MLB SlugFest Loaded

MLB SlugFest Loaded doesn?t quite beat you over the head with its over-the-top gameplay?but maybe it should.

MLB SlugFest Loaded is a brash and blustery game that mixes just enough zaniness into America?s classic sport to make purists cringe and casual ballplayers curious. That Major League Baseball was relaxed enough with this license to allow Nomar Garciaparra to knee Derek Jeter in the sweet spot (and vice versa) or Eric Gagne to tattoo hitters without mercy is either disturbing or refreshing depending on your sense of tradition. Of course, it?s all this clowning around that enables Loaded to field a decent game of something like baseball.

Ballplayers Behaving Badly
The MLB license means all the big league teams and players are here minus a few fee-conscious superstars like a certain Mr. Bonds from San Francisco, who doesn?t realize all the fun he?s missing out on?or maybe he does. However, Sammy Sosa?he of the Cubs and corkage?is perfect as SlugFest?s ?box? star.

Loaded puts on an entertaining show, getting good mileage from some shameless attitude. Xbox and PS2 graphics both look fine with sharp player models, picturesque real-life fields, and solid gameplay animations. Much of the visual fun is in watching the batters pump up the crowd. It?s a kick to see chest pounding and finger jabbing from traditional blocks of stone like Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Bagwell, or Ichiro Suzuki.

The audio enjoys a big boost from comedic commentary by Tim Kitzrow and Jim Shorts (get it?). Their smartass observations and off-the-wall asides make theirs the best ballpark banter of any game. The crowd is also raucous and rowdy, making even the Brewers versus Blue Jays feel like WrestleMania.

Fast, Furious, and Franchise
The pitching and batting interfaces are simple and a snap to master by any standard. The PS2 controls edge out the Xbox?s, if only for the inherently easier to use layout. But this is not a game for nuances and the finer points of baseball. Basically single button presses activate big swing, contact swing, and bunt. Pitchers all draw from the same repertoire, but they can also activate unique trick pitches during a game.

And SlugFest is all about the tricks. Pitched balls whiz around like insane mosquitoes or literally burn through the air like bats out of hell. Base runners can put on a turbo boost to beat out throws or just beat on the fielders once they reach a bag.

For gamers who really want to live in this bizarro world of baseball, Loaded introduces a new Franchise mode. It?s basic stuff and easy to use, and it won?t overwhelm average fans with too many decision. But from here you can make blockbuster trades, bring up minor leaguers, set up your rotation and batting order, and manage your strategy. If playing a maniac MLB season doesn?t grab you, you might be motivated to unlock surprise teams like the Bobble Heads, the Evil Clowns, or even the Subzeros or the Scorpions (yup, Mortal Kombat lives).

The Cooperstown Follies
With all the over-the-top gameplay and player histrionics, MLB SlugFest Loaded generally feels more like the weekend softball league rather than the Major League. This is no sim by any stretch even with the new Franchise mode. Still it is a decent game of belligerent baseball with mindless fun and laughs for anybody looking to play two?whether that?s a doubleheader or just a deuce of innings.

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