Sports Games of the Decade: Baseball Game of the Decade

[RaychelSnr]

Gold: MLB 09: The Show

The quintessential baseball simulation, MLB 09 is a purist's dream game. During a decade that featured the best baseball games in sports gaming history, MLB 09 differentiated itself from its competition in terms of sheer realism. From the photorealistic player and stadium graphics to the incredibly deep Dynasty mode, no other game has ever replicated the atmosphere of baseball better. I would even go as far as to say that MLB 09 transcends sports gaming -- it's more of an interactive baseball broadcast than anything else. As a baseball fan it really does not get any better than that!

Silver: MVP Baseball 2005

When EA decided to revamp the Triple Play series, many felt that EA would no longer be a player when it came to baseball games. Oh how the masses were wrong. Regardless of the fact that MVP 2005 was the last version in the series -- thanks to 2K's exclusivity agreement -- it was the pinnacle of baseball gaming to that point in history. MVP perfected meter-based pitching, analog controls, ball physics and gave gamers the yet to be matched Owner mode that placed an emphasis on building a team like a real world Steinbrenner. There is no denying the importance of MVP 05 in baseball gaming history as many of its innovations are still being used in today's games.

Readers' Choice: MLB '09: The Show

MLB '09: The Show garnered 49 percent of the total votes while MVP Baseball was able to gather 29 percent of the total votes. The rest of the field garnered the other 22 percent of the vote.

[bcruise]

Nice....voted on by both the staff and regular members, and in landslide fashion too!

[Galarius]

Wow, was 09 better than 10?I only played 09 a few times....what specifically was better about it?

[bcruise]

Quote: Originally Posted by Galarius

Wow, was 09 better than 10?I only played 09 a few times....what specifically was better about it?

I think '10 represents the start of the new decade, so it may have been ineligible.

[DR Russell]

@Galarious, personally i love 10 more than 09, the gameplay feels more organic and natural.

[LucianoJJ]

My choice is off shore and in Japanese. PYS 6 is excellent!

[RaychelSnr]

Quote: Originally Posted by bcruise

I think '10 represents the start of the new decade, so it may have been ineligible.

Exactly

[vln13]

MLB 09 The Show was just beautiful. 10 looked better, but couldn't match the leap in quality. Nice pick.

Personally, I don't know why people make such a big deal about MVP 2005. I liked ESPN 2k5 better, actually. It looks horrible, pitching is arcadish, and though the hitting is ok, it is nothing great in my opinion.