I've had the chance to play the Wii version of 2K Sports' The Bigs in Seattle and the PlayStation 3 version in San Diego over the past few weeks. Anyone expecting a copycat of Midway Games' MLB Slugfest franchise will be disappointed, but that's not a bad thing. Of the two versions, I enjoyed the PS3 game the most. 2K said the Xbox 360 game will basically be identical. The PS3 game does utilize the Sixaxis controller for certain occasions, like a plate collision tug-of-war that requires yo to shake the controller fast to win the battle.
Developed by Blue Castle Games in Vancouver, many of the team members previously worked on EA Sports' MVP Baseball franchise before 2K got the exclusive third-party MLB license. The PS3 game is pick-up-and-play simple. The ballparks are all authentic but everything's been enlarged. Specific elements like the Liberty Bell at Citzen's Bank Park are interactive, as are the scoreboards in most stadiums. Send a homerun to those lights and watch them explore Roy Hobbs-style a la The Natural. The game has a coliseum feel to it.
All of the players in The Bigs look like they're on steroids, as well. The players are larger-than-life, while still retaining real batting stances and accurate faces. 2K is celebrating the heroic nature of ballplayers with this game, according to a rep. And that gives the arcade-flavor a much different feel than the old Midway Games.
Plus, next gen has been good for this franchise.The PS3 game offered brilliant visuals, especially in the bonus pinball level that takes place in New York City's Times Square. Unfortunately, Wii owners won't get this level or any online gameplay. The other games all have only play for two to four players with cooperative and competitive play. The Home Run Pinball game is just the type of mini-game level that you can play again and again. Everything in this level from the taxis to the giant video walls is interactive. This is where next gen shines as you pound balls again neon and lights and watch the results.
Since there's no season mode in the game, let's face it, playing 162 arcade baseball games is not exactly a fun thought; 2K has created the Rookie Challenge. This mode allows you to create a rookie from scratch and then play through specific games and events to take him to the All-Star Game and ultimately, to the World Series. One scenario I saw had the rookie jump into a game down three runs at the top of the seventh needing a win. Overall, a 2K rep said this mode offers about 20 hours of gameplay.
The Wii game, which is the first to offer motion-sensor controls of all aspects of baseball, is hit and miss. It's not a final game yet, so there's still room for improvement. The swinging is down pat, which means it's relatively easy to belt homers out of the field with the Wii Remote. The pitching with the Wii Remote is also intuitive and there's a turbo meter for perfect pitches that takes some skill. Where the game is more difficult is in the outfield. Controlling where to throw the ball is pretty hard to do with the motion-sensors. I found myself just touching the appropriate D-pad button to throw to one of the four bases instead. Whenever I tried to throw the ball with the Remote, it never went to the right base. There's the ability to build up a big play meter by pulling off double plays or striking out players, which unleashes even more arcade gameplay.
The Wii was relatively fun with two players going at it, once pitching and the other hitting, standing side by side. It's interesting to watch. And unlike Wii Sports Baseball, this game can give you a pretty good workout. For those looking for a more robust baseball game, this is really your only choice on Wii. But I can't recommend the Wii game over the PS3 or Xbox 360 game, especially after how much fun the Home Run Pinball is in those other games.
