MLB 2K7: Finally, a big league sim that is worthy of your 360.
Being a person who has thoroughly enjoyed sports games since the days of the Super Nintendo, Ive been itching to get my hands on baseball game that is worth paying the money for. So when zoboa allowed me to do the review of MLB 2K7, needless to say, I was excited. MLB 2K7 (Published by 2K Sports, Developed by Kush Games) has given me exactly what I wanted: A realistic version of Americas favorite pastime. From moonshot home runs to 12 to 6 curveballs, 2K Sports hit the nail on the head in this version of their ongoing baseball franchise.
Gameplay
2K7 offers you several different options when it comes to enjoying this game. Deciding to not waste any time, I jumped straight into an exhibition game between the Cubs and Cardinals. The first thing that jumped out at me was the loading screen. While some games give you a blank screen with a Loading.please wait message or something along those lines, 2K Sports gives you a lead-in that will focus on the stadium that the game is being played in along with commentary by Jeanie Zelasko and Steve Physioc. Usually, their commentary will focus on the 2006 head to head match-up between the two teams playing. I was reminded that the Cardinals won the World Series in my lead-insomething a Cubs fan doesnt need to be told after 99 years of frustration.
Once the game got rolling, it was time for me to take the plate. Hitting in 2K7 offers a little bit of a learning curve, as you will use the right analog stick in order to hit the ball. This takes timing and practice, plus it didnt help that Chris Carpenter was on the mound for the Cardinals. It took several innings for me to even get close to the ball, but this soon changed. Overall, it took me about three games to pick up hitting. Once I did, though, the ball started to fly off the bat.and usually out of the park. I changed it up so I faced different pitchers, seeing if stats had anything to do with it, which it generally didnt. After scoring just one and two runs in my first games respectively, I proceeded to score 25 runs against Cincinnatis Bronson Arroyo. However, a simple kick-up in difficulty took care of this issue, and I started to get some more realistic scores and situations.
Base-running has become simplified. Instead of button mashing to get a boost in speed like last years game, its now been completely eliminated. So, for instance, if you hit a dribbler in the infield with a player such as David Ortiz, good luck getting to first base. You can mash on the buttons all you want, it wont change the fact that Ortiz could be timed running to first base with a sundial. However, base-running has gotten much better. The interface has gotten a makeover from the traditional icons that past games have had. Instead, you get an interface that will be on the sides of the screens. While not being fully invisible or transparent, it does not get in the way of fielding, which is a plus. The only problem I really noticed with base-running is that sometimes a runner will take a bit of a stutter step around a bag, even if you give the command plenty of time in advance to move up one base.
Fielding, in itself, however, is a bit of a challenge at first. Different types of hits will seemingly determine what type of angle you get when it comes to fielding. Sometimes you get an easy angle that allows you to move your fielder onto the icon. So, for instance, if your opponent hits a rocket, but it isnt going out of the park, your camera view might be somewhat flat, which can make it difficult to get your runner over the icon in order to catch the ball. It takes a little time to get used to this, but my frustration with this eventually subsided.
Unfortunately, it was replaced with a new problem: Unnecessary movements. While I can appreciate the fact that hundreds of new motions were added into the games mechanics, it sometimes creates a bit of a cross-up. An example of this is when I was trying to throw a ball into the infield. My player was moving towards the infield and I give it the command to throw it to second base. However, what the player did was come to a dead stop and then go into the hop step that baseball players do when they rocket a ball into the field of play. That slowdown may not seem like much, but sometimes it will cost you on a bang-bang play with a runner. On the other side of this, however, the mechanics really shine when a fielder has to dive for a ball or attempt to rob a home run. In my first game with the Reds, I was treated to a show by Ken Griffey, Jr. in which he robbed my players of three straight home runs. However, I found it a little funny that Griffey was hurt on the final robbing, which is somewhat accurate since he has a bit of a problem staying healthy.
Moving onto pitching, this is where my enjoyment for the game really hit its peak. I took the mound with Carlos Zambrano, who has a bunch of nasty pitches to choose from. Pitching is almost an art form with this game, requiring the ability to know how much your pitches are going to break, compensating enough for the actual movement of a pitch, and the effectiveness of the pitch. The interface is very slick in one player mode, which gives you a camera view from the bleachers, much like you would have on television. Your catcher will call the game for you, suggesting pitches and placement all throughout the game. Depending on how good your catcher is at calling the game, you can trust him or shake him off, choosing your own placement to throw simply by moving the right analog stick. Your catcher will then move to a different spot, offering you a secondary option.
