Major League Baseball 2K5

by 2K Sports

Product Features

• Total Control Base Running - tell the base runner what to do and switch perspectives to see what the opposing team is doing
• Advanced new pitching and batting controls - use the Slam Zone to guess pitch location
• Franchise Mode is back with all-new menus and controls - choose the right coaches, scouts and managers as you search the AA and AAA teams for talent
• Advanced stats with extensive breakdowns - Learn which pitches give you trouble, righty vs. lefty, fielding stats, awards earned and more
• Incredible new Lockout Mode puts a new twist on the classic Home Run Derby -- Pick 3 players and compete in split-screen action as you knock them out of the park

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002IQCLG
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 15, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,545 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

After another heart-breaking season, Visual Concepts gave struggling developer Blue Shift the Steinbrenner surprise (a swift kick of the boot and phone numbers to a handful of scouts in Japan). Rather than playing the free agent game, Visual Concepts turned to its own bankroll to fill this starting role. Making like Bo Jackson, Kush Games, which has proven to be skilled in both professional hockey and college basketball, is stepping onto the diamond and adding a third sport to its impressive resumé.

Fitting right in like it had been releasing baseball games for years, Kush knew exactly what players would want. The company's approach to pitching is reminiscent of a Charlie Hough knuckleball. It's wildly inventive and loaded with twists and turns that you wouldn't expect. Through brilliantly conceived timing-based and pressure-sensitive meters, player skills are put to the test with each and every pitch. In other words, it's the perfect solution to the mechanics in MVP.

Interestingly, there's more to batting than just taking a cut. Honing in on the mind game that occurs between the pitcher and batter, you can guess where the hurler may throw the ball. I absolutely adore this element. Guess correctly and you'll get the chance to jack it out of the park. To much surprise, Major League Baseball captures the war between the batter and pitcher even better than MVP's excellent approach.

Kush has also made base running an integral part of the game. No longer limited to a tiny picture-in-picture display, players can now transition from the batter's box to the runner on base. As you take your lead, you can tell the batter to swing away, bunt, or be conservative. Another nice touch is how you have to jam on the button to make your player run faster.

Fielding is the area where this game isn't playing at an all-star level. From clunky R-stick moves to strange transition animations, it feels like you have Jose Canseco playing every position for you. This area definitely needs some work.

In the front office, GM Career does a good job of tracking the day to day business. Fictional minor league teams are now included for AA and AAA levels, but you won't have any control over them as the CPU plays the games and manages the rosters for you.

Without question, Kush did a phenomenal job in its first year on the mound. Questionable fielding holds it back from capturing the Golden Glove. MVP still holds this honor, but Major League's innovative techniques make it this year's most exciting baseball game.

Concept:
A complete turnaround for the series that showcases a handful of innovative features

Graphics:
Little details like shadows creeping across the field as the game progresses are in great abundance

Sound:
John Miller and Joe Morgan should get an Emmy for their remarkable commentary

Playability:
Ripe with innovative techniques, but the fielding needs serious help

Entertainment:
Online leagues, tons of unlockables, and the most realistic pitching/batting battle to date

Replay:
High

Rated: 8.5 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
Even though this game incorporates some of the key components from last year's hit EA series, MVP, it hasn't entirely caught up to the rival franchise. The new pitching is hot, and I really liked having control over all aspects of base running. However the game's defense still lags behind with its less than smooth execution of Rstick moves, AI, and animations. I'm also not impressed by the Slam Zone hitting, and batter's seeming inability to make contact with balls outside of the strike zone. Improved but not outstanding.

Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato


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Product Description

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rivalry Competition Comparison, March 4, 2005

By 

Jimmy Guitar "SMKRS" - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Major League Baseball 2K5 (Video Game)

The springs here and that means the Baseball game Rivarly by MLB 2K5 and MVP 2005. Since MLB locked up MVP there will be no rivarly till 2012. Last year's winner was MVP. But this year's winner can be different

Graphics

MVP: Good faces, good animations, but arcadic player details. Stadiums are good, grass look realistic. But those photocopied crowds took away the credability- 4/5
MLB: Phenomenal Face graphics, good animations but not better than MVP. Stadium looks good!! Best things are crowds. Polygonal Crowds. They even have cutscenes too!! And guess what.. Day Progression! Play on the sunny places and compare the shadows in the 1st inning to 4th inning- 4.5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Commentary

