Acclaim's All-Star Baseball series has been known for its great (well, for the N64, anyway) graphics and solid gameplay. The series' transition to the PlayStation 2 is, for the most part, a smooth one, and this latest rendition sticks to the basic things that have made the series great, making it worthwhile even for those who aren't fans of the older games.

All-Star Baseball 2002 has it all. All the teams, players, stadiums, and modes of play, as well as a dizzying number of configurable options for just about everything in the game. For instance, you can play a full 162 game season with lots of different variations, including the ability to disable interleague play and the ability to play a balanced (where you play against every other team with similar frequency) or unbalanced (where you play more games against teams in your division) season. In addition, you can choose to play half a season, a three-game round robin, and many other lengths of season play. The game also has standard modes such as exhibition, home run derby, all-star game, World Series, and batting practice, as well as an in-depth create-a-player feature that lets you create up to 25 unique players with abilities and appearances set to your preferences. You can use the game's team management mode to draft players, set lineups, set pitching staffs, trade players, sign free agents, and check out statistics for hitting and pitching in 44 different categories. Plus you can earn season awards like the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year. If that's not enough, the game even has classic uniforms for every team and a Cooperstown Hall of Fame team, which is populated by the likes of Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan.

If you've ever played any of the previous All-Star Baseball games, you'll feel completely comfortable with All-Star Baseball 2002's control scheme. The game features a unique 3D batting interface that gives you a great degree of control over the placement of the ball once it's hit. The right analog stick controls the angle of the batting target, which in turn controls the direction of the ball after you've made contact--tilt the target out and you'll give the ball lift, tilt the target downward and you'll be set up for a line drive. That is, of course, if you line up the batting target and time the pitch perfectly, which is an intricate skill that you'll never completely master. If batting using a target system isn't to your liking, All-Star Baseball 2002 gives you the option of turning it off and simply using the traditional one-button method. You also have the option of swinging the bat with two different buttons. One is for a simple contact hit, which has a greater chance of making contact with the ball, and the other is for a power swing, which may send it further than the contact hit but is a bit tougher to actually hit the ball with. Pitching is a little more traditional. Each pitcher has a set of pitches at his disposal that are mapped the buttons on the controller--you simply select the pitch and throw the ball. You do, however, have a reasonable amount of control over the ball when it's on its way to the plate, but altering the course of your pitches after they've been thrown degenerates the pitcher's stamina more rapidly.