MLB SlugFest: Loaded Preview
We go in-depth with Midway's upcoming slugger for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
By this point in the year, most baseball fans have already comfortably settled into the 2004 season with their baseball game of choice. With pretty much every major baseball game on the market already out in stores for well over a month, it might seem like it would be difficult to get excited about yet another MLB game coming on the horizon--but then, Midway's MLB Slugfest: Loaded isn't just another typical MLB game. For the past couple of years, baseball fans have been enjoying the Slugfest series not for its simulation-based gameplay or deep franchise modes, but because of the games' decidedly exaggerated and over-the-top slant on the sport of baseball.
For Slugfest: Loaded, Midway is poised to bring another healthy dose of arcade-style baseball gameplay, but this time, it's bringing that arcade-style gameplay along with simulation-based gameplay options and an extremely deep franchise mode that features the Baseball Mogul engine--which most any enthusiast for baseball statistics will tell you is one of the best in the business. We spent some time playing MLB Slugfest: Loaded, and thus far we're pretty pleased with its more-traditional arcade elements and the new simulation elements.
Upon picking up Slugfest: Loaded for the first time, you'll be given three options for how you want to play the game: Slugfest, MLB classic, and your own custom style. The Slugfest mode is pretty much the same game you've come to know and love over the years. You'll be able to punch and generally knock around players, catch fire when on a particularly hot streak, and perform some pretty wacky special and trick pitches, the likes of which defy, nay, insult the laws of physics. If you select the MLB classic mode, you will notice a fairly considerable difference in how the game plays. There's no more fighting, the speed of the game becomes more realistically paced, and all the nutty pitches go by the wayside.
While the MLB classic mode won't feature any sort of ultrasimulation-based batting mechanics, there will be a new pitch meter, which, when used correctly, will let you control the accuracy of your pitches considerably. The custom-style mode will let you simply decide how much arcade and how much simulation you want in your game, so if you want players to catch fire and want the pitch meter turned on at the same time, you'll have that option.
The biggest addition to MLB Slugfest: Loaded is the game's brand-new franchise mode. This isn't just some run-of-the-mill, halfhearted franchise mode either. Having licensed the Baseball Mogul engine, Midway is going all out to try to provide the most accurate statistics possible, as well as plenty of fun bells and whistles to keep the mode interesting for those who aren't obsessed with number crunching.
From the beginning of your franchise, you'll have four primary options at your fingertips. The schedule is your first selection, and it's pretty cut-and-dried. From here, you can look at every game on your schedule for the season, opt to simulate past games or play specific games, and get a quick look at your current season record, as well as your payroll versus your number of credits. Credits are the game's method of currency, and if your payroll too heavily outweighs your current bankroll, your franchise will be hosed. To earn more credits, you'll need to win games; in order to win more games, you'll have to make smart moves with your team's roster.
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