Is MLB Baseball 2005 worth the plunge for a PS2?

[blueduke]

My favorite of all video sports games is baseball. I'm currently playing MVP and ASB on the Xbox. I'm tiring of these games pretty quickly b/c

1. I don't like cursors and the zone hitting in ASB is way too easy

2. With MVP the "lefty bug", the "steal bug", and catchup logic on the MVP level is getting on my last nerve.

Anyone here play MLB 2005? How is it in regards to simulation play? Is it worth the plunge for a PS2? I've also tried ESPN on the 'Box but there's something about that game (and I really can't put my finger on what it is) that doesn't satisfy me and High Heat (my all time favorite) is out of commision. I've tried replaying that stellar game but without an updated roster it just isn't the same. I've lurked at this site for a long time usually finding an answer to a question without having to post. I've come to hold hold dbdynasty and pk's opinions on sports games in high regard. Help me out fellas

[Kazuya]

I've come to hold hold dbdynasty and pk's opinions on sports games in high regard.

We'll overlook your temporary insanity for the moment...

Seriously, I would say no. It's not worth $190. It's a great game but it ain't that good. Now I have said in the past that Winning Eleven is worth $190, but that is because there is nothing else quite like it on the market. Can't say that about MLB. But it is a very nice game. I can't comment on the sim aspect (I only had it a few days) but it has very nice graphics and an excellent "feel", which have some have likened to the now-extinct High Heat games.

[dbdynsty25]

Thanks Kaz...but I agree with you. MLB is a damn good baseball game. It's darn near perfect for my needs. The thing that killed it was the roster management. You couldn't carry more than 10 pitchers without screwing up all of your lineups. It was terrible. If they hadn't had that problem I'd be close to saying YES.

I actually bought a PS2 back when MLB was released because I knew the gameplay on the field would be sweet. I was right...it's the baseball simulation freak in me that hated the roster part of the game so I parted with it.

So the short answer is no...it's not worth the almost 200 dollar investment. It's a damn good game though. I suggest renting a PS2 from blockbuster or something and checking it out...it's worth that price for sure.

[Leebo33]

My favorite of all video sports games is baseball. I'm currently playing MVP and ASB on the Xbox. I'm tiring of these games pretty quickly b/c

1. I don't like cursors and the zone hitting in ASB is way too easy

2. With MVP the "lefty bug", the "steal bug", and catchup logic on the MVP level is getting on my last nerve.

Anyone here play MLB 2005? How is it in regards to simulation play? Is it worth the plunge for a PS2? I've also tried ESPN on the 'Box but there's something about that game (and I really can't put my finger on what it is) that doesn't satisfy me and High Heat (my all time favorite) is out of commision. I've tried replaying that stellar game but without an updated roster it just isn't the same. I've lurked at this site for a long time usually finding an answer to a question without having to post. I've come to hold hold dbdynasty and pk's opinions on sports games in high regard. Help me out fellas

There is no way MLB alone is worth a new system. If you want to play MLB, Smash Court, Winning Eleven, and/or some of the other exclusives that is another matter.

MLB is a fun game (especially batting), but there are some rather serious issues that must be mentioned:

- it is almost impossible to draw or throw walks
- there are severe roster limitations
- fielding is almost entirely automatic
- too many throws are right on target and not enough errors in general IMO

[dbdynsty25]

I've also tried ESPN on the 'Box but there's something about that game (and I really can't put my finger on what it is) that doesn't satisfy me and High Heat (my all time favorite) is out of commision. I've tried replaying that stellar game but without an updated roster it just isn't the same.

BTW, I'm in the same exact boat. I like the simulation aspect of ESPN...it plays a darn good game of ball, but there is just something about it that makes me hate it. It's partially because of the graphics and the animations...

I have recently went back to HH 2004 on the PC. The fact that there are accurate rosters and there are new graphics for darn near every team (stadiums, bats, shoes, uniforms, etc.) makes it pretty up to date. I can't complain at all about my HH 2004 PC experience. In fact, I'm sure if you looked hard enough, you could find rosters for the Xbox version as well.

