Xbox

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 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.

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.

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.

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.