TeamXbox Preview

[pastapadre]

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-36...seball-2K7/p1/

A few weeks ago, we brought you a preview of the latest entry in 2K Sports' celebrated baseball series, MLB 2K7, straight from the floor of the Consumer Electronics Show. While I enjoyed the time I spent with the game, it was a bit tough to get into the flow, since it seemed like I was getting elbowed in the ribs by clueless businessmen in between every pitch. I was afraid that it would be weeks (if not months) before I'd get a chance to spend some quality time with the game, but it was only a matter of days before our friends at 2K called with an offer we couldn't refuse. This morning, I spent some time playing MLB 2K7 with IGN's Jon Miller, finding what may very well be the most realistic-looking baseball game ever.

The name of the game here is presentation, something that MLB 2K7's got in spades. Seriously, we've all made jokes about our grandfathers mistakenly thinking that they're watching the real thing when we're playing a sports video game, but this is one case in which we wouldn't blame them. From the moment the action starts, it feel just like a television broadcast, especially once you hear the familiar voices of Jon Miller (no, the other one) and Joe Morgan. The pregame segment is similar to what you've seen dozens of times before, complete with the shots of fans streaming into the park and the players warming up.

Letting 'er rip...


Throughout the game, you'll notice dozens of moments when this style of presentation comes into play. For instance, if there's a slow roller down the line toward the hot corner, the camera will change once the third baseman gets the ball, giving us a cinematic view of him throwing on the run in an attempt to gun down the potential baserunner. There are some other interesting camera angles, including one personal favorite, the dirt cam. You'll be able to see replays from a variety of angles, many of which seems to have been directly influenced by the ones we've all seen on TV.

Of course, all the presentation in the world can’t help a game that doesn't look good, so the developers have been hard at work ensuring that MLB 2K7 will be the best baseball title gamers have ever seen. I could immediately see an improvement over the build that I saw back at CES, as players looked (and, more importantly, acted) much more like their real-life counterparts. The animations are much more varied, too, as we were particularly impressed by what happened when we tried to score from third on a passed ball. The catcher grabbed the ball on the rebound and used a no-look flip to nail the baserunner, something that happens occasionally in the real-world, but isn't a common occurrence in the world of video games.

For the most part, the core gameplay in MLB 2K7 is largely the same as that found in the last entry in the series. The pitching mechanic is the same, requiring the player to pick a pitch, judge the power, and choose the location. One new element is the ability to see where a curveball or slider breaks, as opposed to where it crosses the plate. It's a great system, as it won't take players long to master their chosen breaking ball. In the field, the momentum system that was implemented last year has been fine-tuned. Now, rather than pulling off what amounts to a three-point turn, you'll be able to just slow down before you reach the spot where the ball's going to land.

Although we didn't even get the chance to complete a full game, we were definitely impressed by what MLB 2K7 had to offer. It's definitely the best looking baseball game that we've ever seen, but it's also got some solid gameplay to boot. It's also got all of the bells and whistles you've come to expect, from a home run derby to the ability to set up online leagues (up to 30 players). We'll be bringing you more on the game as we get closer to its release in March!

[ROKBONE]

good read so far it is looking like a good baseball game,keep the info coming pasta.