MVP: Er.. Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow speaks like talking to grandson about memory of war. Sometimes they get out of the topic and boring- 3.5/5
MLB: Phenomenal commentaries by Jon Miller and Joe Morgan!! Fantastic!- 5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Musics

MVP: Err.. those soundtracks are bad as hell, especially 'Tessie'.- 3/5
MLB: Good musics for sports and CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS! Made by ASB and improved by MLB- 4.5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Sound Effects

MVP: Nice crowd noise, nice umpire calls, nice bat sounds, period- 4.75/5
MLB: All of them all nice, but bat sounds are too lound- 4.25/5
Winner: MVP 2005

Pitching

MVP: New Precision bar is here with fussier and harder!! It's hard to make pitch accurate, there's no other options- 3.75/5
MLB: K-Zone is simpler and more accurate than Precision bar. If you don't like it, you can choose more!! K-ZONE 2, Power Pitching, Cursor- 4.75/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Baserunning

MVP: Erm, no change. A lot of errors on it- 2.5/5 !!!!
MLB: New On Command Baserunning feature is good and made baserunning simpler. You can experience yourself by using baseburner mode (actually that really fascinated me)- 4.5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Batting

MVP: The new Hitter's Eye feature made your batting simple. Just like bad foul swings, colors on the ball (red, green, white), and the ability to move around the box. And boy, I do love it- 4.75/5
MLB: Same as last year with Contact Swing and Power Swing (I call it 'Steroid Swing'). But new *** feature 'Slam Zone' took away the credability. It has no meaning- 3/5
Winner: MVP 2005

Fielding

MVP: The Big Play Control is back! I enjoyed it last year, but robbing and sliding is hard as a hell. Double play is simple though- 4.25/5
MLB: New thing called 'Maximum Fielding' is here and it's easier to rob homer!! Double play is simple and I could do triple play too if possible!- 4.5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Glitches:

MVP: No Lefty Glitches! I'm real happy about that, and no fielding glitches whatsoever!- 5/5
MLB: Erm, the game is good except for several glitches on Wild Pitches, and CPU roster arrangement glitches- 3/5
Winner: MVP 2005

Player Accuracy

MVP: No Sosa in O's, that means Ordonez is in FA still, no Iguchi. The player ratings are messed up too!! Manny Ramirez is Overrated. Carl Pavano, Big Unit, Beltre, and Aramis Ramirez were SO underrated. That's the one of those major problems- 2.75/5
MLB: No Sosa in O's Again... that means you-know-what. But player ratings were not messed up. Good!- 4/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Online

MVP: New EA Online!! But it's slow and ONLY 5 innings? EA's got long and winding road to go- 3.5/5
MLB: There's online as usual. It's faster and you can play 9 innings and home run derby as well!- 4/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Franchise

MVP: The Owner Mode rocks! It's even better than MLB 2005 (SONY)owner mode! It's completely good! There's Dynasty mode too!!- 4.75/5
MLB: Okay, there's enhanced GM Mode, Franchise and Tournament, but face it, they are not good enough to catch up Owner Mode. But you can be fired, or get more money in GM Mode- 4/5
Winner: MVP 2005

Extras

MVP: They got Mini Games which just really fascinates me, but nothing else-4/5
MLB: The Skybox is AWESOME as The Crib. In the face mode is good too! It's the game that you can disable the opponent's ability by earning the point!- 4.5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Price

MVP: 29.99. - 4.5/5
MLB: 19.99, a steal! - 5/5
Winner: MLB 2K5

Average:

MVP: 3.93/5 = 78.56%
MLB: 4.25/5 = 85%

Overall

MVP: 86
MLB: 93
Winner: MLB 2K5

This year's winner is MLB 2K5. But, hey MVP was good too. They just had last effort that looks just like last years, but badly.

P.S.: I hope this comparison review was helpful. But you can try both and compare it. Just try it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much more fun that MVP Baseball........, March 2, 2005

By 

J. Itterly - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Major League Baseball 2K5 (Video Game)

Why?

- Better graphics
- Better controls (sometimes less is more)
- Much better production values. You feel like your at a real game.

Well worth $19.99!..............

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's fun, but still needs some work..., February 28, 2005

By 

John M Spangler (Bryan, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Major League Baseball 2K5 (Video Game)

Sega Sports is gone, so now we have Visual Concepts (their old sports devloper) working with "2K Games and developer Kush." Visual Concepts can just focus on baseball thanks to E.A. swiping their greedy hands on the NFL license. But hold on to yourselves, this will be the only baseball game on XBOX for years. Unless Microsoft decides to step back on to the bandwagon, with no more E.A. MVP Baseball after this year, I think they should consider it.