Pitching takes practice to get good at. It takes timing and patience to learn how each pitch will react. Pitches that dont break, such as fastballs, are easy to pick up and use. Simply move the ball icon to where you want the ball to go and you press the corresponding button. At that point, a couple of golden rings will extend out from the spot you are throwing. The longer you hold down the button, the more effective the pitch will be. However, you will reach a point where your controller will begin to vibrate, which tells you that you are reaching the maximum for that pitch. If you dont let go, it will be incredibly hard to place the ball. Once you do let go of the button, the rings will then collapse onto the spot you picked and you have to hit the same button once it gets to it. A perfect pitch will flash white on the screen, and your pitch will go exactly where the ball icon was. Too early or too late, and the ball will move to a different spot. Also, if you are too early or too late by quite a bit, your opponent will get a tip-off as to where the ball is going to be when it crosses the plate.
Breaking balls are more difficult. To fully enjoy this aspect, I decided to create a pitcher with the most ridiculous assortment of pitches you can think of. You will have multiple types of pitches to choose from, including the 12 to 6 curveball, the power curve, and even the eephus pitch, a curveball that is so slow, its almost like a slow pitch softball pitch. Playing around with my created player allowed me to get really good at controlling breaking pitches, which require more skill to use in the game. For example, if you choose to throw a power curveball, you must put your icon to where you want the pitch to begin its break, not where you want it to cross the plate. Thankfully, the pitching interface will show you what direction all of your pitches will break with a simple arrow on the lower right of your screen. It makes the learning curve far more tolerable than it would be without it.
GM Career mode is something that I played around with quite a bit, and my love for simulation has me hooked on it. You take control of your favorite MLB team as the General Manager. Your owner will have a set of goals that you must accomplish in order to retain your job and receive a contract extension. These goals will vary depending on your owner. For instance, my owner was focused more on making money, so four of my five goals were about either limiting spending, making a profit, or trading away certain players. Completion of these goals will allow you an increase in your budget, which will allow you to sign that big free agent at the end of the season. Simulating a season takes far less time than it did in the past. If you wanted to, you could simulate the entire season in just a couple of minutes, depending on your own settings for what the CPU does while you simulate.
Unfortunately, the World Baseball Classic was cut out of this version, which is somewhat upsetting. This also means that international teams are no longer available to use. On top of that, minor league teams have also been trimmed down. You will have the option to send your players down to AAA in GM Career mode, but there isnt an actual team that you can play as. While this may not be important to some gamers, it can be a little upsetting for the hardcore baseball fans.
Graphics/Audio
Jon Miller and Joe Morgan are your commentary team for MLB 2K7, two of the best in the business, and they dont disappoint. With this team on the microphone, you get the feel of watching an actual Sunday Night Baseball broadcast on ESPN. Jon Miller offers a great play by play performance, often changing up his words a little bit, whether it be a pitch that goes outside or when a batter hits a foul ball. While this is overall a great thing to have, I did notice a couple of repeated pieces from both Miller and Morgan. This is expected, though, as theres only so many things that can happen during a baseball game. It can be mildly annoying if you play several games in one day, but the actual repeats in each game are rather minimal.
Graphically, the game is stunning. Stadiums are about as realistic as they get, whether youre going into Yankee Stadium to take on the Bronx Bombers, or you catch a day game at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The player models themselves are also very detailed and almost flawless when it comes to capturing a players overall look. Adding onto that, multiple players will have their own swing style or pitching style mimicked very well by 2K7s mechanics. You can also choose to take any of these motions with your own created player, or you can choose your own stance.
When it comes to the overall baseball sounds that isnt involved with commentary, I was very impressed. Hecklers from the stands will get you from time to time with some random comments and suggestions, such as a fan telling me that I shouldnt throw a pitch too many times or Ill be sorry. The funniest comment I ever got, however, was when I was playing the Reds in Great American Ballpark. When batting with Derrek Lee, I had a fan yell Noonan! as the ball reached the plate. Amazingly enough, it threw me off enough to miss the ball with my swing. I then proceeded to laugh hysterically, as I had just been struck out by a comment that was made famous by the movie Caddyshack.
