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Who says you have to grow up? Here at SI.com's Game Room, our staffers review the latest sports video game titles to hit the market and welcome your feedback.
  
3/05/2007 11:46:00 AM

Review: Major League Baseball 2K7 (Xbox 360, PS3)

By Jacob Luft

What used to be an annual competition between 2K Sports and EA in the baseball video-game wars has become a one-horse race. Just like the NFL, MLB has gone to the exclusive licensing model, which means only one third-party company can make an officially licensed game (i.e. with all the real player and team names).

You would think the lack of competition would hurt the end product, but in the case of MLB 2K7, it really hasn't. If nothing else, being the sole provider of our virtual hardball fun seems to have motivated 2K Sports into delivering its best baseball title ever. It's so much better than last year's offering that you have to wonder if the developers have been intercepting batches of HGH meant for the real big leaguers.

MLB 2K7
Major League Baseball 2K7 :: 2K Sports
Visually, MLB 2K7 is a masterpiece. Invite somebody over and leave the game on your TV and they will think they are watching a hi-def broadcast of a real ballgame. The in-game graphics, such as the presentation of the lineups and defensive alignments, are better than many real baseball networks offer. The stadiums are rendered to near perfection, and the lighting is keenly attuned to the time of day you set a particular game for -- those twilight West Coast games are murder on hitters.

You don't feel like you're playing a game so much as watching a slick broadcast on ESPN. (Jon Miller and Joe Morgan do a surprisingly spot-on job with the announcing; almost all of their comments are appropriate to the action.) The replays are so good you'll feel the urge to watch them instead of skipping through them to get back to the action, especially when they are seen through Dirt Cam. Adding to the realism is the myriad of true-to-life animations for all the players. Longtime Derek Jeter followers will instantly recognize his mannerisms, including the baby steps he takes before diving for a ball to his left and the butt-scoot on the inside pitches and, yes, even the golf clap. When the manager visits the mound, the pitcher will cover his mouth with a glove, just as all pitchers have done since Will Clark took Greg Maddux deep in the 1989 NLCS.

So this game looks good, but does it play good? The answer to that depends on what you want from your baseball games. If you want to tee off on meatball pitches and run around the bases carousel style, then this game might disappoint. But if you want realistic baseball -- with realistic scores, like 6-4 or 3-2 -- then you'll appreciate what MLB 2K7 is trying to do.

The heart of the game engine is the "Swing Stick" batting technique. Using the right joystick, you pull back when the pitch is on the way. This activates your "step" toward the pitcher. When you let the stick go, you'll make a contact swing. If you push it all the way forward, it's a power swing that is more likely to put the ball in the air. if you bring the stick around to the right, you'll hit to right field, and left for left field. The timing is awfully difficult to master, especially when offspeed pitches leave you looking more like Mario Mendoza than Tony Gwynn, but once you get the idea it can be pretty satisfying. (The PS3 version also offers a "SixAxis Control" swing, which is a nod to the Wii in that you physically swing with the controller. It's not a bad experience but all it really does is make you want to play the Wii, and I'm guessing that isn't Sony's goal.)

MLB 2K7
Major League Baseball 2K7 :: 2K Sports
Pitching is usually the least fun aspect of a baseball video game but it's at least tolerable here. Before each game, you can buy scouting reports on the opposition. This feature, called Inside Edge, allows you to see batters' hot and cold zones and allows your catcher to call better pitches. Even without the Inside Edge, though, your catcher will position himself and call the game for you in a surprisingly effective manner. Shaking him off is easy -- just use your right joystick to reposition him. Another nice touch: If you can hit your spots with certain pitches then you get a temporary, in-game skills boost.

The franchise mode is fairly standard for the 2K series. Its strongest aspect is Trade Central, which allows you to put one of your own players on the block and list what skills sets you want in return, be it power, starting or relief pitching, speed, a particular position, etc. Shortly thereafter, teams start offering you trades that would make sense to a real big league GM. For example, this is what happened I peddled Mariners All-Star Ichiro Suzuki and asked for starting pitching and home runs in return: I got 19 offers, the best of which came from the Detroit Tigers (Justin Verlander and Marcus Thames).

