Inside Pitch 2003

In its inaugural season at the ballpark, Microsoft fields a solid team with lots of potential in the coming years.

Inside Pitch has its good stuff working when it comes to features. It supports online play via Xbox Live, offers a cool create-a-player mode in which you improve skills via mini-game-style training, and includes a great tutorial and a mode that lets you take a crack at famous baseball moments. That?s a pretty talented roster.

The pitcher/batter interface performs sweetly because it ?borrows? liberally from High Heat?s league-leading approach and spruces it up with lots of slick icons and graphical doodads. Some players may find the screen cluttered, but there?s good info in all the flash. The gameplay hits a fun blend of baseball authenticity and action that makes for enjoyable games.

The downsides are mostly rookie-type mistakes, but they add up. There?s no instant replay or double switches, and the Terrell Owens?like way players celebrate after almost every play just doesn?t ring true to baseball. Problematic fielding controls mean that turning double plays is tricky; fielders sometimes just can?t bear to part with the ball even when you hammer the throw button. The animations and player models look pretty awkward at times. On the plus side, the beautifully lit ballparks look great, and the solid audio nicely re-creates the ballpark feel.

If you don?t like the other baseball games on the market, Inside Pitch is worth checking out. It?s no superstar, but it?s bound to attract some fans, especially with its online play.

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