MLB 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here

[ryan36]

Guys, no comparisons please. Thank you.

[rudyjuly2]

I’m very rusty having not played any baseball games since last summer. Played three games of the 2K12 demo with one going 4 IP. I was 2-1. Overall the game looks and plays very similar to 2K11 with a few noticeable tweaks.

Obviously the new reward/penalty system for each pitch as well as the game forcing you to mix up your pitches is new. I didn’t mind your pitch getting an automatic reduction for giving up a hit – like a fastball dropping from 89 to 88 but why automatically colour it red? I would rather see those green/red penalties only change colour after a total adjustment of five or more. But it was fine in the time I played. I did feel that the pitch usage was a bit restrictive, especially early on as the percentages can get out of whack really quickly.

The other change was the new throwing meter which I still have to get used to. In three games I made two throwing errors. It seems like a good idea but I have to use it more.

The ball physics and hit variety seemed the same. It’s early so I don’t know. I did see two hits where a ball was pulled on a pitch over the outer half but the hitting system still feels very rigid. Ball outside you go to the opposite field. This led to way too many opposite field HRs last year. My other complaint over the last two years has been the wide disparity between contact and power swings. They were just too different. I can’t tell if this was fixed yet or not although I’m guessing they left this alone. This usually resulted in the user having to crank power up for the cpu although the cpu did hit one HR off of me on Pro.

The base running animations when rounding second or third look better but the runner still “snaps” into his straight line animation. The animations to 1B are still bad as runners don’t run through properly or don’t round the base properly. It’s just odd.

A few details that stood out as wrong or odd. I hit a HR with Josh Hamilton (I only hit one and the cpu only hit one with Josh as well) and the LF ran in the entire time until the ball landed in the stands. I hit a routine grounder to Kinsler at second and he did an underhand throw to 1B that landed in the dirt. Feliz is now a starter for Texas so he should have a windup but he only throws out of the stretch. I did hit 100 mph with Feliz on one pitch but the sound effect from last year – the extra loud pop on triple digits – was gone. I’m fine with that but just thought I would note it.

Overall the game seemed a lot like last year other than the throwing meter and new pitch confidence system. I’d like to hear a lot more about franchise mode and if they fixed all the bugs and problems last year. Right now I’m going to pass on this game this year.

[jb1]

This is my first ever experience with 2k Baseball and I have to say I had a lot of fun. Played three games and for the first two I was getting beat up badly while I learnt the controls. My third game was fantastic however, winning 3-1 in 6 innings.

Once I got my timing down hitting was fun but the pitching is what really impressed me the most. 2k looks to have a great pitching system in place with a lot of good information at your disposal to make solid decisions on the mound. Also loved the presentation (something I feel 2k always does a great job with) and when coupled with the commentary i'm sure it will feel even better.

There were a few things I didn't like however, stuttering was an issue on my PS3, also at times it felt as though the game was being rushed with the timing of the music and PA announcing new batters. I also noticed the Left Fielder running in on home run which just looked odd.

Overall though I really enjoyed the demo, as a 2k baseball rookie and a relatively new Baseball fan who is still learning about this great sport after 3 years i'm excited to try and pick this game up. Might not be easy hunting out a PC copy here in the UK but i'll be doing my best come next week.

[ukmark]

Gave it a shot last night and while it does feel 'tighter' than last year's version as others have noted, it just felt stale and generic. Other than pitching--which this game has that in spades, nothing else from this game really stands out. I know if commentary were in the demo, that would shine---so pitching and commentary are two big facets of the game. But that does not justify a $60 expense in my budget. Sorry 2k--I want to like you---I love your NBA series, but this one is just not doing it for me.

[brewersfan84]

Keeping it short and sweet.... my impressions are very high for this game, the demo was very polished and the game is improved highly over last year!

[shogunofharlem3]

Played 2k11, loved it. Played 2k12 last night and thought it was good in my short time.

I only played defense in the demo as I wanted to see how the throw meter worked out and some other various things.

Looked pretty smooth to me. Meter is pretty cool how it changed and it is tough to hit that green. Pretty cool.

Pitching is good, as usual.

Fielding looked super slick at some points and then I had a few moments where my outfielders went into super speed to catch the ball, total opposite of the slow motion effect in last few years game. Overall, was happy with the fielding.

2 things got me though.

1. coulnd't figure out how to cancel a throw, I could reroute it but not cancel it. I'm sure if I kept playing I'd find that input.

2. This is a big one for me. It seems you still have to throw to either the cut off man OR to a base. You can't seem to throw to a base and have it get cut. That irks me!

All in all, very pleased to see 2k12 get smoothed out.

[bonannogiovanni]

Played only two innings, but my impressions are on the same wavelength as the majority in this thread: a few noticeable upgrades but almost the same game as last year.

What stands out to me are:
- the graphics, jaggies and 2d crowds have been toned down drastically,
- animations, both in batting and fielding, pitching seems tha same to me
- hit variety, foul balls are possible without using the horrible defensive swing

Had this been 2K10 I'd be enthusiastic of this installment.

To those who practised with check swing, is it better than last year where it was impossible to execute?

[Money99]

Played a few games (about 10 innings total).
- Noticed a throwing error that pulled my 1B off the bag.
- Pitching is still really fun.
- hitting is tough. I stink at games, I know that. But I found that if I pulled the ball it was always foul. I think in the 10 innings I played only pulled 3 or 4 total balls that were in fair territory. Only 1 landed safely. Almost all my fair balls were hit up the middle.
I would definitely have to make the pitch speed slower to get accustomed to the proper timing.
- no homers from either myself or CPU.
- a few weird animations. One was a player running out a ground ball but as soon as I was thrown out, the player immediately stopped like he hit an invisible wall. Stuff like that. I'm hoping it's just because it's a demo though.

Overall, I liked what I played. I would have loved commentary, but it is what it is.