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Best Baseball Game |
| B.I.G. from Los Angeles says (4/Mar/2002): |
General / Summary: This game has all the extras you could hope for in a baseball game. When I waited for new ball games to come out over the years the one thing I used to hope for was a fantasy draft (Which is included here). The bar has now been raised with the addition of the expansion teams and thier own stadiums. Not to mention the teams name actually being announced in the broadcast booth. To add the icing, they were gracious enough to add the Cooperstown legends and classic staduims. How cool is that!? Unfortunately the game loses a mark for its presentation style. The broadcast quality is nice but at least give us the ability to playback our own replays. It is also frustrating when plays are interrupted by the auto replays. In one instance where the ball was thrown home from the outfield it hit the mound and bounced wildly behind the catcher. As the catcher scrambled for the LIVE ball the replay came on and ended the play. The one thing that bothers me the most is the lack of statistics available during in game play. When a runner gets on, or a not so well known player comes to bat, it's important to have access to speed, power, contact ratings as well as the ability to look at career numbers. At least put up current season numbers when the batters come to the plate.... all I see are the stats for the current days at bats. These are items that, to me as an armchair manager, are just inexcusable. Overall, nice game but slides about an inch short of homeplate to complete the score.
Gameplay: The gameplay is solid. There is a variety of pitches for each pitcher to select from. Since they have included a "guess pitch type and location" option, it is important to mix up the pitches. This will keep the computer on its toes trying to guess where you will come from next. The ability to ring up strikeouts is well represented. I remember games that would barely allow you get a few K's during the course of a game. Batting can be as simple or complex as you wish to make it. For casual players you can select an option that will allow you to time your swing. But if you like to place the ball where you want it then you will want to perfect your skill at hitting the ball with the batting cursor. In this mode you can actually raise, lower, and angle the cursor right or left. The use of this feature will increase your ability to successfully move runners into scoring postion or executing a hit and run. One thing that bothers me in batting is the lack of balls thrown by the pitcher. I like to work deep into counts to get the good pitch or sometimes even a walk. It's good the pitcher AI takes the "Go Get Em" attitude by throwing strikes, but not every pitch. There has to be some element of strategy to throw a batter off. However, the pitcher will throw more balls if a runner gets into scoring position or as he starts to lose control. The fielding is something I usually let the computer handle so I can not comment too much on this area. The plus side of the controls is that they have added a pre-throw feature which allows you to press a button to indicate a base to throw to even before you actually pick up the ball. This should allow for more seemless play making. This feature alone will make me start to practice my fielding.
Visual: The players are all detailed smoothly. The 3d faces look sharp, but why is D.J. the only one that actually blinks when walking up to the plate? Maybe there are others but he's the only one Ive seen do it. The stadiums are nice looking during day or night games. The ball physics are accurate and will bounce around the corners if hit in the right spot. The addition of flags waving in the wind, planes flying over and (here's the big one) actual movement in the stands by the fans all give the feel of being at the ball game. The one thing I dont understand is why the players who aren't actually involved in a play stand in the same crouched position and rotate like they have poles up thier butts!?
Sound: The broadcast commentary is the most colorful I've heard in a baseball game. Even with some lines being repetitious there is enough variety to keep the announcer option enabled. The PA announcer can be heard announcing the players. The crowd will effectively cheer or jeer at the appropriate moment. BUT FOR THE LOVE OF BASEBALL.... WHERE'S THE UMPIRE???? The announcers don't always tell you what the last pitch was and you have to wait for the count to come up. Umpires just complete a ball game. Where's the thrill of ringing up a K if you can't here the STRIKE THREE YER OUTTA HERE call? And yes, there are organ tunes somewhere in the game. I haven't heard them with the short time Ive actually played the game. But in the demo mode, which I let run for an hour or so before playing, I heard organ tunes. I hope they didn't decide to leave them in the demo only.
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One of the BEST BASEBALL GAMES EVER!!!! |
| Bigboy2K1 from California says (4/Mar/2002): |
I would just like to say that acclaim has done it. This game is awesome. Let me tell you the plus and minuses for this game.
PLUSES:
The game has a great varirty of game modes. (For example: The Expansion mode lets you make your own tem from the ground up which is really fun to do. Also this is the first baseball game that i have seen that does this.)You can build a team in francise mode which is also fun.
