The Good; The Bad; and the UGLY!
User Rating: 6.8 | Major League Baseball 2K6 PS2
The GOOD 1.Pitching--the new Payoff pitch mode is the most fun youll have in any baseball game. When playing online or single player, the camera angle is behind the pitcher, and adds alot more realism to the game.You can also use the right stick to move the catcher around and set him up to where your sending the pitch. What makes this system stand out, is when you have two strikes, or when your in a jam, or when a "showdown" happens, such as Jeter coming to the plate in the 9th, when you move the catcher with the stick, a little target box appears. If you hit the target, it usually ends in a strike out. Succesfully completing "Payoff pitches" will add boost your ratings for that particular pitch for one game. So when Pedro nails 4 guys down with 4 changeup payoff pitches, his changeup rating will hit 102 for the rest of the game. Also, unlike MVP and MLB the show, computer batters WILL swing at pitches outside the zone, with some players being fooled easier than others. 2. Inside Edge Scouting The most innovatie tool in a baseball game ever. it allows you to use in-game scouting reports to help you out. let me give you an example: Before my 3 game series against the Braves, I went to the inside edge menu and I bought the scouting reports for all there stars. (you can either buy individual players, or buy them in groups like all pitchers, all hitters, and team stars. In GM and franchise mode, you nuy reports using your leftover funds) So Now im playing the game, and Andruw Jones comes to bat. Like I mentioned above about the Payoff pitches, Now because I have him scouted, the catcher moves to where the report says I should throw automatically, and it even shows the pitch I should throw. Now on the other side of the coin, im up to bat and John Smoltz is on the mound. Because he is also scouted, a stat breakdown pops up on the screen with all his pitches, and the percentage in which he throws them according to the situation. So if im David wright, and its a 2-1 count, he'll be more likely to throw an offspeed pitch, rather than the heater. Plus, it'll show the 3 most usual locations that he throws to in whatever situation it is. The Bad 1. Baserunning- Although the camera angles are superb, including the behind the runner view, which gives you a good on the field view when running. It looks alot more realistic. BUT---the controls are kind of hard to manage, and its not easy to hold one runner, and send another. 2. cutscenes- Dont get me wrong, certain cutscensa are nice. But alot of them are ridculous. If there showing a replay of Torii Hunter robbing a homer, the replay cam will be focused on the pitcher. or dumb things like that. The Ugly 1. Fielding-While the game gets hitting and pitching down to perfection, the fielding def sucks. Guys will hit the wall and fall down in the outfield once in a while, turning a double into an inside the park homer. Overthrows to first base are more common than id like, and alot of times routine infield plays will turn into hits because your guy throws the ball to damn slow. 2. Commentators- They just plain suck. If David Ortiz hits a homer, they'll say something like "Ramirez just took that one over the park!" So they mess up the names all the time, and they also mess up on the stats as well. Overall, Even though it has flaws, id have to say the good makes up for it. Its by far the best baseball game out right now, and thats saying alot, considering im a EA loyalist. If they clean up the bugs for next years game, itll be the best hardball game ev
