MLB Bobblehead Pros News Post

MLB Bobblehead Pros Available Now, Post Your Impressions Here (XBLA)

12:40 PM - July 6, 2011 by ChaseB

Back at E3, I previewed MLB Bobblehead Pros and pretty much could not say enough nice things about it. Konami's Power Pros baseball franchise is beloved for all the right reasons, and this $10 XBLA arcade game seems to be just another way for more people to experience the franchise.

Many folks may have missed out on the series because it has mostly been known for being released on Nintendo platforms this generation, but it's a simulation baseball series that is hidden under a cartoon-like graphical facade. While this version is not quite as in-depth as some of the earlier retail versions of the game, it seems like there is still local co-op online, an edit player feature (although it seems to be locked when you first play the game), full 162-game season and create-a-team elements as well.

Some members here at Operation Sports have already picked up the title and have some nice things to say about it:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	And the game is incredibly realistic..I just started a season and the Pirates blasted the Cubs 8-5. The Cubs starting pitching was atrocious, and the they had 2 errors in the field. You can't ask a game to be anymore realistic than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by philliesfan136


	It is looking good, and it feels exactly like Power Pros. It's just as easy to play.

There is a demo for folks to try, and it appears more content will be coming to the game later in the summer. Some of the content coming at a later date includes a home run derby, as well as My Bobble mode, which seems like it will be some sort of career mode where you control one single player for a whole season. I doubt it will be as in depth as "The Life" mode found in other Power Pros games, but it would still be a welcomed addition regardless.

Lastly, while the Xbox Live Arcade version is the only one out right now, it seems like a PS3 version will be coming at a later date.

Game: MLB Bobblehead ProsReader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 141 ComfortablyLomb @ 07/08/11 01:21 PM

No trades in season mode? Wth is with that?

# 142 statnut @ 07/08/11 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philliesfan136


	Nope, no FA, no trades. Just season, spring training, and then next season.

Well that kills any chance of my getting that achievement.

# 143 Fiddy @ 07/08/11 02:40 PM

question, weeman, or anybody else.. when you guys mention you put the cpu on fast pitching, do you mean you put it on the expert level? or am i missing a setting some where?

also, on the human settings, it has cpu batting listed under it, does that mean thats the level they hit on when the game is being simmed in fast mode and auto batting? just curious.

bc other than that, manual batting has to do with obviously swinging, and then what type of assist you use, low, little, medium etc.

# 144 jyoung @ 07/08/11 03:15 PM

To change pitch speed, go to season options and look under game settings.

Default pitch speed is "normal." I've been using "fast" pitch speed for increased hitting difficulty.

I may just do what you guys have been saying and turn off the human batting assist entirely.

Time to take off the training wheels!

# 145 Fiddy @ 07/08/11 03:31 PM

thanks for the response..

i found it just after i made the post.

the game played much better on both sides of the ball, HR's etc went WAAAY down.. that was even with the "little assist" option still turned on. also have the cpu ball cursor off to make it tougher to pick up pitches.

im gonna try, normal pitch speed, and expert cpu pitching. just to see if that makes any difference. or if fast pitch is the way to go for this type of assisted hitting.

# 146 Kane182 @ 07/08/11 03:40 PM

If there are injuries in season mode I would think there would have to be some sort of expanded roster at the very least. Unless players only get injured in the current game and are fine the next?

# 147 jyoung @ 07/08/11 03:40 PM

I've yet to see an injury that lasted more than one game.

# 148 jyoung @ 07/08/11 04:20 PM

OK, I think I may have found the sweet spot in terms of hitting difficulty after taking down the batting assist a notch down from "little" to "low."

Box score:

Brewers - 1 (7 hits)
Nationals - 2 (6 hits, 2 solo HRs)

Both the HRs I gave up were curve balls that I hung over the middle part of the plate.

I did not hit any home runs for the first time since picking up the game. I really only made solid contact a dozen or so times in the ballgame, which is pretty darn realistic.

"Low" batting assist may be the way to go, when combined with fast pitch speed. I tried turning off the batting assist entirely the game before, but then it was just impossible lol

"Little" is the default batting assist, for those who are wondering.

# 149 The Cleaner III @ 07/08/11 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcons2003


	In season mode,,,It looks like you can only get into the CPUS team settings once the game starts. Pause the game,,,go to controller setup,,,then you have access to the other teams settings. See if you can switch them there. I think I am mis interpretting what cursor off is,,,but regardless, going to the CPUS controller setup in the pause menu once you start the game. See if that helps. Good news is, it looks like whatever changes you make to the CPU team, carries over to all CPU teams when you play them.

OK, I got it to work. Thanks to everyone for figuring it out and helping me.

# 150 falcons2003 @ 07/08/11 06:24 PM

If you can guys, hang in there with the manual fielding. With practice you will get better. The point is, once you get good, it honestly feels like an accomplish and rewarding because feeling is tough, but hang in there if you can.

I've gotten pretty good, and the game really feels like you ultimately have control of the fielders, not canned animations or vacuums, I really like the feel of the gameplay. I'm not even doing a season yet, just random exhbition games to check out the teams and players.

I'm still on default settings and having some great games. Elite pitchers in this game are hard as hell to hit, as they should be.

