MLB 2K9 News Post

Major League Baseball 2K9 Review

09:45 AM - March 4, 2009 by RaychelSnr

March 3, 2009 was supposed to be a day of triumph for 2K Sports. The final chapter in a three-year development cycle that started with MLB 2K7.

Each new edition was to be another layer of bricks built upon the initial foundation, remaking the baseball video-game genre as we knew it. MLB 2K9 was to be the shining star at the top of a glorious skyscraper of baseball awesomeness.

As they say, "the best laid plans of mice and men."

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Game: Major League Baseball 2K9Reader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

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Member Comments

# 41 gjb01 @ 03/04/09 04:25 PM

Anyone who actually thought this game would be worth a dime is not aware of the software development lifecycle and what it takes. This franchise has been a disaster since '07 and when that happens, it's time to burn and start over, which usually takes years, and also requires a solid foundation to start from. I have no idea if this 2K9 provides that solid foundation, but it will be years for this franchise to return to respectability, if ever. This will easily be the year I get a PS3 for the show.

# 42 ChaseB @ 03/04/09 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starship


	Nice review, fair and well-stated. My only disagreement is in the statement that all outfielders have about the same speed. I sugest that the reviewer try to play with the Pirates with Eric Hinske in LF. The guy has all the speed and grace of a disabled 3-toed sloth; he's wayyyyy slower than my other outfielders. I haven't played with Manny, so he may be right about him.

I concur. I think speed is the only difference out there in this game. When I have a slow fielder, I feel like I will never get to a fly ball in the spacious outfields. If I was building a team in 2K, it would be a must to have speedy OFs.

# 43 ChaseB @ 03/04/09 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjv31


	I agree that you can't base a review on possible slider tweaks. However, I think there should be an updated review maybe a couple months after release which takes slider tweaks and patches into account.

Well we do plan to do more postmortems and perhaps we will also begin to look critically at a game after the fact, rather than stopping after "reviewing" it -- if that makes sense.

PS, I'm very disappointed by the lack of anger and outrage in this review thread. I mean even the people who disagree are not angry and irrational. WTF Internet.

# 44 Rocky @ 03/04/09 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjv31


	I agree that you can't base a review on possible slider tweaks. However, I think there should be an updated review maybe a couple months after release which takes slider tweaks and patches into account.

I disagree with this. Why can't you review a game based on slider tweaks?

I mean, it's not like they don't exist. If you think the fielder arm strength is too powerful, you can decrease it and go about playing your game. The option is there and if you don't take advantage of it, it's your fault. They're some games (NCAA 2009, NBA2K9) that I can't stomach without the tweak of sliders. But the fact of the matter is that as we've demanded more of our games, no one game is going to please everybody. That's why you have to take into account sliders in these games. They're there to give you the best experience you want.

That being said, I have no idea what the freakin' sliders in this game do. I'm all for bashing 2K on these obscure sliders that really don't do much.

# 45 Pared @ 03/04/09 05:17 PM

Well, IMO, you can't review a game on slider changes because they are very objective.

Not everyone who posts in the forums are the only guys who read these reviews. Others get home from work, read the review, then decide to buy the game. They might not even have the time to make the necessary changes; They just want to put the game in and play. I know a lot of guys like that... and a lot of guys that will scour the internet for the "best sliders evah!"

You can mention there are sliders... probably even go as far as to say they can help some of the issues out of the box... but you can't give the game the benefit of the doubt if upon loading up you have to plan to fix issues in the game. That's backwards thinking IMO.

For good measure: Chase, you suck at life.

# 46 AlexBrady @ 03/04/09 06:12 PM

Honestly, this is one of the worst video games I've ever played. The graphics are pathetic, the animations are absymal, and the game becomes boring after the first half hour. The only things this series has going for it are its Signature Styles (but even these are starting to decline) and its above average commentary. (though it is impossible to do worse than the abysmal team of Miller and Morgan)

I suppose there is still hope but it is starting to wane quickly. First of all, Visual Concepts has to decide whether they want to make a simulation or an arcade game because this is still unclear.
FWIW I may have to dub this game the worst title I have ever played. Look for an upcoming blog post covering the topic.

Rating (out of 10): 1.5

# 47 buzzguy @ 03/04/09 06:58 PM

Wow...VC is gonna have their work cut out for them next year (if there IS a next year).
BTW, I can't believe some of you guys are going to fork-over $300+, in recession, just to pick-up a PS3 and The Show. Remember, it's out on PSP and PS2, too!

# 48 gjb01 @ 03/04/09 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzguy


	Wow...VC is gonna have their work cut out for them next year (if there IS a next year). BTW, I can't believe some of you guys are going to fork-over $300+, in recession, just to pick-up a PS3 and The Show. Remember, it's out on PSP and PS2, too!

I actually did do the PSP just for The Show last year, and it did a great job of satisfying the itch. But I'm craving better graphics, plus I found the PSP to be a little too easy to hit. (I'm hearing PS3 is going to drop $100 in April.)

# 49 SwinginAs12 @ 03/04/09 09:13 PM

the first game i played it was a pretty realistic 3-5 game... the second game was 24-1. I had high hopes until i hit homerun after homerun.

# 50 Bumble14 @ 03/04/09 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Well we do plan to do more postmortems and perhaps we will also begin to look critically at a game after the fact, rather than stopping after "reviewing" it -- if that makes sense. PS, I'm very disappointed by the lack of anger and outrage in this review thread. I mean even the people who disagree are not angry and irrational. WTF Internet.

Chase-

I am sick and tired of your rediculous suggestions that we shouldn't get along. I'm outraged by your lack of positive vision. Civil non outraged internet forum goers unite to rip on Chase- NOOB. haha.

