Genre: Sports/Baseball
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Released On: March 10th, 2003
# of Players: 1-2
ERSB: Everyone
MSRP: $49.99
Also On: XBox, GCN, PC
Website: MVP Baseball 2003
Introduction
You know, I am a huge Electronic Arts fan. One might even call me an EA fanboy and probably be right. That said, I have absolutely no problem saying the Triple Play franchise was basically baseballs version of NFL GameDay. A series only die hard die hard fans loved, and a series that even when slashed year after year received absolutely no improvements.
Well, EA has decided to completely rework the series. Everything is different from the ground up, even the name. Thus, MVP Baseball is born, and it’s off to a great start.
Presentation
This may be a new franchise, but it’s still an EA Sports franchise and naturally the presentation is good. Nowhere near the level of other EA titles, and not up to par with the latest All Star Baseball game, but good nonetheless. All stadiums and players and authentic and ultra realistic, and as is the case with most EA Sports games, the menus are extremely well done and you’re always just a few seconds away from starting a game.
There are, however, a few rookie mistakes. Some menus are a little glitchy, some stats that should be shoe-ins are missing, as well as Player of the Game awards. They’re not a very huge deal, just strange omissions.
Graphics
If there was one area where Triple Play actually shined(and it was probably the only one), it was graphics. MVP Baseball follows suit, as the graphics are among the best in the genre this year. As I said in presentation, the little animations players have, some signature some just plain cool, add a lot to the games feel of real baseball. Also, pitchers have especially cool animations and even facial expressions as they’re "bringing the heat". As usual, each batter has their own signature batting stance as well.
Another area where the game shines is the stadiums. Very beautiful, fully lifelike. I’ve been to the Ballpark in Arlington quite a few times to watch Texas get their asses kicked and yep, it’s all good. The dugouts and crowd though, aren’t up to par with the rest of the graphics package.
The game has a few minor graphical glitches, but the same could be said about every sports game. Balls sometimes go through players chest and still result in catches. Sometimes it goes right into a players glove but will somehow go right through it and continue on it’s way. They’re annoying, but thankfully they’re also very rare.
Sound
Out with the old, in with the new. A new commentator team arrives for EA’s new franchise, Krukow and Kuiper, a.k.a. the San Francisco Giants commentator team. The change is good, as the old team, who were so annoying I have forgotten their names, pales in comparison to the new guys. Triple Play used to have one signature phrase, which was "Oh Buck he crushed that", which got old not only because it was a simple, generic phrase, but also because TP’s gameplay was so shallow that home runs were as common as outs. K & K have quite a few signature phrases, and although they’re prone to saying the same lines a few too many times in a row, that’s another fault that could be said about generally every baseball game. For a rookie franchise, the commentary in MVP Baseball is already top notch.
Getting into the sound effects, you’ll be equally impressed. The crowds are probably the most realistic and lifelike found in any baseball sim around. You’ve got all the chants, boos and reactions you need, and even nice touches like foghorns and vendors peddling various things around the stadiums.
While the commentary and sound effects are all good, the music is pretty hit or miss. It’s generic 80’s style cheese metal, which if you’re a fan, is a good thing. If you’re not, you’ll want that remote handy cause the mute button will be seeing plenty of use. Hopefully next year they’ll include the "EA Sports Trax" that Madden made so popular.
Gameplay
New graphics, sound, that’s nice. But who would give a damn if EA just slapped all of it onto the same old Triple Play gameplay engine? Well, thankfully they didn’t, and MVP is different than any EA baseball game you’ve ever played, and even has a few features that makes it different than any baseball game you’ve ever played period.
First and foremost, the home run fest that has plagued the series for years is gone. In it’s place is an entirely new pitcher/batter system that’s as innovative and revolutionary as it is fun. In most baseball games, you select a pitch, and most of the time unless you’re using a suck ass pitcher or your guys tired, the ball goes wherever you want it to. Well, it’s not that easy here. Pitching is now performed with a timed press/release/press system. The closest thing I could use to describe it would be Madden’s kicking system or Tiger Wood’s putting system. You press a button for the corresponding pitch type, hold it until it reaches the desired power, then release. The bar will then swing back left towards a green area. Whenever it gets to the middle area of the green section, you press the button again to make it as accurate as possible. The pitches become harder to perfect depending on fatigue, skills of your pitcher, even how fast you make the pitch. Not only does this make each and every pitch a test of skill, it really keeps your focus on the game.
