turbo jumps,dives, etc
i just get tired of the fighting stuff
my son and i have gotten alot of fun out of the last couple slugfest games so im looking forward to it
anyway one question...
in the mlb mode does AI try to knock you off the bases with the thrown punches....or does it play like baseball
im not worried about the turbo jumps,dives, etc
i just get tired of the fighting stuff
http://thecincinnatikid.blogspot.com
hey cinci, selling any games?Cincinnati_Kid wrote:guys my eb wont have it till tommarow some tech problem with the dallas branch ??
my son and i have gotten alot of fun out of the last couple slugfest games so im looking forward to it
anyway one question...
in the mlb mode does AI try to knock you off the bases with the thrown punches....or does it play like baseball
im not worried about the turbo jumps,dives, etc
i just get tired of the fighting stuff
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ScoopBrady
- DSP-Funk All-Star
- Posts: 7781
- Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2003 3:00 am
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cincy,
In the sim mode you can't throw punches. Also, you can create a custom mode where you can basically pick what you want in there ranging from fighting and superdives to turbo and being able to catch on fire. That way you can tailor the game to what you like.
In the sim mode you can't throw punches. Also, you can create a custom mode where you can basically pick what you want in there ranging from fighting and superdives to turbo and being able to catch on fire. That way you can tailor the game to what you like.
I am a patient boy.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait.
My time is water down a drain.
-
Cincinnati_Kid
- Starting 5
- Posts: 882
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Homosassa,Florida
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Cincinnati_Kid
- Starting 5
- Posts: 882
- Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Homosassa,Florida
yeah i finally got around to selling off my ps2 last night for $110.00
i just need to find a new home for this copy of we7
im also looking to get rid of ghost recon island thunder
i really dont have anything else at the moment
riddick
halo
full spectrum warrior
i ninja
my son plays those 4 pretty regulary.....in fact i just got him a master chief halo action figure today...he loves it
the only other thing on hand is....
espn baseball 2k4 i would probably be willing to let it go as i havent touched it in a month or so...
i just need to find a new home for this copy of we7
im also looking to get rid of ghost recon island thunder
i really dont have anything else at the moment
riddick
halo
full spectrum warrior
i ninja
my son plays those 4 pretty regulary.....in fact i just got him a master chief halo action figure today...he loves it
the only other thing on hand is....
espn baseball 2k4 i would probably be willing to let it go as i havent touched it in a month or so...
http://thecincinnatikid.blogspot.com