Anyway, now we got Visual Concepts and Kush games with the hold of the MLB license and E.A. will have no more baseball. Sega Sports is gone, but we still got baseball from Visual Concepts. MLB 2K5 is Visual Concepts first game without Sega by their side. I have to say, as a whole, this game is whole heartedly worth spending 20 dollars on but I'll say to you it's not the best baseball game this year. MLB 2006 on the PS2 I feel is the best game this year. MVP is a close 2nd and here we have 2K5 in a close 3rd. I think 2K5 plays so much better as an online experience as Visual Concepts has proved year after year so keep that in mind when buying.

What to expect:
The big change this year is the batting and pitching aspect. No longer is the "aim and pitch routine". The game now requires you to line up 2 cursors, much like a free throw routine in the old NBA Live Series. You have to line up 2 targets in a cross hair, the closer you are, the more accurate the pitch. As a pitcher gets tired, the cursors move faster, thus making it harder to launch and accurate pitch. It works well, and feels great, and is a good fresh change from the norm. If you don't like it, I believe it can be toggled off in the options screen so you can play it the old way. Batting still has a cursor, but before the pitch, the batter "on a bad pitch" has the ability to guess the location of the throw. If you guess the diretion, you'll douse the pitcher with a hit or even a home run. The guessing game feature is quite simplistic, but freshens up the game in my opinion.

Custom soundtracks, while not as important to some, is a welcome addition for baseball. Not only can you apply your custom music to the stadium atmopshere, whether it'd be playing between pitches, between innings, after a big hit or great catch, you and customize a music tune for each of your players as they come to bat. How cool is that? Get your big gun guys pumped up with a flurry of AC/DC or Eminem or what ever trips your trigger! I wouldn't reccommend playing the barney theme song though, might not pump you up as much. But the custom soundtracks is a big plus considering E.A. still refuses to offer it in their sports games.

The graphics look good in 2k5,but I think MVP and MLB 2006 has it beat overall. Animations are choppy at times and I thought even last year the animations looked a bit more fluid and smooth. I just didnt' have as much fielding,it felt, well not as fun as MVP. I still wish the other baseball games would take after E.A. and use that throwing meter, I like the ability to control the power of my throws, but you don't have that option in 2K5. But great looking players, batting stances, and (potentially) fluid gameplay is doused by average animations while fielding. But it's not to the point where it's bad and hurts the game, it's just not as good as MVP and I expect more from Visual Concepts. One fresh I feature added is the "control the runner" behind the base. When you have a batter up and a man on base, you can take control of the runner and let the batter work on his own. It really gives the game from freshness. It really makes you feel in control of your baserunner and I felt it easier to steal bases.

The players faces look better in MVP, but 2K5 still gets the job done. Batting is still a blast. I really think it's fun to go up against a pitcher and it feels like baseball. Some people don't like the 2 button interface for batting, there is normal, and power swings. Some like it, some don't. I like the ability to slam one out every time, but I think it balances it out because if you use the powerswing too much, it's much easier to strike out when you're using your power swing.

Visual Concept added the "Slam Zone this year". This allows your batter to have a chance to guess where the ball might go after the pitcher chooses his target. The screen goes into a closeup battle between pitcher and batter and the game goes into a Matrixesque mode and slows down into slow motion and zooms in on the ball from the pitchers hand. During this short 5 second outing, the batter and pitcher have to tap at the button continuously during the slam mode as fast as they can to gain power for both the batter and pitcher, when the ball reaches the plate, take your shot. Whoever wins the battle will have a better chance at having a positive and if you tap out the pitcher enough, expect a big hit. Sounds confusing, but it's quite easy to get into and can be toggled on or off in the option screen. It usually will only happen when the pitcher disrupts a pitch or throws wildly, so don't expect it much.

Fielding seems to work fine with the exception of the breakups in animations. It still is a great playing game and I really love baseball, so for 19.99, really, what is not to like?

Custom soundtracks, good graphics, (including sweet looking stadiums, great player models and faces), good sound, good gameplay and good game overall is a bit put down by average animations that should have been better. If you only want to spend 20 smacks, 2k5 is the way to go. Online is great too, so keep that in mind when you pick one or "both" baseball games this year. Both are great in their own right.