[Kazuya]

BTW, I'm in the same exact boat. I like the simulation aspect of ESPN...it plays a darn good game of ball, but there is just something about it that makes me hate it. It's partially because of the graphics and the animations...

I couldn't agree more... I don't *hate* it... but there is something really lacking somewhere. I know I have commented to myself that the crowd noise/atmosphere is borderline horrible.

[dbdynsty25]

I guess hate was the wrong word Kaz...I still own it and I play it from time to time, but I always end up going back to HH. Obviously there is something wrong if I keep going to a game that's a year and a half old.

[blueduke]

Thanks for the info fellas. You've saved me 200 skins. I've just about decided to go the "rent a PS2" route. Considering NCAA football comes out in a couple weeks I suppose I'll have a little fun with MLB till then while I also look for an updated High Heat roster

[GTHobbes]

Guess I'm the only guy who would've said to go ahead and pick it up. I have an Xbox and re-purchased a PS2 just to be able to play MLB this year. Best decision I've made, and I haven't bought another PS2 game since.

3 years of the same graphics engine made me get bored with ASB, my personal favorite the past couple of years. MVP was decent, but it had a lot of flaws that I couldn't get past. And I couldn't get past the swing animations in ESPN. MLB is just a flat out great baseball game to play, with a couple of minor quirks. (The roster issue being the biggest of them, IMO. I carried a couple of pitchers and cut some guys on my bench to sort've get around that problem.)

I love baseball, and I'm already looking forward to next year's MLB. The strides that 989 made in one year with their series was amazing, IMO. As long as they're PS2 exclusive, I'll be holding onto my PS2.

P.S. If you do at least rent the game, you're gonna absolutely love the animations. Makes me wish every sports game was 60fps.

[bad1550]

Guess I'm the only guy who would've said to go ahead and pick it up. I have an Xbox and re-purchased a PS2 just to be able to play MLB this year. Best decision I've made, and I haven't bought another PS2 game since.

3 years of the same graphics engine made me get bored with ASB, my personal favorite the past couple of years. MVP was decent, but it had a lot of flaws that I couldn't get past. And I couldn't get past the swing animations in ESPN. MLB is just a flat out great baseball game to play, with a couple of minor quirks. (The roster issue being the biggest of them, IMO. I carried a couple of pitchers and cut some guys on my bench to sort've get around that problem.)

I love baseball, and I'm already looking forward to next year's MLB. The strides that 989 made in one year with their series was amazing, IMO. As long as they're PS2 exclusive, I'll be holding onto my PS2.

P.S. If you do at least rent the game, you're gonna absolutely love the animations. Makes me wish every sports game was 60fps.

I agree with GTHobbes - I picked up the PS2 just to play MLB and I play it more than (ESPN, MVP and ASB for Xbox).

With a few tweaks, next year will be sweet!

[JackB1]

this year's MLB is definitley not worth purchasing a PS2 over. I really enjoyed that game before I sold my PS2 for an xbox. I play ESPN now and there are things I like & dislike about both games. If MLB had ESPN's fielding controls, it would be the game for me. The "automatic" fielding in MLB is a downer. The hitting and guess pitch feature of MLB is great however. ESPN's screwy sliders and terrible atmoshere/animations really hurt that game, for me. It's really a toss up between MLB & ESPN for me.

[blueduke]

The "automatic" fielding in MLB is a downer. The hitting and guess pitch feature of MLB is great however. ESPN's screwy sliders and terrible atmoshere/animations really hurt that game, for me.

I rented a PS2 over weekend and agree with your analysis of MLB. The "auto fielding" really turned me off. If it wasn't for this it would be a great game. ESPN is what I'm playing now. Got lucky and found a good set of sliders and after a tweak or two it plays a pretty realistic game. But like you I'm also turned off by the atmosphere and the color guy in this game really gets on my nerves. If I hear the idiot squeal "See ya!" very many more times I'm going to have to play with the commentary turned to off

[dbdynsty25]

I'm glad you took my advice and just rented the PS2. MLB has potential...and a lot of it. There were just a few little things that held it back from being a system seller ala WE6 & 7. Glad you gave it a shot though, because it's a damn fine game...just a few flaws away from greatness.