MLB 2004
- February 19, 2003 16:17 PM PST
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It?s no secret that 989 Sports has struggled with the PS2 era, but its MLB series?which took a season off last year?has the potential to be the start of a comeback.
A preview version of MLB 2004 showcased strong cursor-based gameplay that?s reminiscent of the series? heyday on the PlayStation. The graphics look like they?ll be 989?s best effort on the PS2 yet, sporting sleek animations, but will probably end up being more fairly termed "respectable" than "remarkable." The gameplay felt tight and authentic, and could offer a solid alternative for cursor-batting fans who don?t dig All-Star Baseball.The features really should shine, however. A cool Career mode will let you play 10 seasons as either a team or an individual player trying to make the Hall of Fame. You?ll also be able to kick things off in spring training as you struggle to make the pros, or you can dive into the intriguing Franchise mode, which evenly distributes the worst players among all teams and throws the top players into a free-agent pool, setting off a fantasy-baseball frenzy. All told, MLB 2004 is looking like a pleasant surprise and should be a serious contender for fans of realistic, cursor-based baseball.
