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Day One: Initial Impressions
Day Two: Initial Online Impressions

Day three in the new review process is the day that I am given carte blanche by our editorial staff to write about anything I want concerning MLB 2K11. Instead of boring you with my thoughts on the game's amazing soundtrack, I’ll cut to the chase and give some overall mid-week impressions on the game. I know that many of you are still on the fence out there regarding a purchase of this game, so I want to make sure to provide as much information as possible prior to my final review, which will hit early next week.

But before I dive into my thoughts on the game three days in, I wanted to give 2K a big pat on the bat for the inclusion of a dedicated Playoff mode. While not exactly the sexiest feature out there (at least according to the competition), dedicated playoff modes are an absolute must for me in a baseball game. Let’s face it, not all of our favorite teams are lucky enough to make the playoffs in real life -- let alone our respective franchises -- so such a mode is the only hope we have to see our team win a ring. 2K’s Playoff mode is customizable, easy to access and a whole lot of fun to play, especially should you have a couple buddies who are willing to come over for some local multiplayer.

All right, with that out of the way, let's move on.

In The Booth

I can’t say enough about the presentation in this game; it is fantastic. From the commentary to the statistical overlays to the MLB Today presentation to the crowd noise/interaction, MLB 2K11 raises the bar when it comes to broadcast presentation in a baseball game. John Kruk’s commentary is particularly fluid, adding in random facts about players and teams while holding my interest throughout multiple games. When playing the game on my Dolby 5.1 surround sound setup in my basement, there were times when I could have sworn I was watching an actual television broadcast.

Another area where I would like to give 2K high praise is for the player-interaction-cut-scene presentation. One of my major gripes about MLB 2K10 was that, aside from a couple fist pump animations, there was not a whole lot your virtual athletes would do to express their emotions. MLB 2K11 does a much better job of adding some player personality to the games. Pitchers become visibly upset when allowing big hits, offensive players show some emotion to accompany a wide variety of fist pumps when they reach base, and clutch offensive and defensive plays are celebrated by each team accordingly. Players feel alive this year, which adds to the overall sense of immersion on the field.

On The Field

As much as the presentation in the game continuous to impress me, the on-field gameplay is becoming increasingly pedestrian. This is not to say that I am not enjoying the game, it is just that the game's various visual bugs and animation slowdown that I discussed in my initial impressions article are wearing me down. It’s also not helping that the more I play the game, the more I begin to notice how ugly this game is graphically. While playing a game in Tampa last night, the broadcast camera while pitching in The Trop looked closer to something you would find in Bases Loaded on the NES than the 360. I’m no graphics whore, but when a game is as ugly as this one can be at times, it takes away much of my overall enjoyment of the end product. Most of all it makes me want to avoid playing as certain teams so I can spare my eyes the embarrassment of looking at such low quality visuals on my Xbox 360. This is not a good thing in a sports title.

I still have nothing but high praise when it comes to the hit variety of this game. I am still seeing new hits, and am very impressed with the additional timing windows that were added to the game when swinging. Waiting out a nasty 3-2 curveball, swinging late and slapping a bleeder to the opposite field for a crucial base hit never gets old in this game. Neither does working a 2-0 count and then keying in on a fastball only to crush it over the wall. Surviving your at bat is what hitting a baseball is all about, and the amount of weapons at your disposal to survive an at bat in 2K11, coupled with the brilliant default batting camera, create a worthwhile hitting experience.

Fielding has gone from an initial high point in the game for me to an area of frustration. I like how each fielder plays toward their real-life skills, I really do. Where I take issue is with MLB 2K11’s execution of these player-fielding differentials.

I get that a player of Danny Worth’s caliber is no Mark Ellis, but apparently 2K forgot that Danny Worth is still a Major League second baseman. The window for error is so small if you are controlling a non-elite player in the game that it gets frustrating because of the player's incompetence in the field. Magglio Ordonez is no prize in right field, yet every ball hit his way should not be an exercise in frustration to track down that ultimately ends with a circus catch. Add in some very imprecise analog player movement, coupled with the fact that many lower-tiered defenders inexcusably automatically bobble balls hit their way, and you have a recipe for disaster whenever a ball is hit to one of these liabilities.

There’s no doubting the importance of putting together a solid defensive team in real-life baseball. The thing is that in real life you can put a serviceable player somewhere in the field and expect solid play. This is not the case in MLB 2K11 because a “serviceable” player is bound to make at least one critical error per game.



With a solid weekend ahead of me, my plan is to dig deep into the game's My Player and Franchise modes. Look for my impressions on these critical game modes Monday, and the final review and score Tuesday. Follow me on Twitter @Bumble14_OS for live updates on my experience with the game, and feel free to ask any questions.