"Job well done, EA!"
User Rating: 9.5 | MVP Baseball 2004 PS2
Expectations were really high for this game. So did it meet these expectations? I would say so. GRAPHICS/ANIMATIONS - 8.5/10 The graphics in this game aren't the best, but they definitely are NOT the worst. A lot of players look almost exactly like their real-life counterparts. Take a look at Vlad Guerrero for example, and you'll see an exact replica of him. While most big name players looks like themselves, there are a few players, such as Jose Reyes, who actually don't look how they should, but it's nothing huge. You don't really see a player's face when he's batting. The animations are smooth for the most part. A pitcher's delivery is excellent, as is a batter's stance. The batter stances in this game are much smoother and realistic, and don't move around as much as those of World Series Baseball 2k3. CONTROLS - 8.5/10 Some people might argue that the controls for this game are extremely difficult. I won't lie, the controls are tough to learn, but once you've played this game for a week, they get much easier. Since I didn't own MVP Baseball 2003 last year, the baserunning was pretty difficult for me. You need to press the according button to control a certain runner, which sometimes gets a bit confusing. The throwing is still the same, with the 4 face buttons (X, O, Square, Triangle) representing the base that you want to throw to. The newest feature in this game is using the right analog stick to make plays. Just like the NBA Live and Madden series, MVP Baseball 2004 lets you use the right analog stick to make great plays. When running bases, hold up to dive headfirst or hold up and left to dive headfirst to the left side of the bag. This is a great feature. In the outfield, press up on the right analog stick to try to rob a homerun, or press left or right to dive and try to catch the ball. Challenging, but fun. DYNASTY - 9.5/10 I believe this is the best part about this game. There are tons and tons of features in this year's Dynasty mode. First of all, there is a Team Chemistry rating. This basically shows how your team is getting along. The higher the rating, the better your team will play, and the lower the rating, the worse your team will play. Another great part about Dynasty mode is the Minor Leagues. Instead of just having some Minor League system with a few players, you have each and every AA and AAA team with the majority of the players available. You even get to view Minor League stats. So if you see that your young and inexperienced Relief Pitcher is getting his butt handed to him by Major League hitters, you can send him down to the Minors where he will be better and more productive. You also get e-mails for certain things. If a player is unhappy with how much he is getting paid or how much playing time he gets, he'll let you know about it. AI - 9/10 I really believe that this may be one of the high parts about this game. I would say that the AI is excellent in this game. If you hit a homerun with Jim Thome after they pitched you a fastball up & in, at your next at bat they will try to keep the ball low & away from you. Seems realistic if you ask me. If you've been chasing pitches outside the zone all game, then the CPU pitcher will keep throwing the ball out the zone to get you to chase. Great job here, EA! Replay Value - 9/10 I would say that this game has great replay value. This is a game that can be enjoyed with a friend, or all by yourself. Since you have so many options in Dynasty mode, you can always start a new dynasty with a new team, and try to do different things. Try to develop young players, try to get A-Rod to break the All-Time HR record, try to set a new record for Hits in a Season with Pujols or Ichiro, etc. There are many things you can try to do. You also have a Fantasy Draft option, which can give you a team of completely mixed around players, and your job is to try to compete with the team you have. FINAL OPINION I believe that this is a great game. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy this or not, but after playing it I am glad I bought it. After playing World Series Baseball 2k3 (WSB 2k3) last year, I though that I might not want to get a baseball game this year because I though that WSB 2k3 was as good as it gets, but I was wrong. MVP Baseball 2004 gave me another reason to like and watch baseball. The only bad part about this game is probably that it will get you excited for the MLB 2004 season to finally start. Buy or Rent? I would say you should rent this game first. These days if you buy a game and open it, you can't return it again and get your money back. Just because I like this game doesn't mean that you will like it, too. You may just end up hating it, which is your opinion, therefore I would suggest renting it first, which only costs like $5, and then if you really like it then you should think about buying it for yourself. If I told you to buy it for $49.97 and you end up not liking it, then you may blame me, so I would suggest renting it beforehand, and buying it afterwards. However, I didn't rent it first when I got this game, I just bought it, because that's what I always do and that's just me.