I think the lack of outrage and civility may have something to do with an Xbox 360 baseball fanbase that is so beaten up by the lack of quality titles...that they just have given up. My 360 is my console of choice, and I am pretty bummed that the best baseball game on the system is a backwards compatible MVP 04.

It just saddens me that after playing 2K9 it is virtually unplayable to me. The fielding is so broken that I would have rather 2K integrated a fielding system from RBI baseball on the NES. I feel like I have absolutely no control over my fielders. There are serious control issues when fielding that had me wanting to throw my controller within 2 games. I could deal with the pitching and the hitting (not all that bad in my opinion), but the fielding is complete garbage.

As someone who is a sim baseball fanatic and lucky enough to own a PS3, The Show 09 is everything I could have ever dreamed of. That being said, I truly wish their were two solid MLB games, then everyone could enjoy the American pastime no matter what console they own.

# 51 Pappy Knuckles @ 03/04/09 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumble14


	That being said, I truly wish their were two solid MLB games, then everyone could enjoy the American pastime no matter what console they own.

Their are.

# 52 lilrosati56 @ 03/04/09 09:48 PM

After being burned by 2k8, I guess I'll pass on this one and keep rolling with my NCAA football dynasty.....I really wish I still had my PS2 so I could be playing the show.

# 53 BlyGilmore @ 03/04/09 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Well we do plan to do more postmortems and perhaps we will also begin to look critically at a game after the fact, rather than stopping after "reviewing" it -- if that makes sense. PS, I'm very disappointed by the lack of anger and outrage in this review thread. I mean even the people who disagree are not angry and irrational. WTF Internet.

Cool Chase - you can play the game for two months and then re-review ...

# 54 Tomba @ 03/04/09 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzguy


	Wow...VC is gonna have their work cut out for them next year (if there IS a next year). BTW, I can't believe some of you guys are going to fork-over $300+, in recession, just to pick-up a PS3 and The Show. Remember, it's out on PSP and PS2, too!

Really wise my friend. the ps3 MIGHT be going down in price but so many things are going up. tomba's not one to discourage as he's had one, but mlb 2k9 is not as bad as 2k8. Remeber folks i wasd a BIG advocate for 2k being shutdown because of 2k8. they've actually redeemed themselves to me with 2k9 and that is sayong ALOT.

MLB 2k9 might not be the show but it sure shows us how bad 2k8 was...

# 55 tkoui @ 03/05/09 12:30 AM

I concur with the review as well. My first franchise game, an hour into it, and it freezes on me as I make a catch to end the 8th inning. Disappointing. It would freeze then move one frame then freeze then move one frame, etc. I tried to let it "play out" hoping for the inning break to restore the game but to no avail. I played the demo for The Show but I was underwhelmed with that one as well. Maybe I need the full game (The Show) to appreciate it but for now, I'll keep plugging away at this one in anticipation of yet another patch fix. This is not the way to retain consumers, VC.

# 56 ChaseB @ 03/05/09 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlyGilmore


	Cool Chase - you can play the game for two months and then re-review ...

Ha, no chance there's going to be a re-review in that sense douche.

# 57 BlyGilmore @ 03/05/09 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	Ha, no chance there's going to be a re-review in that sense douche.

sure sure. big words but fail at the execution :-)

# 58 allBthere @ 03/05/09 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlyGilmore


	IMO you can't review games based on what sliders may or may not do. Not everybody wants to sit there for hours fiddling with sliders trying to figure out what works - and IMO they shouldn't be expected to. Besides, sliders should be for tweaking game play. IMO gamers shouldn't be counting on sliders to fix game play. You should be getting at least decent game play right out of the box.

I don't agree with you. Anyone willing to pay for the game I would imagine would be up for fiddling with the sliders (at least most people). It is part of the game, thus something to be reviewed. I 'fiddled' for about 15 minutes, going under the assumption that the sliders work - which they do as far as I can tell.

your last point - we are getting a decent game right out of the box. It's just enhanced by slider modifications for those looking for more walks, bigger pitch counts, and less homeruns.

perhaps there should be tested, pre-programmed sliders used for accomplishing 'sim, arcade, and fusion'. I'm not sure what the 'average' buyer is looking for, and we can't really assume we know that either...so in that respect I can totally see why it plays the way it does out of the box. And after using bfjoe's slightly modified sliders, I'm very happy with the game. 8/10 happy.

So imo, the review lacks a major part of the game created deliberately to allow you to modify the gameplay to your preference. I'm not sure why you think it takes 'hours' also...but hey, if you don't want to touch sliders for some reason, that's fine. But in a review, I think people should at least know that the sliders can alter the gameplay dramatically, just to be fair and concise.

# 59 Pared @ 03/05/09 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allBthere


	But in a review, I think people should at least know that the sliders can alter the gameplay dramatically, just to be fair and concise.

That's fair enough... but don't you think it's unfair not to hold the developer to task for not making these "necessary" adjustments in the first place?

If someone has to buy the game, then out of the box, up the power to get proper stats for HR's... why can't you hold the developer responsible for not doing the same?

# 60 MLB @ 03/05/09 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkoui


	I concur with the review as well. My first franchise game, an hour into it, and it freezes on me as I make a catch to end the 8th inning. Disappointing. It would freeze then move one frame then freeze then move one frame, etc. I tried to let it "play out" hoping for the inning break to restore the game but to no avail. I played the demo for The Show but I was underwhelmed with that one as well. Maybe I need the full game (The Show) to appreciate it but for now, I'll keep plugging away at this one in anticipation of yet another patch fix. This is not the way to retain consumers, VC.

I don't think there's any pleasing you then..

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