Yes it’s another baseball review, I know what your thinking. However, this title comes straight from 2k Sports with MLB 2k10. We’ve seen how the series has suffered through its various iterations and how the game continued to fail with critics. This year, MLB 2k10 steps it up a notch and tries to take any sort of doubt from your mind that this years entry is anything but failure.
After the debacle that was MLB 2k9 from 2k Sports, it was decided that a new slate needed to be created. Developers over at 2k Sports started from scratched and rebuilt their baseball franchise. The game has a completely new gameplay system and depth charts that would get any fan excited for this new season. Living Rosters are now more apart of the game then before and become a part of the player’s experience. The commentary has been revamped and the finest details of baseball have been added. Let’s take a look at how the improvements of MLB 2k10 make this a better title then last years entry.
Comparing this title to MLB 20 the Show is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both made by completely different developers with different objectives in mind for the gameplay experience, but the mission is still the same. Like Road to the Show, 2k Sports added a new “My Player” mode which allows you to create a player, pick a position and grow with him through the minor leagues to make it to the big leagues. If you choose a hitter for example you can earn points and increase your speed and skills as the season progress for completing different objectives. During each game you can simulate parts of the game to get up to your spot in the line up if you don’t feel like waiting it out. Even in between games you can take on practice sessions to help improve your skills and precision in certain attributes.
There is a bit of a drawback, however, when you’re trying to making to the major league line up. For pitchers for example you could easily get your shot at the big time after only a few starts. For any other positions though you might have a star player standing in your way so you’ll have to significantly increase your ratings over a longer period of time. While most of the options from 2k9 return, 2k10 introduces the new MLB Today option. This allows you to work with Living Rosters and connect to live schedule of the current MLB season. You’ll be able to play any game in the majors currently on the schedule for the afternoon or evening. If you connect online you’ll be able to receive current rosters updates as well as updated player settings and other changes like trades as they occur during the season.
Thankfully, we’ve been shown the light when it comes to the control issues of MLB 2k9. MLB 2k10 continues with the analog system for pitching and batting but with noticeable improvements. The gesture system is still in play but allows you to actually pick your pitch before heading straight for the analog motion, which is nice. You’ll get feedback after every pitch as well so you can learn as you go. Hitting still requires the use of the right analog stick but this time is a little more constrained. You’ll have to keep your eye on the ball if you plan on hitting any home runs or much less getting a single.
The only problems you may encounter are on the fielding side of things. For example, pitchers won’t get ejected after hitting a batter more then 3 times. Switching hitters during the game doesn’t seem to affect the overall turn out of the game and doesn’t seem to allow you to keep the player at the same position. The computer often is a little too perfect during games making it hard to keep the game close. Pitchers don’t even suffer fatigue correctly either, so it’ll be pretty easy come playoff time that you won’t have practically any injuries to your pitching staff.
On the bright side of things, Gary Throne and Steve Phillips return to reprise their roles in the commentary. They’ll be keeping you heads up in the game when it comes to stats, match ups with John Kruk for that analysis. There is a lot of time an effort put into the title this go around, but there could be a little more improvements with player models, stadium atmosphere and crowd interactions. What’s here is a great foundation to get started on and MLB 2k10 is a step in the right direction for the series that could eventually make it the go to baseball simulation to go up against the competition.
Verdict: Rent first, MLB 2k10 is a about as deep of a baseball simulation as your going to get. Buy if you’re a baseball fan at heart.
