Major League Baseball 2K9 Hands-On Preview

[bigfnjoe96]

Steve, now that you've noticed the ability to use the Triggers during throwing, is there something in the Menu that talks about this:

Quote:

Turning double plays using the new "Quick Throw" controls

EDIT: Found the screen..



I wonder if this triggers different throwing animations from different position players? If so this would be sweet

[brendanrfoley]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigfnjoe96

Steve, now that you've noticed the ability to use the Triggers during throwing, is there something in the Menu that talks about this: EDIT: Found the screen.. I wonder if this triggers different throwing animations from different position players? If so this would be sweet

I'm curious about this as well.

[ehh]

Thanks for the honest review so far Steve. The two big issues mentioned in the article are pretty serious concerns, it will be interesting to see how the retail is.

[Jistic]

Great stuff Steve, thanks. Please let us know when 2K gets back to you about the issues being fixed in the retail version.

[Speaklogic]

Im sorry, I just can't forgive 2K for putting out such a HORRENDOUS & FLAWED baseball game last year. I'd rather go out and buy a PS3 and play the other sim game.

[NumberOneRB]

I guess all defensive dives/jumps have been delegated to the "X" button now? Maybe I'm mistaken and this was actually how it was done in 2K8, but I use to love being able to do certain dives and jumps defensively with the right stick. I suppose that would interfere with the base throwing though.

[BadKermit]

Quote: Originally Posted by NumberOneRB

I guess all defensive dives/jumps have been delegated to the "X" button now? Maybe I'm mistaken and this was actually how it was done in 2K8, but I use to love being able to do certain dives and jumps defensively with the right stick. I suppose that would interfere with the base throwing though.

Not really, though. MVP NCAA 2006 had the dives and the throws mapped to the right thumbstick, and I never had a problem with it.

[Qb]

Late to the party... Steve's impressions are encouraging in some ways and discouraging in others. I watched most of the videos and things look OK, but I'm left with some basic issues/questions regarding the game:

1. Framerate -- No need to elaborate, hopefully it will be ironed out. I'll be really disappointed if online is unplayable again...

2. AI Pitching Logic -- I didn't see any mention of this by Steve, but will the AI still throw illogical pitches? All the high breaking & offspeed stuff grew very tiresome after a month or two in 2K8, especially since it was overly effective.

3. AI Baserunning -- Another issue that wore on me over time last year. It takes so much away from the strategy of the game when you never have to worry about the running game. Hopefully we'll see steals and hit & runs in appropriate situations...

4. AI Batting -- I was able to get the AI batters to behave somewhat realistically via sliders in 2K8, but it sounds like it could be an issue. If they removed the AI Batting tendency sliders, that would be a bummer...

5. AI Fielding -- The overdone diving and uber-range of CPU fielders was as big a drag on hit variety as any bat/ball physics issues.


A few positives -- As I said before, things look good... Commentary sounds passable, but repetition is inevitable and I guess must be accepted... I really like the 'dead-center' pitching camera that ESPN & other networks use occasionally, so it was awesome that it's there or can be made with customization... Pitch trajectories/movement look good and it was nice to see batters fooled by speed... NO MEATBALLS! (right? )


And a question for Steve if he can answer it -- can we turn off the pitching cursor? I always found that this upped the difficulty and lead to more balls/walks by the user when pitching...