One negative I have about the sounds of the game, however, involves the home crowd in big games. I noticed that the crowd doesnt get really excited when a player hits a home run in a clutch situation. On top of that, when I managed to win the World Series in my GM Career, the crowd acted like they were at a golf tournament. They werent very loud, and that little sound quickly subsided into absolutely nothing, although the fireworks going off was a nice touch to add.
Achievements
There are 33 overall Achievements that you can pick up when playing MLB 2K7. Ive had the game for just over a week, and Ive managed to unlock 12 of them. Generally, they are rewards for doing things in the game such as striking out the side, scoring five runs in one inning, or hitting consecutive home runs. These also include achievements that can be gained by playing online, including joining an online league or tournament as well as simply completing an online match with a friend or random opponent. You can gain a total of 900 Gamer Points with MLB 2K7.
Overall
MLB 2K7 is definitely above average. While there are a few things that need to be worked on when it comes to the actual gameplay, the game itself is not overly flawed. If youre anything like I am when it comes to sports games, you will be obsessed with pitching a perfect game, which Ive fallen short of by just a single out twice since Ive had the game, even with the step up in difficulty. GM Career will keep you locked into this game for quite some time, which will offer you a nice changeup if you get tired of playing against people online. This is a game that can be enjoyed both online and offline, and is worth the $60 price tag.
SCORES/RATINGS
Gameplay
Some mechanical flaws that are caused simply by over-compensation from lack of style in last years game wont throw you off enough to complain for very long. Base-running and fielding have gotten a makeover while pitching and hitting are very challenging.
Score = 3.7 out of 5
Presentation
2K7 gives you a great feel for what a telecast of baseball should be, and you dont even have to wait for baseball season to come in order to enjoy it.
Score = 4.5 out of 5
Graphics/Audio
Beautiful stadiums, slick player models, and the voices of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan provide a pleasant gaming experience. The crowd could use some caffeine to wake up in key situations, however.
Score = 4 out of 5
Rating: 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)
Being a person who has thoroughly enjoyed sports games since the days of the Super Nintendo, Ive been itching to get my hands on baseball game that is worth paying the money for. So when zoboa allowed me to do the review of MLB 2K7, needless to say, I was excited. MLB 2K7 (Published by 2K Sports, Developed by Kush Games) has given me exactly what I wanted: A realistic version of Americas favorite pastime. From moonshot home runs to 12 to 6 curveballs, 2K Sports hit the nail on the head in this version of their ongoing baseball franchise.
Gameplay
2K7 offers you several different options when it comes to enjoying this game. Deciding to not waste any time, I jumped straight into an exhibition game between the Cubs and Cardinals. The first thing that jumped out at me was the loading screen. While some games give you a blank screen with a Loading.please wait message or something along those lines, 2K Sports gives you a lead-in that will focus on the stadium that the game is being played in along with commentary by Jeanie Zelasko and Steve Physioc. Usually, their commentary will focus on the 2006 head to head match-up between the two teams playing. I was reminded that the Cardinals won the World Series in my lead-insomething a Cubs fan doesnt need to be told after 99 years of frustration.
Once the game got rolling, it was time for me to take the plate. Hitting in 2K7 offers a little bit of a learning curve, as you will use the right analog stick in order to hit the ball. This takes timing and practice, plus it didnt help that Chris Carpenter was on the mound for the Cardinals. It took several innings for me to even get close to the ball, but this soon changed. Overall, it took me about three games to pick up hitting. Once I did, though, the ball started to fly off the bat.and usually out of the park. I changed it up so I faced different pitchers, seeing if stats had anything to do with it, which it generally didnt. After scoring just one and two runs in my first games respectively, I proceeded to score 25 runs against Cincinnatis Bronson Arroyo. However, a simple kick-up in difficulty took care of this issue, and I started to get some more realistic scores and situations.