Just played Twins -vs. CPU Angels and Jered Weaver. Weaver is pretty nasty, His slider is slow, and then breaks very late, really wicked. His curve and change are really slow, than he gets you with the 2 seamer and heat, it was a tough go hitting. 7th Inning it's 0-0, Baker is scattering 7 hits (Good curveball) and I have one hit off of Weaver. Baker gets out of the 2nd and 3rd one out jam, and I win the Turning Point. 8th inning ratings boosted, Mauer singles, Weaver leaves a high slider for Morneau who hits a no doubter, camera angle to behind the catcher, flips the bat, ball goes deep into the black canvas center, must have gone 450 easy. I haven't seen that little camera angle animation yet so it was sweet. Ended up winning 2-0.

Anyone else see the spin throw animation on throws? I've seen it a few times, cool to see because it's not overdone and usually happens when the fielder is going against his body and momentum takes him. I've just seen outfielders do it.

A funny injury message moment was in the 9th - I ran Danny Valencia into the fence near the dugout for a foul ball near the railing, then dove,,,,message pops up "Danny Valencia is injured running into the fence......must leave game". Sorry Danny didn';t mean to dive you into that fence!

# 151 jyoung @ 07/08/11 07:41 PM

Halladay is ridiculous to face. Just came across him for the first time, and all his pitches break and drop like halfway across the plate.

I managed to finally get two runs off him in the 6th and 7th innings before the CPU pulled him due to fatigue.

The elite CPU batters will also punish you hard if you leave weak pitches hanging around. Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard have owned me the last two series with Washington and Philly. Don't be afraid to walk the big hitters!

And yeah, these settings are the way to go if you want a realistic, challenging hitting experience:

Quote:


	fast pitch speed CPU pitch cursor off "low" batting assist default everything else

# 152 jyoung @ 07/09/11 03:34 PM

Finally was able to get into an online quick match today.

The lag was much better than it was in the private match I had with bluengold.

I was hitting like crazy and managed to put up 11 runs before the game ended in the 7th inning due to the 10-run online mercy rule.

I wasn't sure if the other guy was lagging or not, because Gallardo struck out 16 throwing mostly simple fastballs and changeups.

One weird thing I noticed is that I couldn't start Greinke in this game because he had the "sadface" icon. Maybe it randomizes your player statuses before each quick match? I'll have to keep an eye on that.

Dude I played against was Boston, and man, the ballparks are just beautifully recreated in this game. Shame that the rest of the presentation is so lacking.

# 153 maddcatt @ 07/09/11 04:11 PM

Does this game have a multiplayer 2 player offline mode ?

Anybody have any impressions on playing gainst a buddy offline ?

Thx maddcatt

# 154 michfan16 @ 07/09/11 04:23 PM

I've played co-op and while pitching one player controls the pitch while the other controls the fielders. This switches after each batter. With hitting one person controls hitting and base running and this also switches every batter. You are also able to customize the difficulty for each individual player and the computer as you would in a 1p vs com game.

# 155 Fiddy @ 07/09/11 04:49 PM

guys, def bump up base running to all-star and or legend. i have been using legend (bc i use auto base running) and it plays much better. runners actually take an extra base and not as laid back on pro or rookie.

i use auto base running bc that dang view is so small i have a tough time telling whats going on. at times i will use semi auto as well.

# 156 falcons2003 @ 07/09/11 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddy


	i use auto base running bc that dang view is so small i have a tough time telling whats going on. at times i will use semi auto as well.

Ya, I try to do everything manual, but sadly I have to go auto.

The reason? Well on the fly balls and line drives, on manual, players just seem to go no matter what, so instead of a little lead, they take off on contact, and you have to have them go back immediately or they take off on routine fly balls. At least that's what happens to me on manual.

# 157 Fiddy @ 07/09/11 05:32 PM

yeah, i just cant tell whats going on with base running. i use manual fielding and batting.

i also noticed that the default levels are set to Amateur, i had been playing everything on Pro against the CPU, man they tough lol.. i just lowered the CPU batting to Rookie and it evened the game out.

all in all good times!!

# 158 sroz39 @ 07/09/11 06:56 PM

This game is so bitter sweet for me. For $10, I can't think of a better sports game value out there. I've always liked the PowerPros gameplay. But I can't help but wonder how awesome a full-fledged release would be on a next gen console, with MLB players and a fleshed out, more interactive "Life" mode and more modern GM mode.

Still, best $10 I've spent in a while.

# 159 falcons2003 @ 07/09/11 06:59 PM

Wow I saw a few great plays today. CPU Rollins flipped the ball two second with his glove. I had to replay it a bunch of times, but he did in fact do it. Then I dove up the middle with Andrus, while still on the ground on his stomach he shoveled the ball to second for the force. Pretty sweet. This game has alot of small subtle things it doesn't over due and look cool. Also, manual fielding, some line drives that are directly over the infielders head, jump up for, some players can get up and get those.

One last thing need some quick opinions. I have default settings. Starting to shut down the CPU offensively. Should I make pitching more difficult for myself, OR bump up CPU hitting setting. What do you guys think?

# 160 Fiddy @ 07/09/11 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcons2003


	Wow I saw a few great plays today. CPU Rollins flipped the ball two second with his glove. I had to replay it a bunch of times, but he did in fact do it. Then I dove up the middle with Andrus, while still on the ground on his stomach he shoveled the ball to second for the force. Pretty sweet. This game has alot of small subtle things it doesn't over due and look cool. Also, manual fielding, some line drives that are directly over the infielders head, jump up for, some players can get up and get those. One last thing need some quick opinions. I have default settings. Starting to shut down the CPU offensively. Should I make pitching more difficult for myself, OR bump up CPU hitting setting. What do you guys think?

bump the cpu hitting from default amateur to rookie.

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