Last years game was kind of a disappiontment to me. The only reason I say this is because the A.I. in the game was not so good and also the way the ball was caught. The ball would'nt even go into the person's glove. This year you see the ball go into the person's glove which makes the game so much better. Also after every play you always will see a replay which is good but you still don't have a free roaming replay (a replay you can control).
Graphically the game is awesome showing much more detail than last years game. The player faces look like the actual people. The player motions are also what makes this game fun and realistic.(For example: If you hit a fly ball in the infield you will see the pitcher rase his had and point at the ball showing that the ball is in the air. The catchers make mistakes too. You pitch a ball to low and the catcher might not catch it. Another other feature is that your bats will break evry now and then. Also for the first time you see planes or blimps fly in the background making the baseball expierience seem real.
Controls are ok making you have to use all of the buttons on your controller. Base throwing is a bit slow. The batting system also makes the game shine because you can choose where to hit the ball (Thats if you line your batters hitting area with where the balls going to be).
MINUSES:
The only real complaints I have about the game is that when your guys catches the ball it takes him a second or two to throw the ball to the base. Also tags made at a base are made way to early (This a problem when you know you were safe but called out). Those are my ony complaints about this game.
One thing that should be noted is that I have the game for XBOX and not any other system. So I don't know how the game is on PS2 or GAMECUBE.
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THIS IS THE BEST CONSOLE BASEBALL GAME OUT THERE! |
| Paul Piekos from LaSalle, Ontario, Canada says (11/Mar/2002): |
I have to say that this is definately the best baseball game available for the console system. I also rented HH2003 & was sort of disappointed with the Franchise mode. The best thing about the computer version of HH is the ability to control all of the different farm teams.
PLUSES: (A) All-Star Baseball 2003 has the best console-based Franchise mode:
(1) Franchise mode includes a farm team to pick up talent during your 20 seasons that you can run.
(2) Franchise mode allows a person to Create-A-Team, this is the only system that lets you do so. You create your team literally from the ground up. First, you select a city to play in (ie. about 20 to choose from).
Second, you choose a logo for your team.
Third, you can now pick one of 6 stadiums to play in.
(B) Pitching is pretty easy to do and you can maneuver your pitches around and pick up strikeouts.
(C) I also enjoyed the Trivia Challenge and the ability to achieve Cards, which has been well utilized in other sports games.
(D) The graphics are a big step up from last year's game. The stadiums look extremely realistic! The players faces look very nice as well. There are some perks such as airplanes and the blimp will fly by every once in a while.
Although I have yet to see the Baseball bat break that sounds like it is very original and not before seen in any baseball game in the past.
MINUSES: I only have a couple minuses to speak about.
(1) The hitting control in the game is very difficult to use. Even on easy mode it is tough to hit the ball.
(2) It is also quite hard to catch the ball sometimes unless you have fielding assist on.
Overall, I think this is the BEST CONSOLE BASEBALL GAME EVER.
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game is good but needs few tweeks |
| Josh Gates from Oxnard CA says (12/Mar/2002): |
We all know what is good about the game so I will talk about my complaints. First, I would love to be able to play a game with every team during season mode like in Madden. How about an off season with free agents and minor leagers improving instead of sitting there. The pitchers tire to quickly. If I want to sign a free agent why do i have to cut one of my guys? Why can't I do a 2 for 1 trade and 3 team trades. A amature draft during the season would be fun. I always put it on Auto fielding but why can't I do the throwing? A guy will be going home and my out fielder will throw it to 2nd. Ever notice that in real life the pitch always doesn't go were the pitcher wants it to, can they do that in the game. When a fielder throws home from the out field it never hits the catcher right in his the 10 times out of 10. My biggest problem though is only being allowed to play with one team during season mode. If that was fixed then I would give it a 10. Oh ya one last thing, get the All- star jeresys right, please be the first baseball game that does this correctly. Thanks
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Maybe the Early Release Wasn't a Good Idea |
| Ken Dilger from Walla Walla, WA says (3/Mar/2002): |
I have been frustrated the last few years on how late into the baseball season that the videogames were released. However, I was amazed that All Star Baseball 2003 was going to be released before the regular season even began. This I believe was not a good choice. After only 3 days of playing it, I have found over 20 glitches in the game. Sometimes when throwing the ball, the fielder may be facing the outfield and throw, yet the ball goes to first base. The graphics to me were not all that impressive as well. For XBOX I expected a game that would take XBOX to its limits. Also the gameplay is not great either. It is sort of difficult to hit the ball. If I were to choose another baseball game besides this, i would wait and see how World Series Baseball 2k3 is. That game i have heard is supposedly going to be exclusively released for XBOX. Overall, All star baseball is just an OK game.