Base-running has become simplified. Instead of button mashing to get a boost in speed like last years game, its now been completely eliminated. So, for instance, if you hit a dribbler in the infield with a player such as David Ortiz, good luck getting to first base. You can mash on the buttons all you want, it wont change the fact that Ortiz could be timed running to first base with a sundial. However, base-running has gotten much better. The interface has gotten a makeover from the traditional icons that past games have had. Instead, you get an interface that will be on the sides of the screens. While not being fully invisible or transparent, it does not get in the way of fielding, which is a plus. The only problem I really noticed with base-running is that sometimes a runner will take a bit of a stutter step around a bag, even if you give the command plenty of time in advance to move up one base.
Fielding, in itself, however, is a bit of a challenge at first. Different types of hits will seemingly determine what type of angle you get when it comes to fielding. Sometimes you get an easy angle that allows you to move your fielder onto the icon. So, for instance, if your opponent hits a rocket, but it isnt going out of the park, your camera view might be somewhat flat, which can make it difficult to get your runner over the icon in order to catch the ball. It takes a little time to get used to this, but my frustration with this eventually subsided.
Unfortunately, it was replaced with a new problem: Unnecessary movements. While I can appreciate the fact that hundreds of new motions were added into the games mechanics, it sometimes creates a bit of a cross-up. An example of this is when I was trying to throw a ball into the infield. My player was moving towards the infield and I give it the command to throw it to second base. However, what the player did was come to a dead stop and then go into the hop step that baseball players do when they rocket a ball into the field of play. That slowdown may not seem like much, but sometimes it will cost you on a bang-bang play with a runner. On the other side of this, however, the mechanics really shine when a fielder has to dive for a ball or attempt to rob a home run. In my first game with the Reds, I was treated to a show by Ken Griffey, Jr. in which he robbed my players of three straight home runs. However, I found it a little funny that Griffey was hurt on the final robbing, which is somewhat accurate since he has a bit of a problem staying healthy.
Moving onto pitching, this is where my enjoyment for the game really hit its peak. I took the mound with Carlos Zambrano, who has a bunch of nasty pitches to choose from. Pitching is almost an art form with this game, requiring the ability to know how much your pitches are going to break, compensating enough for the actual movement of a pitch, and the effectiveness of the pitch. The interface is very slick in one player mode, which gives you a camera view from the bleachers, much like you would have on television. Your catcher will call the game for you, suggesting pitches and placement all throughout the game. Depending on how good your catcher is at calling the game, you can trust him or shake him off, choosing your own placement to throw simply by moving the right analog stick. Your catcher will then move to a different spot, offering you a secondary option.
Pitching takes practice to get good at. It takes timing and patience to learn how each pitch will react. Pitches that dont break, such as fastballs, are easy to pick up and use. Simply move the ball icon to where you want the ball to go and you press the corresponding button. At that point, a couple of golden rings will extend out from the spot you are throwing. The longer you hold down the button, the more effective the pitch will be. However, you will reach a point where your controller will begin to vibrate, which tells you that you are reaching the maximum for that pitch. If you dont let go, it will be incredibly hard to place the ball. Once you do let go of the button, the rings will then collapse onto the spot you picked and you have to hit the same button once it gets to it. A perfect pitch will flash white on the screen, and your pitch will go exactly where the ball icon was. Too early or too late, and the ball will move to a different spot. Also, if you are too early or too late by quite a bit, your opponent will get a tip-off as to where the ball is going to be when it crosses the plate.
Breaking balls are more difficult. To fully enjoy this aspect, I decided to create a pitcher with the most ridiculous assortment of pitches you can think of. You will have multiple types of pitches to choose from, including the 12 to 6 curveball, the power curve, and even the eephus pitch, a curveball that is so slow, its almost like a slow pitch softball pitch. Playing around with my created player allowed me to get really good at controlling breaking pitches, which require more skill to use in the game. For example, if you choose to throw a power curveball, you must put your icon to where you want the pitch to begin its break, not where you want it to cross the plate. Thankfully, the pitching interface will show you what direction all of your pitches will break with a simple arrow on the lower right of your screen. It makes the learning curve far more tolerable than it would be without it.
GM Career mode is something that I played around with quite a bit, and my love for simulation has me hooked on it. You take control of your favorite MLB team as the General Manager. Your owner will have a set of goals that you must accomplish in order to retain your job and receive a contract extension. These goals will vary depending on your owner. For instance, my owner was focused more on making money, so four of my five goals were about either limiting spending, making a profit, or trading away certain players. Completion of these goals will allow you an increase in your budget, which will allow you to sign that big free agent at the end of the season. Simulating a season takes far less time than it did in the past. If you wanted to, you could simulate the entire season in just a couple of minutes, depending on your own settings for what the CPU does while you simulate.
