This is the best baseball game to date, hands down.

User Rating: 9 | MVP Baseball 2005 XBOX
MVP '05 is the baseball game to get. This game can surprise you with hours of entertaining fun, especially for baseball enthusiasts. The "feel" of this game is what makes it really stand out, on top of accurate player attributes, realistic game play, and phenomenal game modes. It is tragic that this game did not make it to the list of backwards compatible games for the Xbox 360, as it is a timeless classic. MVP '05 brings many notable features which makes this my personal favorite sports game, amongst a long list of games.
The game has fantastic game modes, including simple quick games, home run derbies, mini games, and the owner mode. Owner mode is a brilliant mode where you embark on a multiseason adventure with your own team. Here you can opt to undergo a fantasy player draft (even draft staff members), and choose from your favorite MLB players. Then, in the mode, you will create your own stadium, upgrade it as you make money, and hire new staff members. Also, you can make trade offers, and also receive offers from the other teams. You can adjust all of the line ups, sign players for multiple seasons, and view detailed statistics and league leaders. The play does not stop here, as you can continue to the next season, providing endless play.
Graphically, the game meets all expectations for an Xbox title. A majority of the player's face models are quite impressive, where as the fans in the crowd received much less attention. The stadiums look great, and quite realistic to their true models. Overall, the physics in the game run well, however, like in most baseball games, you will find some mishaps if you look hard enough. Some replays will be sure to leave you questioning the presence of proper physics, but overall, it is quite smooth.
As far as game play mechanics, they are simple, but sweet. Batters get a general nine zones to aim the bat, and pitchers can pinpoint their location just about anywhere. As far as how the pitching works, it is a simple meter, and on higher difficulties, being fatigued actually takes a toll on a pitcher's accuracy. The pitching is always very important, and the computer will be sure to take advantage of hung pitches. Batting is simplified in this game, but to a perfect degree. There are only two ways to swing, you can swing away or bunt, there are no contact or power swings. This results in more realistic hits, as the powerful players will produce the deep fly balls, and the contact hitters get the line drive hits, because of their statistics.
The base running adds a lot to the game. It is not linear like in most games, where the base stealers, like Ichiro, can swipe a bag every time you try. If you are don't take a lead, or choose a good pitch to go on, don't expect to casually slide into 2nd with your fastest player. The great AI will sneakily throw pitchouts and plenty of pickoff plays when your fast runners get on. Things like this add to the overall realism of the game.
There are also plenty of small options that make the game more entertaining. For example, when fielding, some home runs can be robbed, by having the outfielder leap up against the wall. When base running, you have some choices as far as slides, there are about 5 different ways to slide into a base, including railroading the catcher on a play to home, that's always fun. Also, a very unique system called hitter's eye is a highlighted feature of this game. When hitting, you get a split second glimpse of the grip the pitcher has on the ball, and this is portrayed by 5 colors the ball might appear in the hand of the pitcher. This is a realistic way of giving the hitter an idea of what is coming at them, where they would otherwise be left guessing.
In a sports game, commentary is always something to consider, as it will take up a majority of the audio aspect of the game. MVP '05 features two commentators, who definitely get the job done. It adds to the classic baseball atmosphere the game has, and helps set the overall mood. Unfortunately, a few very foolish statements sneak through, which unfortunately stand out to make the commentators seem silly at times, losing realism. The soundtrack in this game is also worth noting. The game has a very impressive soundtrack featuring several great songs that may very well be first heard playing this game.
The unlockable content in MVP '05 is actually rewarding, as you can unlock classic players, old stadiums, and retro jerseys. This content adds a lot to the game, and is much better than foolish achievements that so many new games are featuring. A horizontal line of text telling me I have hit 3 homeruns in a game does me no good, and MVP '05 steers quite clear of that. The best part is, you can even start new seasons and play with these unlocked players, even get them in a fantasy style draft.
You won't find nearly as much fun online as you can find within the single player content of this game. The simple quick play matchups that will be hard to find and laggy to play in are not worth your time.
If you are truly a baseball fan, and you enjoy video games, you would be missing out if you did not own this game. I feel that the optimal fun of this game can be achieved through challenging yourself with higher difficulties, and this adds to more realistic score outcomes. The great array of game modes, fantastic game mechanics, and solid graphics, amongst many other things make this baseball game the best we have yet to see.