Past the awesome pitcher interface, the game also excels when it comes to the batting system. For starters, MVP has a directional batting system that makes situational hits and strategic at bats much easier to pull off. Pulling the analog stick in certain directions pulls of different types of hits, similar to EA’s "freestyle control" in NBA Live. Holding it down results in grounders, while holding it up is the best way to get a fly ball. MVP also places a batters hot/cold grid directly in the strike zone, making batting much deeper and easier to determine whether you should try to loop this one across the middle or go for the home run. Check it out:
[image]http://images.ea.com/sports/games/2003/mvpbaseball/home/screenshots/6.jpg[/image]
In that screen you see yet another innovative feature, pic-in-pic baserunning. Much better than simply seeing dots running around the diamond, this feature enables you tel tell exactly how close the runners are to the base and exactly how far away the defenders are.
When it comes to fielding, the game isn’t too bad either. Throwing is another area where EA decided to make it harder for gamers, implementing a throw meter that adds alot of depth to a normally shallow and generic aspect of a baseball sim. Holding the button down pulls off a harder but less accurate throw, while a tap of the button gives you a slower but much more accurate toss. Timing depends on your players position when the throws being made and who’s throwing it. Needless to say, diving for a ball then coming up and making a bullet throw to 1st is easier to pull off with A-Rod then some chump shortstop.
While it has quite a few innovative features, MVP’s gameplay also has quite a few shortcomings. There are quite a few fielding errors, and also problems with AI and animations. However, these are very small and I can name two older franchises that suffer from ridiculous bugs at a much more costly extent.
As far as modes go, MVP has everything you’d expect from a baseball game nowadays. Most impressive is their franchise mode, which in its first season makes a serious showing as maybe the best around. It pales in comparison to All Star Baseball or World Series Baseball as far as extras and features go, but MVP’s franchise mode contains enough style to make it worth a purchase. For every team, the game gives you team specific challenges you must meet in order to keep your job. They vary depending on prestige, so it’s different with each one. Take over someone like the Yanks, and you’d better bring in some championships. Take over someone like Baltimore or sadly Texas, and your expectations won’t be nearly as high. Succeed though, and you’ll impress other clubs and offered other jobs.
Gamers who love to simulate entire seasons won’t be happy with this game, because MVP has a nice momentum meter, and simulating too many games results in it getting low and you losing. Certain games present chances to gain serious momentum, like playing a division rival. Win these games, and your players will play much better whether you’re at helm or the CPU is in control. You can also jump in on any simulation at any time, so if you see you have a big lead and the CPU is making a comeback, you can jump in yourself and get that save. Aside from the momentum meter and the requirements as manager, you also have other things to worry about, mainly the bankroll. Players can also have career ending injuries, so you’ll have to be extra careful.
Fans of Home Run Derbys will love MVP’s "Home Run Showdown". It’s basically like Tiger’s "Speed Golf", only it’s baseball. Score is taken based on distance, not only home runs. It’s both players swinging it out in real time too, no more waiting in boredom for your friend to finish. When you don’t have time for a full game, this is a very nice alternative and adds more replay value to the game.
Overall
While most rookie franchises start out rough and take a year or two to mold into something great, MVP Baseball is already one of the best titles out there this year. There are a few puzzling omissions as far as stats and presentation goes, and there’s the occasional fielding glitch. But the innovative pitching/batting setup is pulled off remarkably. Even fielding isn’t boring in this game. Throw in a great franchise mode and a fun, fast 2 player showdown mode and you’ve got a baseball sim that will last you well past the World Series. A great start for what looks to be another dominant franchise for EA Sports.
The Good
+ Great pitching engine. Fresh and new, won’t get old.
+ Batting engine is also top notch, with directional batting being very effective
+ Hot/cold zones are in the box, fully animated baserunners are another good touch
+ Franchise mode is one of the most varied around, different with each team
+ Momentum feature actually implemented well
+ Graphics & sound are pretty top notch
+ Home Run Showdown mode for quick, fun games when you have little time
The Bad
- No Player of the Game, Negroe League or Fantasy Draft options
- Some weird fielding glitches
- No online play
