Customer Reviews

Baseball 2001

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It would seem as though the folks at Wizbang (the developers of the title in question) were quite busy basking in the success of Baseball 2000, because they didn't spend much time improving it for the new year.

The first thing I do with any baseball game is create a player with my own name, crank up all of the stats to their maximum levels, and then go have a 4 home run game against Pedro Martinez. Typically this is accomplished via a ratings system. Baseball 2001's greatest new feature in my opinion is the ability to define and edit players based on actual statistics, rather than ratings. Instead of saying player x has a power rating of 99, you can say player x hit 74 home runs last year. This allows much more control for the statistics engine of the game to work with.

The feature, which is reminiscent of the Tony LaRussa baseball series of the early 90s (which was the best graphical baseball simulation ever in my humble opinion) is about all that is new in the game.

I honestly cannot see any difference in the graphics engine. The players (some of which have actual rendered faces) look very much the same; aside from some improvements in the stadium details, the game is graphically identical to BB2000.

More frustrating is the fact that the game is very buggy, and the same bugs that annoyed me in BB2000 have reappeared in the new version. For example, a common problem is a batter which steps up to the plate standing on the plate and gets hit every time! The game freezes at least once for every 3-4 games that I play. The extra task of having to save the game every 1/2 innning is very frustrating, and the crashes require a full reboot of the sytem.

I would not recommend this game to anybody that already owns the 2000 version, as it is much the same.

In Baseball 2001 you can enjoy straight out baseball unlike the triple play series. TP2001 and Triple Play are much more advanced in features such as unique batting stances and player faces but it lacks realistic gameplay. Baseball 2001 doesn't include loud explotion when a homerun is hit and the commentary is much less repetitive. Microsoft Baseball is one of the few pc baseball games where you control where you swing. This makes the game more challenging and keeps you interested in the game. Although if you do not like this setting you can turn it off. The stadiums are amazing in this game but the players don't compare to TPB or High Heat 2002. When managing a season player trades and free agents are much more realistic because you have certain money that you make. If you want true gameplay and don't mind giving up a little for graphics by this, but if you want unrealistic arcade games go with the triple play series.

P.S.-The rosters aren't nearly as updated as High Heat 2002 or even Triple Play, but in the 2000 game you can update your rosters at Microsoft.

The last baseball sim I had was FPS: Baseball Pro about five years ago, and there's never been anything like it. It generated stats like the Elias Sports Bureau and the gameplay was ahead of its time. Its features--career mode, MVP list, World Series history, Hall of Fame, etc.--made it a real fantasy league. Baseball 2001 has come closest to it, though it is still relatively far behind. The game is not full of bugs, unless you play it hard core all day, but not many people do or should. The Mogul technology is nice, but it really doesn't make me feel like I'm in control of my team. In managing finances, you use points. Why not cash? The oversimplification is an insult.

This was the first baseball sim game I've bought since Tony LaRussa 1996 edition. When Tony 96 came out, it was well ahead of its time, stats galore, from monthly breakdowns and head to head match ups. Even the graphics were good. With Microsoft advertising its mogul feature, I figured that this game would be great. I was way off. Simulation is almost ridiculous, outscoring opponents 14-0 every game gets boring, not enough stat tracking to keep me happy, can't preview line up before game time for managers who like to platoon players. On the other hand, Graphics and commentary are above average. If you are a baseball fan who isn't into the managing aspect of a game, this game is for you. But a realism geek like myself was very disapointed. High Heat Baseball 2001 is infinite times better.

Microsoft Baseball 2001 is a pretty good effort. Not great, not spectacular, but this game holds up very well on its own.

The one thing I find the most fun about this game is the Homerun Derby. This is a lot of fun to play, although not all the heavy hitters are able to hit homeruns. I have never been able to get Mark McGwire to hit more than just a few homeruns in the contest, for example. Maybe it has to do with his batting stance; the computerized version of Big Mac has him in a full squat as compared to the real life Big Mac who just bends a little at the knees.

