MLB 2003

America's favorite past time is back. Back in the comfort of your home; where the snacks are cheaper and there's (hopefully) no line for the rest room. That isn't the only reason to give this game a try, it's also a lot of fun, and there's never a player's strike!!

If you enjoy baseball, or even if you don't like watching it on TV or in person, this game pleases. Having never played the game (does softball count?) myself, I still enjoy playing it in a video game format. I found myself spending hours at the console with this latest offering: MLB 2003 from 989 Sports. Unfortunately, I have not been a great fan of 989's contributions to sporting games. This is an exception.

There are the graphical limitations that plague such genres, but in all, MLB 2003 looks good. The major league ball parks are nicely represented with accuracy, but the crowds look like abstract drawings on poster-board that someone has laid down in the stands. Not too snazzy. But, who wants to watch the spectators? The action is on the field, and there's plenty to see. The players look good, and the uniforms are well done. The game sounds are equally good, with bat-cracking noise just like the big league.

The game play is not different than any baseball game offered in the past. Your pitcher had 4 pitches to select from, and you decide, by moving your crosshairs, where you want the ball to go. As a batter, you have the same crosshair option. When you see where the pitch is selected to go, you can place your mark on that area. Though, if the ball is a curve or slider, don't count on hitting it every time! There is an option to make your hit a "power" hit, which makes your target area smaller, but the swing more powerful. This results in homeruns when you make a good connection. 

Which brings me to a problem disguised as a blessing. It is almost TOO easy to hit homeruns! While I did not exactly stomp the CPU as an opponent, it's rare that I do so well against the computer-- in any genre of game. With the power hitting on, and good timing, you can crush that ball out of the park almost (at least) once an inning. If only REAL baseball had that much action!!

I did not care for the fielding, though it was not terrible. I found that sometimes my fielders chase down the ball-- only to stop when a fellow team mate approached. Though they might not have been closer, the new player will go for the ball while the original chaser stands there. Odd. Otherwise, the basemen and fielders do well. On auto-fielding, things work well and the game runs smoothly. 

The Artificial Intelligence from the commentators is good. It can be annoying, but that is the norm for such games. MLB 2003's AI recognized the players at bat (I would hope!), but more amazingly, was usually able to recall the batter's last at-bat performance. There were a few glitches with this AI, but overall it enhanced the experience. If it annoys you too much, it can be shut off. I particularly enjoyed the stadium music and sounds in the background. Though subtle, they made the play even more "real".

There are several modes and scenarios of play including exhibition, season, home run derby, etc. You can also create your own player using generic faces and skin color. You can insert that player into a game but sorry-- it does not recognize your name. 

989 Sports has done well with this latest baseball offering. It was repeat-play worthy and best played against a friend. I could almost smell the chili dogs and chewing tobacco as I wiled away the hours at the controls. For a non-player in real life, I had a great experience with this PSX sports title. Major League Baseball 2003 packs a punch of Major League Fun!!

Graphics: 7.5 
Nice graphics overall, but the crowds looked very odd. One-dimensional Picasso drawings at a 35 degree angle. The uniforms and fields looked great, but the faces are somewhat average. 

Sound: 9
One of the joys of the game was the commentary. Though there was the expected repeating comments, the AI was good and not too annoying. The environmental sounds were especially nice-- like the organ music and realistic baseball sounds. 

Concept: 7.5 
Nothing original about baseball. Baseball games for home systems have been around since the Atari 2600, but this takes full advantage of the PSX's abilities and delivers a lot of fun.

Overall: 8.5
Aside from some fielding glitches and a few graphical annoyances, this is a great, replay worthy sports title. Though not a big fan of the real life version, this at-home game had me glued to the console for hours. Playing against another human made it even more fun. I heartily recommend this game for anyone that wants a good game to play with someone else. Even if baseball isn't your thing, you will likely enjoy this title.