MVP Baseball 2005

MVP Baseball 2005 is continuation of the Baseball series made by EA SPORTS and if you enjoyed MVP 2004 you\'ll LOVE MVP 2005. This is about as real as a baseball game can get.

MVP Baseball 2005 is continuation of the Baseball series made by EA SPORTS and if you enjoyed MVP 2004 you\'ll LOVE MVP 2005. This is about as real as a baseball game can get.

MVP Baseball 2005 is an incredibly well-put together baseball game. Its presentation is top-notch, it includes a number of modes that you can spend countless hours playing, and the sense of control is unmatched. Hopefully EA Sports can work something out with the MLB license, because it’ll be a shame not to see this game next year.

The third iterations of EA Sports’ new baseball series arrives. Or well, arrived a few weeks ago. MVP Baseball 2005 is a solid baseball game, with a myriad of features, very pretty graphics, and more modes than you can shake a stick at.

EASports hits another homerun with MVP Baseball 2005, making this the most solid and wonderfully addictive ballgame on the PS2. With various improvements and some very neat additions to the game, there’s just no denying the fact that this is the closest to baseball gaming heaven we’ll come this year. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up right away, sports fans.

Baseball never looked and played as good as MVP Baseball 2005, a game that’s destined to be a fan favorite for months to come. Sure last year’s game made us fall in love with the franchise but this year it will steal your heart. Trust me when I say that if you miss out on this game you’re missing out on a game that’s close to perfection. This is a Must Have for any GameCube owner or sport’s fan.

It has been an eventful year for sports video games. First, EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL license effectively pushing all competitors out of the market. Then Take Two struck back by purchasing Visual Concepts and the exclusive third party rights to the MLB license. After all of the wheeling and dealing where does that leave the fans who are just looking to hit some dingers? It leaves us with the third and final installment of the MVP series, at least for the next seven years. It looks like EA Canada wanted to give us something memorable because MVP 2005 delivers the best baseball experience on the market today.

It has been an eventful year for sports video games. First, EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL license effectively pushing all competitors out of the market. Then Take Two struck back by purchasing Visual Concepts and the exclusive third party rights to the MLB license. After all of the wheeling and dealing where does that leave the fans who are just looking to hit some dingers? It leaves us with the third and final instalment of the MVP series, at least for the next seven years. It looks like EA Canada wanted to give us something memorable because MVP 2005 delivers the best baseball experience on the market today.

This is EA's last year to make an MLB game; they lose the license to Take-Two Interactive next year. Even though it's the last MVP Baseball until said contract expires, EA didn't slack on it whatsoever. MVP Baseball 2005 resembles its predecessor yet has many little improvements to make the game better than last year.

Overall though, MVP Baseball 2005 sends EA’s baseball franchise out in a blaze of home run glory. With an extremely realistic presentation, augmented control system, and additional attention paid to the overall gameplay, MVP 2005 could be one of those games baseball fans keep returning to in the upcoming years of exclusive sports games.

As you can see, there's a lot to MVP 2005. It's got major lasting power, a truckload of modes, thoughtful tweaks, and most importantly, solid gameplay. It will take several hours to even scratch the surface of what this game has to offer, and to some people who haven't picked up a baseball game in a while, it may be a bit overwhelming. Outside of nit-picks, there isn't much bad to say about the game, except for the GameCube version's lack of online play. Because of publisher Take-Two's move to block other third-party publishers from using the MLB license, MVP 2005 will be the last licensed baseball game from EA for several years. It's safe to say that EA's licensed MLB series has gone out with a bang.

Overall though, MVP Baseball 2005 sends EA’s baseball franchise out in a blaze of home run glory. With an extremely realistic presentation, augmented control system, and additional attention paid to the overall gameplay, MVP 2005 could be one of those games baseball fans keep returning to in the upcoming years of exclusive sports games.

EASports MVP Baseball 2005 is everything you like about videogame baseball, with the great athleticism and tactical gameplay that makes the game of baseball so exciting. If you love baseball, and own a PC, you need to own this game.

Overall though, MVP Baseball 2005 sends EA’s baseball franchise out in a blaze of home run glory. With an extremely realistic presentation, augmented control system, and additional attention paid to the overall gameplay, MVP 2005 could be one of those games baseball fans keep returning to in the upcoming years of exclusive sports games.

