Just pitched my 1st game ever on HOF. I was pitching just a little too good for the Mets on Allstar. I was a little...I don't want to say scared but figured I'd give up like 20 runs lol. I only gave up 3 runs to the Twins...I was surprised!
I bat on Veteran though cause I am horrible at hitting. I lost the game 3-2 but it was probably the funnest game I have played yet.
Got the 5 pitch intentional walk again. Prince comes up in a clear intentional walk moment. Pitcher throws strike one. Then the catcher stands up and they put him on.
I see what everyone is saying about having to adjust to the timing window. I'm early (especially on the Vita) on everything. I have pitch speed at default, which feels about right for my skill level. Last few years I had it at 0-2.
I saw a nice bloop hit down the RF line by the CPU. My first baseman gave chase (auto field, manual throw) as did the RF, but he was too far away to really make a play and the 1B tried to snag it, but the ball dropped in just past his outstretched arm. Good stuff.
I decided to try the second game on beginner to see what that was about and I saw the pitch stutter about 50% of the pitches. I didn't realize how impossible that makes it to pitch.
I am trying to play a third game on experienced, but the menus became impossible to navigate.
While talking MLB13 with another member, I realized that I was giving some impressions that I had not yet posted in here. So here goes...
Quote:
I'm definitely loving the game man! By far the most fun (by which I mean, most satisfying and least frustrating) version to date. Everything just feels good about it, minus the small stat-based quirks. Gameplay is awesome though. Saw a couple animations that I need to post vids of... saw the catcher (Suzuki) actually drop the ball on the exchange trying to throw out my base stealer. Later in the same inning a wild pitch bounced off his shin protector an trickled away just enough, scoring the runner from third, all the while Miggy steps backs and waves him home. I've seen all kinds of new fielding animations too. Ironically, the only position that could use a few more is the catcher, but we brought that up at CD.
One other thing I need to write an impression on is how the righty/righty lefty/lefty matchups really seem to matter this year! It truly is more difficult to read certain pitches from same-handed pitchers. I've had some occasions where I've just given up on sliders that tailed back over the plate. Or giving up thinking it would tail out of the zone, only to catch the corner. Striking has never felt so satisfying! LOL
My OF runs to catch a fly ball, he's in the market you see for flyballs(where if you're in it, you'll catch the ball), and then the ball drops right beside him(and he never even attempted to catch the ball...he just stood there!)
Then when I go to bat, I had a runner on 3rd, and the pitcher throws a wild pitch, but the only thing....he backboarded that wildpitch(meaning he threw the ball,it hit the wall that's a good 30-40 feet BEHIND home plate, and it bounced straight back to home plate at like 90mph so my runner at 3b got tagged out at home!)
On plus side....Past 3 games I went 2-1:
I'm averaging 4.67 runs per game,10.33 hits
CPU averaging 3 runs per game,8.67hits
I just finished a game @ Shibe. Homers all over. 322 ft. And 330 ft homeruns. I gave up 2 2 run shots to Michael young. High outside fastballs jus drove the other way. Top of the 9th I hit a 2 run homer with pinch hit Freddie Freeman to take lead 6-5.
I am still adjusting. In fact, I may have to RAISE the pitch speed (from default) to try and eliminate all of my early swings.
I think it was pretty easy because I think the default speed now is about the same as my slider adjusted 2k12 speed. Before it was impossible going between games between the speed differences, but now it's easy.
One thing that will always get me is that high fastball that I always think is a curve coming out. I'm talking about the super high one. It's easy to read it as curve and swing incredibly late. But the good thing is you never make contact with it, so at worst it's a strike. Sometimes it's the hanging curve which is at minimum a double.
I think it was pretty easy because I think the default speed now is about the same as my slider adjusted 2k12 speed. Before it was impossible going between games between the speed differences, but now it's easy.
One thing that will always get me is that high fastball that I always think is a curve coming out. I'm talking about the super high one. It's easy to read it as curve and swing incredibly late. But the good thing is you never make contact with it, so at worst it's a strike. Sometimes it's the hanging curve which is at minimum a double.
I bought 2k12 for ps2 to have something to do at my gfs house plus it was a week before the show was released so I was dying for some baseball lol. My first game on the show I would swing at a fastball as soon as it left the pitchers hand. My timing was way off and yes impossible at first lol
The hit variety is very noticeable in my early moments with this game. I've seen bloops, flares, line drives and moon shots.
Still working on my timing at the plate. Last game I did have 9 hits, so that's good.
CPU is throwing too many strikes on default, so I'll need to adjust those sliders and also need to lower fielder arm strength; guys all have cannons on default.
So, like every other year, just minor changes from default to fit my gaming needs.
Using different controls has also freshened this series up. Analog pitching is a blast!
I am really happy with my purchase. Thanks for always producing a quality product, SCEA.
This has probably been mentioned already, but the CPU has some wacky depth chart logic... After ending spring training my MLB team has 7 starters, 3 catchers, and 5 outfielders. It seems like it chooses the 25 players with the highest overall regardless of position (that are on the 40-man of course)
I am getting constantly blown away by the new ball physics. The hit types this year are unmatched in video game baseball history.
Just gorgeous to see flares looping over infielders, down the line, dropping in just in front of outfielders.
With all due respect to MLB 12 which is an incredible game as well.....I can't play it right now and may not for a very long time. You just could not get this type of hit variety on 12. So many hard hit balls caught for outs all the time. Even with last years slider set (which was a gem) you still had the initial growing pains of Ball Physics 1.0
This year......true ball physics.
Passed balls and wild pitches are superbly recreated. Really awesome.
Are there some bugs I am seeing? Yeah of course. It is a video game. I had a play at home last night where I gunned down Dustin Pedroia. He ran right into the catcher but the collision detection failed badly and the animation was an ugly moment that made you realize....hey it is a video game.
But you know what. Who cares. When you played Intellevision baseball back in 1982 did you think we would be here playing MLB 13?
I had no idea because at that time I thought Intellevision baseball was the greatest game ever made.
OSFM....around the corner....then my Yankees franchise will begin. With a slight quirk.
SCEA....thank you thank you thank you for putting my last name in the game this year.
You have made my year!
I will create myself and my son and put us on the Yankees as a father son combo. Myself? A career minor leaguer getting one last shot to play in the Show as a 3B on the verge of a magical career year while his young 19 year old son works his way onto the big league club in the spring as an eventual replacement for the legendary captain Derrick Jeter.