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MLB Bobblehead Pros Preview

This Xbox Live Arcade downloadable title will be hitting this summer, and it appears that the game is essentially the Power Pros gameplay engine, now complete with bobble-headed players and still-legless body models. In other words, it's basically downloadable Power Pros.

The game is not quite as feature-complete as the old Power Pros games, but there is still a 162-game season in place and online play. For a downloadable title, this is still quite a bit of content, but I'm sure some fans will miss the old "The Life" mode.

Of course, I'm mostly talking like a fan right now, so for those who have never had the chance to play Power Pros in the past, it's a simulation series that uses cursor-based hitting and pitching. Players in the game look ridiculous, but they still retain their authentic styles. Side-arming pitchers throw sidearm in this game, and pitchers themselves usually have repertoires that are very close to authentic as well. This game is absolutely a simulation of the sport of baseball. And it's a good one at that.

The only negative here on the gameplay front is probably the fielding. Throwing to bases and diving/jumping are tied to the face buttons. So if you don't wait for the player to actually pick up the ball, you might end up diving when you just want to throw to first base. Still, once you get a handle on the system, it really should not affect you all that much. For example, I made an amazing diving stop with Robinson Cano on a grounder up the middle, and then was able to flip the ball to second base all in one motion -- and this was after I had botched a simple play earlier in the inning by diving when I really just wanted to throw to first base.

In terms of presentation, there is not much commentary, but all the MLB stadiums and players are represented here, and the game still has TV-like touches with some arcade flair. There are replays in the game after a big hit, and the game also recognizes a big pitcher-batter duel by cutting the screen in half for a moment to zoom in on both the batter and pitcher.

Final Thoughts

MLB Bobblehead Pros proves that you can't judge a game by how it looks. It may look ridiculous, but once you begin a game with the ability to warm up your pitcher on the mound, it's immediately noticeable that this is still a baseball simulation in the mold of Power Pros. Xbox 360 and PS3 fans will have a chance to download this baseball simulation this summer.


MLB Bobblehead Pros Videos
Member Comments
# 61 philliesfan136 @ 07/06/11 12:10 PM
Feels like there's a high-scoring game every time..
Watching demo mode and Nationals have 6-0 lead off Hiroki Kuroda with 1 out in 1st..
 
# 62 nunogomes @ 07/06/11 12:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by philliesfan136
They feel less cartoony because they're on XBOX, but the faces are less detailed.

Nope, season mode is 162 games, no trades, no AAA, no offseason.
UNBELIEVEBLE!!!! Really Konami??? 162 games??? Jesus...

another game that i will never finish a season because i´ll change teams after 30 games...

Thanks for your answer philliesfan!

I will still get the game because i loved the gameplay so much on powerpros...
 
# 63 philliesfan136 @ 07/06/11 12:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS
You can at least turn off the bobblehead option...which is highly welcomed. I also think its pretty cool that they included co-op mode online for this game.

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.
Yeah, the "bobbing" makes batting a bit confusing..
I'll admit the idea of co-op is interesting.
 
# 64 bluengold34_OS @ 07/06/11 12:16 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by philliesfan136
Yeah, the "bobbing" makes batting a bit confusing..
I'll admit the idea of co-op is interesting.
Yeah....I won't use a co-op more than maybe 2 or 3 times, but at least they included it. A little confused over not having any season shorter than 162 games myself, but I have a feeling that I might actually finish a season on this game.
 
# 65 philliesfan136 @ 07/06/11 12:27 PM
A Pasta Padre review of MLB Bobblehead Pros's release:

"The game will be familiar to veterans of the the MLB Power Pros series which has an arcade skin but is a sim at heart. It plays similar just with the new ‘bobblehead’ models and includes all MLB licensing for teams and players. Developed by Konami included is a full 162 game season mode, local co-op, online play, and the offer of downloadable content packs (home run derby will be one) to come over the course of the summer to expand the feature set even further."

I expect Home Run Derby and My Bobble will be part of a downloadable pack sometime after the All-Star Break, but I have no idea when we'll be able to use the "Edit Player" feature. I hope sometime soon.

Here's the link:
http://http://www.pastapadre.com/201...-now-available
 
# 66 philliesfan136 @ 07/06/11 01:01 PM
From what I saw, I expect "My Bobble" to be a MLB Life-like mode, but I'm not sure if you can be your own player. I'm thinking you can only be an MLB player.
Reguardless, I'm interested to see how it translates to XBOX.

The definition: "Play through a full season as your favorite player. You will control all of your player's big moments."
 
# 67 falcons2003 @ 07/06/11 01:14 PM
Sweeeeeeeet!!!!

Now I gotta get the dust off my 360, download all the console updates, and buy this!!!! Can't tell you the last time I turned on my 360,,,this could take awhile..lol.
 
# 68 aga11ah @ 07/06/11 02:55 PM
I bought it but can't even download it.. keep gettin the Status Code: 80150101 error.. lame.
 
# 69 philliesfan136 @ 07/06/11 03:00 PM
Here's OS's review of MLB Bobblehead Pros's release:

"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.


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."

So, yeah, we can expect a PS3 version to come out later, as some of you guys have wondered.

The link, (or you can just check OS's home page):
http://http://www.operationsports.co...able-now-xbla/
 


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