MVP Baseball is deeper than any RPG would dream to be. Franchise mode gives you 120 years worth of games to play. With games from your favorite MLB team and minor league teams, that is a lot to play in Franchise. Owner's mode just extends this to another 30 years. New mini-games help you improve the skills of your players through your seasons. If that isn't enough, PS2 and Xbox supply online play with roster downloads. Add homerun showdown for a game to play with friends and you are in baseball heaven. Still, there is one thing perplexing me about MVP. Why doesn't the catcher or umpire throw the pitcher the ball back? Either way, MVP is $30 well spent. You may be playing it until the MLB exclusive license runs out.

MVP Baseball is deeper than any RPG would dream to be. Franchise mode gives you 120 years worth of games to play. With games from your favorite MLB team and minor league teams, that is a lot to play in Franchise. Owner's mode just extends this to another 30 years. New mini-games help you improve the skills of your players through your seasons. If that isn't enough, PS2 and Xbox supply online play with roster downloads. Add homerun showdown for a game to play with friends and you are in baseball heaven. Still, there is one thing perplexing me about MVP. Why doesn't the catcher or umpire throw the pitcher the ball back? Either way, MVP is $30 well spent. You may be playing it until the MLB exclusive license runs out.

MVP Baseball is deeper than any RPG would dream to be. Franchise mode gives you 120 years worth of games to play. With games from your favorite MLB team and minor league teams, that is a lot to play in Franchise. Owner's mode just extends this to another 30 years. New mini-games help you improve the skills of your players through your seasons.

MVP Baseball 2005 doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. EA Sports has simply taken last year's game, improved it in myriad ways, and then tacked on a few new features to make the end result that much more appealing. Some of these upgrades are significant, such as the addition of an ownership-based franchise mode and the inclusion of single-A minor league teams, not to mention the ability to finally be able to set up custom tournaments in the online mode (in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions). Other upgrades are minor, such as the optional hitter's eye, batter's box, and manager tirade features. Meanwhile, some upgrades are downright subtle, like all the graphical tweaks and extra player animations that ultimately add up to help this latest game look and feel even more realistic than last year's.

MVP Baseball 2005 is the best-playing baseball game available this year, although its presentation is the weakest. There's a lot to like about this game, including the accessible gameplay, deep dynasty modes, and addictive minigames. It's unfortunate that we won't get to see what fruit that ESPN branding might have had on the MVP franchise, because a mesh of MLB 2K5's presentation and MVP 2005's gameplay could very well have been the perfect game. As it stands, despite its flaws, MVP Baseball 2005 is the baseball game to own this season... and that's the second time in the last three years that I've been able to say this here at PSX Extreme.

MVP Baseball 2005 doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. EA Sports has simply taken last year's game, improved it in myriad ways, and then tacked on a few new features to make the end result that much more appealing. Some of these upgrades are significant, such as the addition of an ownership-based franchise mode and the inclusion of single-A minor league teams, not to mention the ability to finally be able to set up custom tournaments in the online mode (in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions). Other upgrades are minor, such as the optional hitter's eye, batter's box, and manager tirade features. Meanwhile, some upgrades are downright subtle, like all the graphical tweaks and extra player animations that ultimately add up to help this latest game look and feel even more realistic than last year's.

MVP 2004 pumped new life into baseball video games with a laundry list of innovations that included the farm leagues, player emotions, and a very deep dynasty mode. The game upped the bar in terms of what a baseball game should include, but it also upped our expectations. All of the successful gameplay elements from the series have returned for 2005 and most of this review details how this year's version delivers the upgrades and extras that take MVP even further.

If you're not into exhibitions and gimmicks, MVP Baseball 2005 includes a pair of career options. Dynasty mode adds the class A minor league circuit but is otherwise a holdover from last year, complete with similar features and the 120-year career limitation. The new owner mode is similar in many ways, although it's a dynasty mode that pumps up career play with reams of management tasks. Not only are you running a Major League franchise on the field, but also you're looking after farm clubs in all three minor leagues, setting ticket prices, building a ballpark for your inaugural season, purchasing concession stands and souvenir shops to sell overpriced soft drinks and T-shirts to the masses, and, of course, keeping the books in the black.

There are a number of ways in which MVP Baseball 2005 outstrips the competition, but mostly it is in the ease of use and depth. Trade offers during the regular season are easy to read at a glance – with statistics right there to make a decision immediately if wanted, rather than having to go into the trade menu in order to figure out if it’s a good offer or not. While far from perfect, it is the best game out there for players that want to play every day on through to the beginning of next season.