Unfortunately, the World Baseball Classic was cut out of this version, which is somewhat upsetting. This also means that international teams are no longer available to use. On top of that, minor league teams have also been trimmed down. You will have the option to send your players down to AAA in GM Career mode, but there isnt an actual team that you can play as. While this may not be important to some gamers, it can be a little upsetting for the hardcore baseball fans.
Graphics/Audio
Jon Miller and Joe Morgan are your commentary team for MLB 2K7, two of the best in the business, and they dont disappoint. With this team on the microphone, you get the feel of watching an actual Sunday Night Baseball broadcast on ESPN. Jon Miller offers a great play by play performance, often changing up his words a little bit, whether it be a pitch that goes outside or when a batter hits a foul ball. While this is overall a great thing to have, I did notice a couple of repeated pieces from both Miller and Morgan. This is expected, though, as theres only so many things that can happen during a baseball game. It can be mildly annoying if you play several games in one day, but the actual repeats in each game are rather minimal.
Graphically, the game is stunning. Stadiums are about as realistic as they get, whether youre going into Yankee Stadium to take on the Bronx Bombers, or you catch a day game at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. The player models themselves are also very detailed and almost flawless when it comes to capturing a players overall look. Adding onto that, multiple players will have their own swing style or pitching style mimicked very well by 2K7s mechanics. You can also choose to take any of these motions with your own created player, or you can choose your own stance.
When it comes to the overall baseball sounds that isnt involved with commentary, I was very impressed. Hecklers from the stands will get you from time to time with some random comments and suggestions, such as a fan telling me that I shouldnt throw a pitch too many times or Ill be sorry. The funniest comment I ever got, however, was when I was playing the Reds in Great American Ballpark. When batting with Derrek Lee, I had a fan yell Noonan! as the ball reached the plate. Amazingly enough, it threw me off enough to miss the ball with my swing. I then proceeded to laugh hysterically, as I had just been struck out by a comment that was made famous by the movie Caddyshack.
One negative I have about the sounds of the game, however, involves the home crowd in big games. I noticed that the crowd doesnt get really excited when a player hits a home run in a clutch situation. On top of that, when I managed to win the World Series in my GM Career, the crowd acted like they were at a golf tournament. They werent very loud, and that little sound quickly subsided into absolutely nothing, although the fireworks going off was a nice touch to add.
Achievements
There are 33 overall Achievements that you can pick up when playing MLB 2K7. Ive had the game for just over a week, and Ive managed to unlock 12 of them. Generally, they are rewards for doing things in the game such as striking out the side, scoring five runs in one inning, or hitting consecutive home runs. These also include achievements that can be gained by playing online, including joining an online league or tournament as well as simply completing an online match with a friend or random opponent. You can gain a total of 900 Gamer Points with MLB 2K7.
Overall
MLB 2K7 is definitely above average. While there are a few things that need to be worked on when it comes to the actual gameplay, the game itself is not overly flawed. If youre anything like I am when it comes to sports games, you will be obsessed with pitching a perfect game, which Ive fallen short of by just a single out twice since Ive had the game, even with the step up in difficulty. GM Career will keep you locked into this game for quite some time, which will offer you a nice changeup if you get tired of playing against people online. This is a game that can be enjoyed both online and offline, and is worth the $60 price tag.
SCORES/RATINGS
Gameplay
Some mechanical flaws that are caused simply by over-compensation from lack of style in last years game wont throw you off enough to complain for very long. Base-running and fielding have gotten a makeover while pitching and hitting are very challenging.
Score = 3.7 out of 5
Presentation
2K7 gives you a great feel for what a telecast of baseball should be, and you dont even have to wait for baseball season to come in order to enjoy it.
Score = 4.5 out of 5
Graphics/Audio
Beautiful stadiums, slick player models, and the voices of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan provide a pleasant gaming experience. The crowd could use some caffeine to wake up in key situations, however.
Score = 4 out of 5
Rating: 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)
