MLB Slugfest Loaded

Finally, If you’ve ever played an MLB game, and realized that most of the excitement today in the MLB comes from the stadium’s garlic fries or outfield Coke Bottle slide, and then felt a sorrowing disappointment and emptiness, you are in for a treat. Slugfest stirs new elements into the game of baseball that make the game itself accessible to the rest of us. MLB has been focused on drawing more fans to the ballpark by offering non-baseball-related amenities, like wi-fi Internet access. Slugfest-loaded achieves the same goal, only it does it in a far more honorable way. MLB’s commissioner, Bud Selig, has a lot to learn from Slugfest-Loaded’s imminent success, which might explain why he has remained mum despite demands that MLB remove its license from the game. Slugfest-Loaded reinvents baseball in a way that only a video game could, and in doing so creates an example of how traditional customs can be combined with modern tastes to create something exciting and marketable.

Will you like MLB SlugFest: Loaded? If you're the kind of person that wants a baseball videogame with trick pitches, turbo boosts, and sucker punches, then I have little doubt that you'll appreciate Midway's take on America's national pastime. For those of you that own last year's game, the new features (online play, franchise mode, trick pitches) should give you plenty of reason to upgrade to this latest installment.

Still, if you're looking for more action in your baseball game without giving up the feel and challenge of realistic gameplay, this might be the title for you. We recommend you try it with huge bowl of homemade Gumyuns.

Midway is famous for its twisted take on professional sports -- after all, this is the company that brought us Arch Rivals and NFL Blitz. No sport needs to be shaken up like baseball, and MLB Slugfest: Loaded not only does some shaking, but some punching, cleat-first sliding, and headhunting on top of it. Now, these are nothing new to those that have played previous Slugfests, but what will dazzle veterans is how complete a package Loaded is.

There are two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. It's a tie game, and the bases are loaded. Derek Jeter is at the plate. "Let's go Jeter!" I say to myself, my palms sweating as I try to untie the game with one swing of the Yankee all-star's bat. Wait… did I just say what I thought I said? I wasn't just rooting for the Evil Empire, was I? Unfortunately, I was. No matter how much I hate the Yankees, I still hate to lose and it's still just a game. Jeter swings and hits a hard liner to centerfield and takes off to first base. I couldn't be any happier as I am about to take a one run lead over the Minnesota Twins. All of a sudden, an on-fire Torii Hunter fields the ball in shallow center and throws Jeter out at first base. Inning over! So much for the one run lead, and that's what I get for playing with the Yankees.

If you're looking for a superfun, easy-to-understand baseball game this year, SlugFest: Loaded is definitely your best bet. Once Midway started getting into the arcade sports business with NBA Jam, it took the company forever to finally figure out a way to make an over-the-top baseball game that was fast and fun while still sticking closely to the basics of the sports. In 2002, the pieces of the puzzle finally came together, and MLB SlugFest 2003 was released. Now that Midway has figured out the formula, the SlugFest series has turned into an annual franchise.

MLB SlugFest: Loaded is not the most technical baseball game. The arcade style and fast pace are based on timing and violence. If you are looking for a baseball game with all the latest and greatest controls and players, this may not be for you, but if you want a game that is just fun to play than MLB SlugFest: Loaded is the ticket. Multiplayer is fun with friends as well.

Since NBA Jam, Midway has been known for their fast-paced, over the top, and completely unrealistic sports titles. But lately, Midway has been shifting their titles slowly toward realism, and MLB Slugfest: Loaded continues the trend. While the game features all the craziness you’d expect in a Midway Sports title, it has options to dial up the realism, and features a very comprehensive franchise mode to boot. Sounds promising, but things don’t quite fit together.

MLB Slugfest: Loaded should be on your list if you enjoy the series before, the online play alone warrants the purchase. If you're just getting into sports games or are looking for a great multiplayer game, Loaded is your game.

The baseball season starts in April. MLB Slugfest Loaded was released in late June. Why? Because MLB Slugfest Loaded has little to do whatsoever with the Major Leagues. Using the Show as a front, MLB Slugfest Loaded continues the ‘screw tradition!’ attitude Midway Sports excels in with its outrageous style of sports games featuring plays that can only be made in other stratospheres.

MLB SlugFest Loaded is a brash and blustery game that mixes just enough zaniness into America?s classic sport to make purists cringe and casual ballplayers curious. That Major League Baseball was relaxed enough with this license to allow Nomar Garciaparra to knee Derek Jeter in the sweet spot (and vice versa) or Eric Gagne to tattoo hitters without mercy is either disturbing or refreshing depending on your sense of tradition. Of course, it?s all this clowning around that enables Loaded to field a decent game of something like baseball.

This is the video game equivalent of getting beaned in the family jewels by a blazing Nolan Ryan baseball. Of course, your voice won't jump a few octaves, and you won't walk cross-legged after playing it, but it does have the uncanny ability to make you squirm uncomfortably and scream obscene amounts of profanity. Since you won't have the option to charge the mound and retaliate against the development team, it's in your best interest to avoid this game like you would a night out on the town with Darryl Strawberry.

This is the video game equivalent of getting beaned in the family jewels by a blazing Nolan Ryan baseball. Of course, your voice won't jump a few octaves, and you won't walk cross-legged after playing it, but it does have the uncanny ability to make you squirm uncomfortably and scream obscene amounts of profanity. Since you won't have the option to charge the mound and retaliate the development team, it's in your best interest to avoid this game like you would a night out on the town with Darryl Strawberry.

Sports might be the only reason I ever turn on my TV, but I have a hard time sitting through an entire game of televised baseball. It’s like watching a boxing match where the fighters throw a jab every 20 seconds or so and one power punch per half hour. Not exactly riveting television.