With a methodical, Yankees-like approach, MVP continues to build its dynasty brick by brick. However, 2005's gameplay remains largely unchanged. It seems that additions like Hitter's Eye were only introduced to make things easier for people - I suggest you turn this unexciting feature off.

With a methodical, Yankees-like approach, MVP continues to build its dynasty brick by brick. However, 2005's gameplay remains largely unchanged. It seems that additions like Hitter's Eye were only introduced to make things easier for people - I suggest you turn this unexciting feature off.

With a methodical, Yankees-like approach, MVP continues to build its dynasty brick by brick. However, 2005's gameplay remains largely unchanged. It seems that additions like Hitter's Eye were only introduced to make things easier for people - I suggest you turn this unexciting feature off.

This game is put together incredibly well, but fans who vested hundreds of hours in last year's iteration will likely be let down bu the familiarity on the field. Conversely, if you are just looking for a solid gameplay package, MVP is still the game to beat.

This game is put together incredibly well, but fans who vested hundreds of hours in last year's iteration will likely be let down bu the familiarity on the field. Conversely, if you are just looking for a solid gameplay package, MVP is still the game to beat.

This game is put together incredibly well, but fans who vested hundreds of hours in last year's iteration will likely be let down bu the familiarity on the field. Conversely, if you are just looking for a solid gameplay package, MVP is still the game to beat.

To anyone who loves the game of pure American baseball would love this game. It brings life to the game itself and has a great perspective of what the game is really suppose to be about. In a sense, you do have all of the hot item features that's suppose to be in a good sports game. MVP Baseball 2005 has a lot of capabilities that will be surprising to most sports gamers. EA SPORTS has done a great job with this game, but still needs some work on the graphical perspectives and techniques. We love the style and how it's so Americanized, but let's face the facts of how a gamer is suppose to look at. Though, if you're looking for a good graphical sports game then this game isn't for you. Mainly, all we're saying is, if you're a diehard sports gamers and/or in love with the fundamental basis of the American version of the game of baseball, then you're in for a ride.

As George Carlin once quipped, "Baseball is about as interesting as watching flies fornicate." Of course, George didn’t say "fornicate," but I kinda have to if I want to keep my gig here at WorthPlaying. Either that, or Judy goes nuts with the cyber-red pen. (Love ya, baby).

If MVP has a weakness, it lies in the presentation. Some of the city skylines look dead wrong (Baltimore for example) and the commentary doesn't sound as professional as MLB 2K5. The two-man team is enthusiastic enough, but they tend to mispronounce names, which is annoying. Still, if you're looking for a compelling baseball game with realism and tight control, MVP Baseball is tough to beat.

In all, MVP Baseball 2005 will not appeal to everyone. Fans of organizational level management will feel short-changed in terms of realism and depth, while others will groan about MVP Baseball 2005’s base running and fielding interface. However, for the people who really enjoy the breakdown of the pitcher-batter match up, this is the only game I've seen so far since the High Heat franchise that has really captures this realism. So like many of EA's other games, the vast majority of the gaming population will either love it or hate it. And while I buy baseball games mostly for the battle between the pitcher and batter, I can certainly understand why many would pass this game up.

If you're looking to re-create the mechanics of playing baseball, MVP Baseball does a nice job of giving you gameplay options that allow for all the different ways a given at-bat, play, game, and even season can play out. But.where are the fans? The faceless crowd doesn't detract from gameplay, but it does nothing to simulate the experience of being at the ballpark. Where are the quirky cheers and signs? I heard the drums from the left-field bleachers at my A's McAfee Coliseum, but where are the green and yellow faux-hawks? The rally caps?

With no competition on the 'Cube, MVP basically wins by forfeit -- not to say it still wouldn't do good had another game shown up to play. My thoughts are, however, that if you like baseball games a lot, you play them on another console. In that case, I advise you to drop a 20 on MLB 2K5 to save yourself a few bucks and get a little more enjoyment.

won the pennant last year in near-unanimous fashion. Call this its retirement tour, as we may not see the series for a while after Take 2 picked up the exclusive MLB license. This year's version is a worthy successor to the franchise and will easily please its diehard fans, but it may not have applied itself to repeat its victory.