MLB 2005 (Playstation 2)

by Playstation

Product Features

• Total control of your players - position fielders individually, and make those spectacular diving stops
• Pressure-sensitive throwing, outfielders hit their cut-offs, and infielders can get baserunners in run-downs - just like a real MLB game
• Guide your career through the majors in Career Mode -- see if you can take him from rookie to MVP
• Try out your players and team against the All-Time Greats, or just expand & manage your team in Franchise Mode
• Loaded with eye candy - Upgraded graphics engine bring home the feel of real baseball action

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00012QLK0
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 16, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,111 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

• Only baseball game to offer strike zones proportional to individual hitters
• Pressure sensitive pitching takes advantage of analog buttons
• All stadiums designed with city specific details including: haze, water effects, fireworks, and animated objects
• Polygonal, fully animated crowd members
• For 1 or more players

Product Description

MLB 2005 -- The world of baseball gaming has a new pennant challenger. This game breaks new ground in the world of sports simulations, with incredible realism and detailed accuracy, on a level that will impress any fan. It's what every baseball gamer or fan has dreamed of -- a total, complete baseball simulation! Stats and play-by-play done by famous announcers like Vin Scully, Dave Campbell and Matt Vasgersian Compete online through 989SportsOnline.com -- with incredible 32-man tournaments

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Least glitches found., May 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: MLB 2005 (Playstation 2) (Video Game)

I have played three of this years baseball titles and this one is the one that has the least glitches in my opinion.

I could only play ESPN Baseball for about a half an hour because of the shoddy swing mechanics and the awful graphics. MVP has a great presentation and the best pitching/batting interface but too many things keep it from exceling such as slow outfielders, no wind in stadiums , and baserunners who never steal. While that may not bother some it will bother baseball fans.

MLB 2005 has solid gameplay. The fielding is tight. The fielders get the ball out of their hands as opposed ot how they seem to hold on to it for too long in MVP. You can actually get double plays in this game and your outfielders don't have a one to two second delay while trying to brake for a ball hit in the gaps. The batting and pitching is solid and the game remains fun to play. The only major complaint I have is that there are no check swings. This will cause one too many strike outs but it's a fair tradeoff when you at leats know your outfielder can cover the gaps.Another problem is that the game only lets you hold 10 pitchers on your roster.I would like to have a little more freedom there but that'a a minor gripe. The graphics are slightly above average. They won't wow you but they are not as choppy as ESPN.

The Franchise mode is fabulous. It makes Madden's look small. It is quite fun and addictive to try to keep everything running all at once. I especially enjoy how you can listen to your players and treat them accordingly. It makes it more fun than just playing baseball.

So overall this game while sporting some problems in my opinion has the least of the big three and provided the most fun while being true to the sport.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A solid entry with an occasional error, April 16, 2004

By 

Michael Allred (Niles, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MLB 2005 (Playstation 2) (Video Game)

989 Sports has certainly brought their game to the table with their latest effort, "MLB 2005."
The graphics are top notch and the details (use of color, definition, etc) make this one of the best baseball games available. Where the 2004 version seemed more like a PS1 game, the 2005 version definitely looks at home on the PS2.
All of the stadiums look great and even include the new parks in Philadelphia and San Diego. Unfortunately the crowds are still VERY 2D and look like aniated cardboard characters, 989 needs to improve this aspect of the game.
Hitting can be very difficult and anything above the rookie level may cause you to have fits when the CPU scores 12 runs. Also stealing bases prove to be almost impossible. It's funny because you could steal every time in the 2004 game - 989 needs to find a middle ground here.
A welcome addition is that errors actually occur in this game. While the 2004 version claimed to have that option, I *never* once saw it happen - it does in 2005. One of my biggest complaints though is that there still aren't wild pitches or passed balls in the game and not having them lessens the realism. Also one of the oddest things of the game is that Barry Bonds is nowhere to be found! Why is one of the greatest hitters of all time NOT in this game? There is no reason for him not to be in it as the game is endorsed by both MLB and the player's union. Was this a mistake? How could they overlook this? Another issue I have regards player profiles you can save which apparently allow you to collect "points" where you can unlock "gold" and "silver" era players like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb but the game manual says absolutely nothing about it so how is the player supposed to know what to do?
Still, I'm very impressed with the fantasy aspects of the game such a allowing you to control virtually every aspect of running a baseball franchise and the fact that they include a good number of minor league players for you to call up when needed. Also trading for players requires you to figure out what you REALLY need and who you're willing to lose because the game can reject trade offers. Also when signing free agents, you must propose a satisfactory contract or else the player will turn you down.
While there are some negatives to "MLB 2005" (no Barry Bonds, no wild pitches), 989 Sports has finally come through and delivered a quality baseball game that will keep your interest for a very long time.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where The Rest Falter, MLB 2005 Soars, April 14, 2004

By 

purerockfury "Gorillas" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MLB 2005 (Playstation 2) (Video Game)

I'm a baseball fan and a hardcore gamer. Seeing as though I could care less about any other pro sports aside from baseball, I await March for my yearly sports gaming fix like an addict. Since the beginning of March, I have run the entire gamut of baseball games for all 3 consoles.

I started my gaming season with MVP 2004. As far a thorough disappointment goes, MVP hits a grand slam. Washed-out graphics, extremely poor difficulty settings and idiotic AI sticks out as EA's major list of foul balls. All Star Baseball 2005 is next and though as a whole the game is decent, it has nothing redeeming to rope you in and make you want to play it. Nothing stood out as particularly annoying but wanky character models and ho-hum gameplay makes for the only choice for someone who doesn't own a PS2 or Gamecube.

Now, I fully expected ESPN MLB 2K4 to be the clear winner out of the box as last year's version was, despite the fact that most reviews of Sega's baseball game were luke warm at best. Well, the stat tracking, presentation and options are all there but what the hell happened to the graphics? The stadiums are crowds look very nice but all of the players look dead. They stand up and shake like they have malaria and they movie like they are disease ridden and short on blood. The worst part is their facial models. They truly look zombie-like. I had highest hopes here and was let down hard. Maybe next year.

Though I was immediately impressed by the excessive amount of fantasy options in MLB 2005, I half-expected the gameplay to lag behind as last year's did. For $39.99, I got more than my money's worth in droves. The fantasy options are deep enough to keep someone busy for hours just setting ticket and food prices. Trades are well balanced and fair and makes for some thought-provoking strategy in terms of what strengths your franchise lacks.

Where the gameplay sputtered last year, it shoots out of the starting gate with it's head held high this year, despite a few hiccups. The amount of phantom catches have been drastically reduced and the fielding looks ultra-realisitc, despite the occasional throw to the wrong base (which I suspect is more a result of holding a certain button too long during a pitch rather than a gameplay bug). All of this is rounded out by fantastic graphics that make the competition look completely frightening by comparison. Each player;s face is fairly accurate and their body movements are fluid are exciting to watch, despite occasional clipping issues.

Everything about MLB 2005 is praise-worthy. There are a small list of subtleties I'd like to see addressed for next year but overall, 989 has finally delivered a serious winner.