A Game With Promise
MLB 2K8 is a good game. The controls work well once you learn how to use them. I especially like the new fielding controls, its make it feel more natural. The game looks good and for the most part sounds good (some of the pregame commentary could use some work).
But, once you start really getting into the game many MANY problems arise. First off, is the frame rate issue that hits during gameplay. When you throw the ball and the camera pans across the field framerate becomes very choppy. This is also a problem during some of the cutscenes.
There are also numerous bugs when you are playing in franchise mode. The first one I discovered occurs when you look at or edit your rosters. After you do so and the game validates your roster it likes to reset your pitching rotation back to your number one pitcher pitching your next game, even if he just pitched the last game and is in no condition to pitch. The next one that really bugs me comes up after a rain delay. If a game is called because of rain, instead of rescheduling the game for another day it forces you to replay the game on the same day. Rained out games is something that has been in baseball games for many years now, and its something that 2K Sports should not have a problem making work properly.
There are many other bugs in this game that I personally have not encountered. But, a quick trip to the MLB 2K8 forums will dig up info on many many problems that this game just should not have. Another big issue with MLB 2K8 is the online play. To put it quite simply, it is nearly broken. I played one game and ended up helping the other guy to an almost perfect game because I could not time my swing. Not because of my skill, but because of the poor response time. Many players have said that you have to start your swing before the pitch to be able to hit the ball.
Besides the problems the game is fun. The presentation is very solid. The controls are a breath of fresh air from what has been standard for years now. And the franchise mode, despite its bugs, is very fun to play. Hell, I even like the card collecting aspect that is in the game. But, to be honest unless 2K Sports promised fixes happen soon, I may stop playing the game before the second month of baseball season begins. And I will not like knowing that I wasted $60 on a broken game.