Another thing that is nice is that it's not complicated to play. You don't have to decide what angle you're going to swing, what bat speed, etc. Those looking for a challenge might be disappointed, but those looking to have fun with the game won't be.

About the only thing that sticks out in my mind are the player graphics, which I hate to gripe about because I usually don't care about such petty things. But for all the effort the creators took in making the faces of the players look real, the rest of the body of the players don't. Just one look at the hands waving the bat behind the shoulders should be example enough. Other than that, things are great. The stadiums are fully reconstructed and look fabulous. Add to that the play-by-play commentary by Tom Brenamen and the live atmosphere of feeling like you're in the actual ballpark, and you have a sharp-looking game.

As I said earlier, Microsoft Baseball 2001 is a pretty good effort. Let's hope the makers can keep improving the look of it with future Microsoft Baseball releases.

If you're anything like me, which means you follow baseball obsessively, charting stats, second guessing the general manager, etc., then you want this game on your PC. The graphics are sub-par, but the game far exceeds the competition in the team-building function. You can build your team with free agent signings, trades and minor league call-ups, possibly landing in the World Series. You can also simulate games and entire seasons, testing your roster against the rest of the league.

Bottom line: If you're looking for the best graphics and the smoothest gameplay, check out another option. But, if you are more interested in the game behind the game, give Microsoft Baseball a spin.

This game is fairly good. The graphics are good and the gameplay is fun. The problem with it though is it's too easy. I've pitched 5 perfect games one by denny neagle agansit the yankees and another a 10 inning perfect game by pedro martinez. I've also beaten the computer is the all-star mode 14-1. Another thing is that if you play multiple seasons with one team, it gets very tiring because the all the games are the same each year. Also the rosters are very behind and are hard to personally update. All in all though it is a good game. 4 stars to Microsoft Baseball 2001

I found the Mogel Technology to be absolutely superb with AAA and franchise mode. The part of the game that made it lose its star is the fun factor. Sure, the first 162 games you play is fun, but after that, well, it gets boring. Therest of the game is great: graphics, sound effects, music, etc.

The mogel technology is great, featuring the farm team players that are generated each year. They generate their own stats in the minors, then they get different statistics each year. You can call them up at any time, and trade them to other teams. Other teams also offer trades to you, which can boost your teams statistics. The better your teams record, the higher your attendance is, and the higher your attendance is, the more revenue you get, getting more money to spend on players contracts or farm system improvements.

The franchise mode is also very cool, as each player improves or worsen over the years depending on how they did in the previous season and their age. They also retire after about 20 years of play or about 40 years old. This can last for 10 years, creating a completely new game.

The gameplay is very good, with graphics letting you identify every player. The sound effects are great, with crowd cheers and other things. I found that the commentary got a little repetative, but of course i played 173 games before i quit. I also tried simulating several franchises, which got very interesting. The music can get a little grating after a while too.

The thing that makes Baseball 2001 get a 4 star rating is the fun factor. It becomes very boring to play 173 games in a row, as it is not very fun. The players dont make fun taunts, no charging the mound, nothing that adds fun to this game. It is just plain baseball, without anything like fan interference or controversial plays. Microsoft should consider adding these things. There are also no injuries, so each player plays the whole season. The only thing close is that sometimes (not very often) players get fatigued from playing to many games.

Overall, this game deserves about a 4.5, but not a 5 and i can only give it a 4.

BB 2001 is the best game I have seen.The graphics are excellent,the faces of the players are realistic and that you can creat players is a big plus,because you can update the rosters of your team.And it has all the new ballparks Enron,etc. A great game for the realism buff

Microsoft Baseball 2001 is a pretty good baseball game but not what you might expect. The graphics are good the faces of the baseball players are fantastic but the commentary is horrible. Some of the stuff they say has no relation to what's happening in the baseball game.

To me Microsoft Baseball 2001 lacks on giving the baseball felling that other baseball games do.