You could also approach it the other way: Ask for a particular player and what you are offering in return. I asked the Cardinals for Albert Pujols. They came back with five offers, all of which included either Ichiro or Felix Hernandez, so it wasn't like I was going to swindle the CPU.

On the downside, the rosters aren't completely updated with the latest signings, which means Jeff Weaver and Cliff Floyd and a few others are still listed as free agents. Signing them isn't too difficult, though the roster management could stand to be less clunky. The fielding engine could also be a bit smoother, especially on slow grounders.

Ratings System (1 to 10)
Game Play: 8
There are glitches here and there, especially in the fielding, but overall it's an enjoyable gaming experience. Unfortunately, as is the case with most every baseball game ever made, the baserunning controls are tough to master. Why can't designers just have AI take over the baserunning so that we don't get confused when there are two or more runners on? Why is my guy still standing at first after ripping a ball into the gap? But these are quibbles. Once you get the Swing Stick timing down, you'll be rocking.
Graphics: 10
The animations are mindblowing in their execution and in the sheer amount they have. But are we ever going to have a game that gets the fans in the stands right? Even in this otherwise stellar looking game, they have the same guy sitting in the first and third rows behind the plate.
Replayability: 8
The franchise mode, the online features (league play!) and the variety of achievements for the 360 version (33 in total, including 100 points for a no-hitter) makes this a game worth booting up all season. The Home Run Derby mini-game is a great way to kill time.
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Comments:

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Posted: 9:12 PM, March 05, 2007   by Adam
I just bought this game four days ago and haven't stopped playing it. The graphics are some of the nicest I've ever seen and other than the slightly confusing baserunner system, it has fantastic gameplay.
Posted: 12:18 AM, March 06, 2007   by Mike Ambrose
This isn't the sole Major League Baseball game released this year. Don't forget about MLB 07 The Show. Graphically, it is not quite as good as 2K7, however gameplay, and options within the game clearly make it the best baseball game of 2007, hands down.
Posted: 2:30 PM, March 06, 2007   by Josiah
I also bought the 2k7 game, but find the gameplay to be average at best, and worse than that when it comes to fielding. I might break something if I have another slow grounder go past my second baseman because i barely tap the joystick in reaction to contact.

I also think the franchise activities, in particular roster and minor league management are very poorly done.

But in fairness, I grew accustomed to the EA Sports franchise.
Posted: 2:49 PM, March 06, 2007   by Anonymous
Unfortunately there is no PC version of any of these games. I'm stuck playing MLB 2005. Why don't they do a PC version or let EA do the PC version?
Posted: 4:53 AM, March 07, 2007   by DaveConePerfect
am gutted reading these reviews knowing that, us in Ireland-Europe, can't get PAL compatible PS2 baseball game since 2003...when will the developers give us baseball across the Atlantic?! i'm gonna have to move to the USA...

Sick Baseball Fanatic Irishman
Posted: 7:53 AM, March 08, 2007   by Panzram
owning an xbox 360 i agree about the PAL issue, im buying a PS3 just because its region free so i can get my hands on MLB 2k7..the developers need to realise they are missing out on a major market!!
Posted: 7:18 PM, March 08, 2007   by Anonymous
Until a game manages to match the franchise mode and realism offered by MVP 2005 (which MLB the Show failed in and 2k7 looked awful), I remain disappointed
Posted: 12:12 AM, March 09, 2007   by Anonymous
I read that the old EA producer is now doing this game. that's why it is awsome.
Posted: 2:56 PM, March 10, 2007   by Anonymous
I cautiously bought the game, having heard how bad it was in '06. I love the look of it, but the gameplay is not what I was hoping for. After playing it daily for 2 solid weeks, then going back and playing MVP 2005, I have to admit I still prefer MVP. Maybe next year's version of 2K8 will be up to snuff.
Posted: 7:01 AM, March 11, 2007   by Steven
Other than the CPU fielding this game rocks. But why do every single ball hit in the hole or gap get caught by a leaping catch? Ive never seen so many diving catches in my life.
Posted: 3:51 PM, March 20, 2007   by Anonymous
The "MVP" series of baseball games was by far the most entertaining. Playing MLB 2K7 for PS2 is horrible. The Show comes close to nailing it, but like I said, MVP takes the cake. Oh the days.
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