July 14, 2003
By Jae-Ha Kim and Misha Davenport
Chicago Sun-Times
The All-Star game hits Comiskey, um, US Cellular Field on Tuesday. For those who can't get enough baseball, we've got some of this season's big hitters and strikeouts ... in videogames, we mean. As for the popcorn and peanuts, you're on your own.
ALL-STAR BASEBALL 2004
**HOME RUN *
From: Acclaim
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: GameCube
This
one hits it out of the ballpark. The All-Star franchise always was a winner,
but this latest version lets players re-create elements from the
2002 season. We determine that season's outcome.
I got a particular charge in helping the New York Met's Mike Piazza lose.
The Mets lost that game in
real life, but it was that much sweeter knowing
I had something to do with it. Diehard baseball gamers may be disappointed
they can only play these one
or two innings at a time. But jumping from inning
to inning also keeps the game from getting redundant. --JHK
BACKYARD BASEBALL
**HOME RUN *
From: Atari
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: GameCube
Sure,
the 30 characters created for the game and 10 pro athletes are rendered
as 3D cartoons, but features like practice, single game and full
season mode will almost make you forget kids are
the game's target audience. Easy to pick up, yet challenging enough to
hold interest, Atari's "Backyard
Baseball" is a highly polished sports game. --MD
MLB SLUGFEST 2004
**HOME RUN *
From: Midway
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: PlayStation 2
"Slugfest"
is for every couch potato who likes to play dirty . . . in a videogame,
that is. As its name suggests, little is out of bounds. Knock the
ball out of a player's hands? Good for you. You
might want to whack him in the chest real hard while you're at it. But
be prepared, 'cause the other
guy might give you a right hook to the nose. It's
not fair play, but it sure is fun. --JHK
MLB 2004
**BASE HIT *
From: 989 Sports
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: PlayStation 2
Perfect
for the casual player, this game is extremely easy to learn. Though the
loading time is longer than on some other platforms, "MLB 2004" has an
old-school feel that adds to the fun. The Spring Training mode is a hoot,
but if you're a stickler for the rules, the officiating will drive you
nuts.
Foul balls often aren't called and the umpires
sometimes let the players get away with murder. --JHK
MVP BASEBALL 2003
**BASE HIT *
From: EA Sports
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: PlayStation 2
Two
words set this above the pack: base cam. The picture-in-picture device
helps you keep tabs on who may or may not be trying to steal each base.
Players and ballparks are rendered nicely too,
but where's the online play? --MD
WORLD SERIES 2K3 BASEBALL
**BASE HIT*
From: Sega
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: PlayStation 2
The
gameplay is fine, but I got a bigger kick watching the players move. The
way they play is realistic to their real-life counterparts. If you wear
glasses, take them off and you'll swear you were
watching a ballgame on TV rather than playing one on your PS2. To get really
creative with the teams,
go with the franchise mode, which lets you scout
and select your players. You may not end up a season winner, but I promise
you'll have a lot of fun
trying. --JHK
INSIDE PITCH 2003
**STRIKE OUT*
From: Microsoft
Rated: E for Everyone
Reviewed For: Xbox
The
only good thing I can say about "Inside Pitch 2003" is the ballparks are
detailed. No franchise mode, poor player animation and the pitcher's stamina
bar that doesn't work--I depleted the meter and the guy was still throwing
100 percent of his pitches. "IP" is definitely minor league. --MD
Read more about GameCube, PS2 and Xbox
|
|
 |