High Heat Baseball 2002 Hands-On
3DO stopped by the GameSpot offices with the latest playable build of its hard-core MLB simulation, High Heat Baseball 2002 for the PlayStation 2. Check out our hands-on report.
3DO has slowly tried to bring the console version of High Heat up to speed with the excellent PC version. Previous console versions of High Heat were heavy in gameplay options but always a step behind the competition graphically. The visual capabilities of the PlayStation 2 provide the opportunity for a fresh start for 3DO's only sports franchise. 3DO looks to be seizing the moment because High Heat 2002 for the PlayStation 2 already sports enough improvements to put it in the same class as its PC sibling.
High Heat 2002 only vaguely brings on the heat in the gameplay mode department. The exhibition mode for up to eight players with two Multitaps lets you set the number of innings per game, set up the presentation to lengthen or shorten play time, adjust gameplay attributes like the frequency of errors or throwing power, and adjust the weather. You may also play full seasons with one of the most in-depth stat tracking systems yet seen in a console sports game. If you're not into enduring the incredibly long 162-game season, you may shorten it to any length you choose. If players aren't living up to the standards set forth in the game, you may tame their stats to make their performances more closely mirror their real-world abilities. Unlike the PlayStation version, there is no franchise mode, home run derby, batting practice mode, or create-a-player mode in High Heat 2002 for the PS2. While it's disappointing that the PlayStation 2 version of High Heat doesn't include as many gameplay modes as the PlayStation version, 3DO explained that its priority is solid gameplay and that more bells and whistles will come in next year's PlayStation 2 version.
A major problem with past video game interpretations of Major League Baseball is that nine-inning games can often take the better part of an hour to complete. This seriously impedes the pickup-and-playability of baseball games, and limiting the number of innings often cuts deeply into the strategy involved in a real game of baseball. 3DO is attempting to remedy this by cutting out the unnecessary lags between pitches, like watching the infielders go around the horn after outs. According to 3DO, this allows full-length games of High Heat to be completed in less than 20 minutes. If you're a stickler for tradition, there is plenty of presentation elements to enjoy. Players argue calls with the umps, wild pitches occur, catchers will drop third strikes, and the manager will make a trip to the mound to stall for time or to calm down the pitcher. All 30 MLB teams and stadiums are included in High Heat 2002, and 3DO has even gone the extra mile to make sure that both PNC Park in Pittsburgh and the Brewers' new stadium, Miller Park, are included. While you may take the helm of your team and actually play the game yourself, 3DO has included the option to choose just one position to play or take the role of skipper and manage your team, so this leaves the final result up to the number-crunching computer.
High Heat Major League Baseball 2002 Quick Links
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- 3DO
- Baseball Sim
- Release: Mar 26, 2001
- ESRB: Everyone
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