Only baseball game on 360 has warning track power
To be honest, there hasn’t been a baseball game to catch my attention for a long time. You can relate that to the fact that baseball hasn’t been relevant in my area for 18 years, the MLB license being grabbed up by 2K or that they just haven’t been any good. Whichever the case I was feeling the baseball itch for the first time in years and instead of seeing a medical professional and seeking treatment, I picked up a copy of MLB 2K10 for the Xbox 360.
Jumping into an exhibition game, you are introduced to the Total Control batting and hitting which has been fine tuned for this year. Using the right stick, batters can hit for contact, power, or use a defensive swing to foul off a garbage pitch and hope for a new one. Getting the hang of hitting does take a few innings, but once the timing is figured out, you could be hitting home runs with Andrew McCutchen in no time. And then trade him to the Yankees for a bag of Doritos.
Pitching has also been changed drastically via the use of the right stick. Each pitch has it’s own unique motion which is done by pressing the stick in a certain direction for the pitcher’s windup, and then rotating the stick to another direction for the delivery. Sounds complicated I know. The game does offer help by analyzing your pitches and helps you become a better pitcher. Who will be a Yankee at some point in their career.
The new feature that has been implemented into the game is the My Player mode. Comparative to Sony’s MLB The Show’s “Road to the Show” mode, you take the role of a first round pick looking to become the next great non-HGH created superstar. Pick your team, position, looks (including the Rollie Fingers-esque handlebars) and build your way toward the Major Leagues. You play certain moments in each game and if successful, you get skill points to use toward making your guy better. This didn’t seem like a mode that would grab me right away, but a couple weeks after release, I’ve played two years, won a Rookie of the Year award, and am now a power hitting third baseman for the Pirates. The anticipation is building for when I will probably be traded to the Cubs.
The game also includes a Franchise mode, Home Run Derby, online leagues, and various ways to customize the game to keep you busy. The game plays crisp, the announcing by Gary Thorne, Steve “I like interns” Phillips, and John Kruk rolls without a hitch and helps explain the story behind the game without a hitch. The models and stadiums also look realistic and are certainly suitable of a next-gen console.
If you have been away from baseball games for a while, MLB 2K10 is a suitable option for those looking to get back into the sport. It offers great game play, presentation, and it will leave you feeling optimistic about your favorite team in 2010. Until they actually step onto the field that is.