A lot of gamers wondered if 2K would be phoning in their effort this year. After playing a number of games, I see a lot of improvements but also a lot of issues. This game seems to be very polarizing. Some animations are improved, and some look terrible. For instance, outfielders sometimes have strange hitches as they catch the ball; they also still crow hop when the situation doesn’t call for it. Base running seems better, but the runners run with their heads up. I also threw a wild pitch and the CPU just stood on first as the ball went all the way to the backstop. These are the little details that 2K tends to miss.

The biggest sin in this game is the frame rate. In 2012, a game should not have severe frame rate issues. It seems like on every foul ball the frame rate takes a hit. Sometimes its so bad the game literally pauses for a second. This is something 2K needs to address via patch now.

I am also not sure if I like the new dynamic pitching system. A pitcher's rating should not take a hit after giving up a single. Once I get more time with the game I will see how this affects gameplay more.

Speaking of pitching, it’s still one of 2K’s strongest points. The intuitive controls remain the same, and the reward for a perfect gesture is very satisfying. At this point, there isn’t much more you can say about the pitching system. When it's good its good, and it's still good.

MLB 2K12 is best described as a game you love and hate.

Hitting for me is a mixed bag. It does feel more realistic, but I still would like to see a zone hitting mechanic implemented instead of just timing alone. The swings do look better, and the hit variety is improved as well. I have seen shots down the line, balls getting through the holes and balls dropping in front of the outfielders. This at least makes for a more authentic experience. Another thing I noticed is that it seems a lot harder to hit homeruns this year. This could be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. I think it’s a good thing. It seemed like homeruns were a little too easy to hit in past iterations of the game.

Fielding is adequate. It nothing spectacular, nor is it terrible. The new throwing meter is implemented well. You have to set your feet and try to release the button in the fielder's green zone. Each fielder has a different size green zone depending on the complexity of the throw. This is very intuitive. The problem lies in the animations. They seem to play out way to fast. It makes the fielders look out of control at times.

The Presentation is still the game's strong suit.

The strong suit of 2K baseball over the past few years is its commentary. This year its no different. All sports game companies should attend a 2K seminar on how to do commentary the right way. The little details the announcers talk about is amazing. In a game I was playing last night as the Indians, they talked about Jason Kipnis his whole at-bat. There was no generic commentary. It was all about his numbers, his future and what he could mean to the team. If only 2K put this much effort into other aspects of the game.

As I continue to delve deeper into the game I am sure I will find more things I enjoy and more things I dislike. That seems to be the tone with this game. For every step forward it seems to take one step back. While the graphics on the PS3 are improved, they still look bland. The player models also seem to have gotten worse -- oh, where are the 2K7 player models? I do have to say that 2K does a great job with the stadiums. They are extremely detailed. Progressive field looks pretty much perfect. You have to commend 2K in that department.

As of now, I feel like this is a mediocre game. For every strong point it has a weak point.

Be sure to check out the Modes article coming soon.