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Like a 3 run triple |
| Rod from Canada says (2/Sep/2002): |
Not quite a grand slam, but the closest thing yet. Let me first tell you what was wrong with it. Controlling the runners is a bit of a chore, the guys take off running on little cans of corn to the infielders, you then have to scramble and get them all running back to their bases. The home run fest every other game gets a little old, but if you can work the corners, you can find yourself in plenty of 2-1 ball games. Last is the UNBELIEVABLE catches that get made by the opposition on balls that should be shopping at the GAP. Bernie Williams is a friggin vacuum and makes TOO MANY plays on balls that should not be caught at all. Otherwise, I love this game. Franchise mode, get yourself into the very difficult baseball hall of fame. You should be able to deal other teams players in the middle of the season to keep the current rosters up to date.
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ASB2003 is the best baseball game i have ever played , why because it has extremely good graphics in which make the players faces look real and also the features are awesome like create-a-player free-agents and much more........... |
| Ricky from LA , CA says (12/Mar/2002): |
This Game i would say is the best baseball game till 2003 because of the rosters and 20 years season play mode and also the trivia games , homerun derby , and much more give the game an a+ , many people say it sux cause its hard ot hit the ball , but for me it wasnt that difficult , the trick to it ..is practice and keep your eye on the ball when it is pitched to you and it will be a very good chace you may hit a hit or HR , this is what makes it seem real the controllers and the way is played , i mean if someone who doesnt play baseball and plays this game it will be difficult for them to play , so i say dont talk before you do ....just KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL and good things will happen :-)!!! so if you wanna play this game buy it or rent it at your nearest retailer...:-)!!!!!!!!
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Greatest baseball game I've played |
| Mycco from Houston, Texas (3rd Coast) says (2/Jul/2002): |
By far this has got to be the best baseball game out right now. The details are endless! EA needs to take a few tips from this game. Ultra realistic game play and players make this as much fun as playing in real life. The batting and pitching are superb, and cheats and speacial teams make for endless game play. The one drawback I feel is that you can't play a season with multiple ball clubs, I love the Astros and Rangers and would like to try taking both teams to the world series. Also, it would be better if the expansion teams were available for Exhibition play instead of just expansion play. Except for those two loose ends, this is the best baseball game I've played.
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Way better than Triple Play and Home Run King |
| CJ from Auburn, New Hampshire, USA says (19/Jul/2002): |
I own this for the GameCube and it is the absolute BEST baseball game i have ever played. my favorite feature is the Create-a-Player. i mean, you make a guy whether his name is superman or just plain old yours, choose all the stats, looks, batting stance, postion, etc. about him. Then you get to play on your favorite team for a season and the game keeps track of all of your stats. The only 2 reasons why it was a 9 and not a 10 was because the create-a-player is hard to get to, and worst of all it features derek jeter (yankees stink, red sox rule!)
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Solid |
| Fitzy from Massachusetts, USA says (14/Apr/2003): |
The game is solid. I loved it for awhile and then completely lost interest once I picked up High Heat Baseball. The game is great but it doesn't fit all my needs as a gamer. High Heat is the best choice. My favorite part of the game is the fantasy draft and stadium selection. I think that is something baseball she bring into their games more often. Franchise mode was alright buit between having to earn points for coaching and what not it became some what of a pain to do franchise mode. The player bodies weren't anything special either.
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Best Game Ever !! |
| Junior Valencia from Cali says (26/Mar/2002): |
The baseball game out there. Tripleplay 2002 is to much of an arcade game, too many homeruns, to fake. Good graphics great game play. The only 2 things i dont like is that there isnt a replay mode after making a good play i like looking a my plays but there is no replay and the balls in this game dont really break and it suck, I was Expecting Barry Zitos curve ball to break across have of my tv screen but its a "flicker"(thats wat we call sorry curve balls. Best Game Period.
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Almost flawless |
| Peter from Houston says (26/Mar/2002): |
This baseball has it all. It has every aspect of the MLB. My favorite nuew features is the farm system and the expansion teams. The grapchics are really nice and the batting/pitching stances are very authentic. The only flaw is that the pitchers get too tired too quickly. But other then that small setback, this is the baseball game to get. Esp. since that stupid EA is a year behind and made triple play 2002... okay, not very smart.
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