Introduction
Triple Play Baseball was once EAs second best franchise behind the mighty Madden series. Back in the Genesis days the games were tops, even with good competition around. Around the 98 or 99 version however, EA started to care less and less about refining the series and each new version seemed like nothing more than roster upgrades. The series evolved into a home-run fest with football like final scores that resembled a Midway arcade game more than an EA Sports game.
The same thing was seemingly happening with all EA franchises. However, with the launch of the Playstation 2 EA started from scratch and began refining franchises left and right. Madden, NHL, Live, Knockout Kings, even spawned new franchises like Rugby. However, Triple Play remained unchanged. Last years version was a choppy, shallow baseball game with nothing more than fancy graphics and a few special effects.
Enter 2002s version. EA has listened to fans on *some* accounts, but mostly Triple Play 2002 is the same game you played last year.
Presentation
There is nothing here you have not seen before. EA is known for brilliant presentation and it simply doesnt exist in this game. The menus are easy to navigate and the loading is not bad, but the music seems a bit strange for a baseball game and nothing screams at you "BASEBALL!!" like there is in All Star Baseball or even High Heat. Strangely, EA seems to have again focused all of their presentation time on home runs. It’s astounding that there are so many comments and angles and sound effects for home run blasts yet so little for other occasions.
Graphics & Sound
This IS an XBox game right? I think so. But looking at the game, it could pass for a poor looking PS2 game. Oh yea, there is a PS2 version so I guess it already does. The players still look like midgets. Not a single player in the game aside from Ichiro looks even close to their real life counterpart. A tall and skinny guy like Randy Johnson should be well.. tall and skinny right? Wrong. Like every other play in the game, The Unit is short and wide with a very big head. Whether it is intentional or not, it looks silly and takes away from any realism you are looking for in this game.(you wont find much elsewhere either, however)
The stadiums, to EAs credit, due look very good. The crowds are good also, but both areas pale compared to ASBs offerings.
Slowdown. In a baseball game? On the XBox? Indeed. After every single hit, there is a brief moment of slowdown and insane choppiness where all hell breaks lose. Sometimes you arent blinded or mislead enough to still get the grounder, other times you are. Maybe it is an intentional means by EA to get the bases loaded for that ever common home run. Maybe it is simply lazy programming. Regardless, it should not hapopen on any system, let alone the XBox, and in a freakin baseball game.
Maybe you will find the character models funny, or you will hate them. The stadiums are nice, but they dont overshadow the player models. Overall, slowdown and choppy graphics make them poor instead of above average.
Sound wise, aside from some good commentary by Bob Costas(does this man ever do wrong? no), there is little goodness to find here. Theres probably more commentary describing home runs than there is for everything else combined. You usually never hear a repeat for a home run in a game, but get 5 double plays and its the same line for each of them. Huh? The crowd should be a part of the game, but they are not. You cant tell if you’re playing in Seattle or Montreal the fans are so quiet.
If you love commentary on home runs, mammoth cracks of the bat and jet-like home run sound effects, this is your game. If you want comeplete baseball commentary and a little bit of crowd noise, look elsewhere.
Gameplay
Well, all of those negative comments above wouldnt matter much if TP2002s gameplay was great. But it isnt. Batting has never been easier. Is there even a need for a cursor? A 100 mph fastball floats to the plate as fast as an 80mph curve ball. While you do have good control of where the ball goes, where do you want it to go? Thats right, over the fence. And it is too easy in this game.
Pitching is not so easy. Giving up 15 runs would usually be a nightmare and a trip to the minors for a pitcher. In this game, that average would likely be enough for the Cy Young trophy and an All-Star game. Because the balls move so slow and float to the plate, theres rarely a strikeout. And where there is, its usually you or your buddy and not the CPU. As it stands the only challenge for you pitching is to not give up too many HRs. A 3 and out is very rare. 20 minute innings are not.
Fielding is not too shabby. If you’re inside the diamiond. Outfielders have too much ground to cover. And they seem to move too slow. Its not only that theyre all midgets, the field is simply too big. Other than that small gripe, getting to the ball and getting it thrown to base is pretty simple, as it has always been in this series.
The AI in this game is a joke. They constantly over-run bases, throw to the wrong base, etc etc. Batting, they hit some HRs, thats about it. Pitching, they mix up the pitches but generally keep them in few locations. Even on the hardest setting, beating them by 10 runs is not very hard if you’re good enough.
Lasting Appeal
An EA game is usually filled to the top with all kinds of modes and extras. Nope. Not here. You get 4 modes here, and they are as generic as they come. Exhibition
Season(choose the length!! genre defining feature there folks /end sarcasm)
Playoffs
Home Run Derby
There is one novel feature that adds SOME replay value to season mode, and thats fantasy draft. But again, that is a very generic feature. Where is the franchise mode? Skimping gamers on graphics, gameplay and modes all in one game? It is obvious EA doesnt really care about the series anymore. Thats the only assumption one can make after sitting through this version of Triple Play, which, aside from toning down the HR count a *little*, is exactly the same as last years version.
Not only are the lack of modes a joke, but so are the teams ratings. Mostly the Rangers and the Mariners. I know Texas needs pitching and they arent the best team in the world, but I believe if EA rated in the negatives, Texas would have it. They have absolutly little to nothing in pitching, relief, and every other category, except for power and hitting. Yea. Ooook. Looking at Seattle, they are full on everything except Power I believe. I might be wrong, but didnt they LOSE in the playoffs? Why are they rated like juggernauts, when the Yanks and D-backs are far behind? And even with the Rangers incredibly low ratings and Seattles "Is that the All-Star team?" ratings, Texas has won more games than Seattle in every season I have played. Just goes to show that you can have skills in pitching, speed, batting, power, running, fielding, whatever. All you have to do is hit the long ball more and you win.
If you can stomach an entire season, the sims are very quick and the stats are ok. Nowhere near EA standards or the competition, but decent nonetheless. However, with nothing more than a fantasy draft to put a spin on things, you definatly wont come back for seconds.
Conclusion
EA definatly needs to straighten this series out. Is it a sim game or a home run fest? Thats one question they need to decide on and quit disguising this arcadey shallow coaster as a deep sim baseball game. It does not matter which system you own, there is a better alternative. All systems have ASB. PS2 has High Heat. GCN has Home Run King, and XBox will soon have World Series Baseball. I have played them all except the upcoming WSB and I rate this game at the very bottom. EA has alot of work on their hands if they want to return another franchise to its glory, but it doesnt look like they care to.
