Best Baseball Titles for PS2

Rockpile · 01-13-2007, 04:33 PM

I am thinking of buying a PS2 and am wondering what you guys think the best baseball titles available for that system are and why.

Obviously, I am a OOTP fan and realize that no arcade style game will come close, but a strong "franchise mode" would be important to me.

I used to like the High Heat series for the PC, but that was years ago. It did get old when I'd win like 68-1 every game though.

I'm also thinking of buying a Madden game (probably the newest one that comes with the system) and for some reason Blitz the League has always sounded fun. Thoughts?

Erik W. · 01-13-2007, 04:50 PM

My favorite baseball game on PS2 is actually MVP 06: NCAA. I thought it was easily the best of the MVP franchise, NCAA or not.

Blitz the League is fun, but don't confuse it with real football. There are no real options, so it's always 8-man football with 2 minute quarters and 30 yards needed for a first down. Also, the franchise mode is a semi-linear story mode, so not quite as much fun as a true franchise mode.

Mike Donlin · 01-13-2007, 07:28 PM

MVP O6: NCAA is indeed a good game. The recruiting business can be immersive, but the gameplay is a little weak--with the major exception of the lock and load hitting and the throwing aspects, which are very cool indeed. But two-seam fastballs break like cutters and curveballs only break 9 to 3 (or 3 to 9). The broadcasting gets annoying after awhile, too.

Of this year's crop of MLB games, I only have The Show, which is fine, and its career mode is cool enough, but after MVP 06, button mashing for swinging is a little lame. That said, the pitching is much cooler in The Show, since you have to aim at where to break a pitch rather than where you want it to end up. The graphics in The Show are OK, but the players all look a little steroided-out. But the commentary in The Show is really first rate.

Rockpile · 01-14-2007, 12:05 AM

I heard that The Show was the best on another board. The NCAA game could be really fun, as I think that OOTP best bet for a spinoff would be a college game with recruiting.

Thanks guys. Any other opinions would be helpful.

dodger300 · 01-14-2007, 12:16 AM

High Heat 2004 is easily the best MLB game you will find for your ps2.

His Own Bad Self · 01-14-2007, 01:06 AM

The Show got the best reviews of any game that I've seen recently. The career mode really doesn't make much sense, in that you can have a phenomenal career and still not get anywhere near "Hall of Fame" status (I recently had a second baseman who hit about 450 bombs and made it about halfway on the little progress chart they use). The franchise mode is very good. Gameplay is good. As Donlin said, the pitching is well-done, and the announcing is tremendous. I actually thought the graphics were terrific - about as good as any I've seen for the PS2. To each his own, I suppose...

If you're going to get Madden, you probably can't go wrong with any of the last four years' worth. If you don't mind paying a little extra for the new bells and whistles they've added in 07 (and I didn't mind), they're worth it. (Speaking of football, NCAA 07 is excellent.)

LeiterFanatic · 01-14-2007, 09:33 AM

Just to throw this in here: MLB the Show for PSP is about as good as it gets, much better than MLB 2k6 for the same handheld.

darkenigma510 · 01-14-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeiterFanatic

Just to throw this in here: MLB the Show for PSP is about as good as it gets, much better than MLB 2k6 for the same handheld.

I second this wholeheartedly.

MLB07: The Show looks great too.

They will have conifdence ratings for each pitcher's pitch, so during the game, a pitcher may "lose" his curveball for awhile.

Also, the Career Mode will become a true career mode and when you play out games, you can only control your batter or pitcher, not the other players as in MLB06 (although the option is there to play career mode like last year as well).

01-13-2007, 04:33 PM	#1
Rockpile All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 620	Best Baseball Titles for PS2 I am thinking of buying a PS2 and am wondering what you guys think the best baseball titles available for that system are and why. Obviously, I am a OOTP fan and realize that no arcade style game will come close, but a strong "franchise mode" would be important to me. I used to like the High Heat series for the PC, but that was years ago. It did get old when I'd win like 68-1 every game though. I'm also thinking of buying a Madden game (probably the newest one that comes with the system) and for some reason Blitz the League has always sounded fun. Thoughts?

01-13-2007, 04:50 PM	#2
Erik W. Global Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rivière-du-Loup, Qc Posts: 4,615	My favorite baseball game on PS2 is actually MVP 06: NCAA. I thought it was easily the best of the MVP franchise, NCAA or not. Blitz the League is fun, but don't confuse it with real football. There are no real options, so it's always 8-man football with 2 minute quarters and 30 yards needed for a first down. Also, the franchise mode is a semi-linear story mode, so not quite as much fun as a true franchise mode. __________________ Free agent baseball fan. Let's go (insert team name here)!

01-13-2007, 07:28 PM	#3
Mike Donlin All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Life, friends, is boring. Posts: 840	MVP O6: NCAA is indeed a good game. The recruiting business can be immersive, but the gameplay is a little weak--with the major exception of the lock and load hitting and the throwing aspects, which are very cool indeed. But two-seam fastballs break like cutters and curveballs only break 9 to 3 (or 3 to 9). The broadcasting gets annoying after awhile, too. Of this year's crop of MLB games, I only have The Show, which is fine, and its career mode is cool enough, but after MVP 06, button mashing for swinging is a little lame. That said, the pitching is much cooler in The Show, since you have to aim at where to break a pitch rather than where you want it to end up. The graphics in The Show are OK, but the players all look a little steroided-out. But the commentary in The Show is really first rate.

01-14-2007, 12:05 AM	#4
Rockpile All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 620	I heard that The Show was the best on another board. The NCAA game could be really fun, as I think that OOTP best bet for a spinoff would be a college game with recruiting. Thanks guys. Any other opinions would be helpful.

01-14-2007, 12:16 AM	#5
dodger300 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 268	High Heat 2004 is easily the best MLB game you will find for your ps2.

01-14-2007, 01:06 AM	#6
His Own Bad Self All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,221	The Show got the best reviews of any game that I've seen recently. The career mode really doesn't make much sense, in that you can have a phenomenal career and still not get anywhere near "Hall of Fame" status (I recently had a second baseman who hit about 450 bombs and made it about halfway on the little progress chart they use). The franchise mode is very good. Gameplay is good. As Donlin said, the pitching is well-done, and the announcing is tremendous. I actually thought the graphics were terrific - about as good as any I've seen for the PS2. To each his own, I suppose... If you're going to get Madden, you probably can't go wrong with any of the last four years' worth. If you don't mind paying a little extra for the new bells and whistles they've added in 07 (and I didn't mind), they're worth it. (Speaking of football, NCAA 07 is excellent.)

01-14-2007, 09:33 AM	#7
LeiterFanatic All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,358	Just to throw this in here: MLB the Show for PSP is about as good as it gets, much better than MLB 2k6 for the same handheld.