Customer Reviews

Major League Baseball 2K9

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have 2K8 and was very excited about picking up the sequel. I am sad to report that I am totally disappointed.

The graphics are unimproved (forgivable, it IS for the Wii, afterall), the music is mostly 80's hits (seriously... Cheap Trick, The Romantics, Judas Priest, etc.), the batting is now ridiculously difficult, and EVERY other aspect of gameplay feels completely unchanged. (Right down to the continued use of the old "Devil Ray" green that was so annoyed me in 2K8's version of Tropicana Field. To me, this is one small example of just how little attention 2KSports gave the Wii version. Come on, the Rays ditched the green TWO years ago.)

This is NOT the game you see advertised on TV for PS3 and XBOX360 systems. And to call it "improved" in any way is an insult to consumer intelligence. I love my Wii and I love baseball - but I just don't think that the Wii, with it's lack of graphics capability, will ever attract the development of serious sports games. I wish I would have put the $50 that I wasted on this game toward another gaming system.

MLB 2k9 is a very weak stripped down baseball game. First, the graphics are very poor, even for wii standards (my MVP 2005 for the gamecube looks loads better). Second, there aren't many playing modes available and each mode lacks depth. For example, in season mode you dont have the option of playing preseason. Third, the wii controls are just awkward and painful. Having to jerk the wii controller down for every pitch starts to hurt and fielders will dive/jump/slide at the slightest twitch of the remote. Wish I could recommend an alternative but this is it for us wii owners.

I too am disappointed with this game (fortunately I rented, so saved a lot of money!). My greatest hope for a Wii baseball game was the ability to check your swing if you don't like the pitch. Unfortunately, they've made it more difficult than ever - you have to press two buttons mid-swing to check your swing, and even then they call a strike on appeal at least half the time. It's very disappointing.

Pitching controls are OK, fielding is OK, but baserunning is terrible (stealing, advancing bases, sliding, etc.) You can shake the remote and nunchuck up and down to run fast, but if you do that on a ball in the gap, it makes you slide into first base and lose your double. Advancing runners is confusing - to advance a singe runner you have to "select" them while they are running (still not sure how to do this) and then press a button to have them advance. Why not just have you press the base that you want a baserunner to advance to? Then all runners ahead of them will automatically advance. It shouldn't be that complicated, 2k sports!!

I guess I can keep hoping for a Wii-optimized baseball game. It seems the perfect console (minus the graphics :)

I've been playing this game often enough to overcome the minor problems and overall, I can say that I love it. While this is ultimately a port of the mlb 2k7 I played on xbox, it's a much better one. I'm angry that it took me six-seven hours to update the rosters manually, but now I'm set to go. Really, this should be a much better game that goes online, but since this is my only system, I'm happy that it doesn't have the bugs that the xbox 360 version is reported to have.

The fielding is without error and the controls are very responsive. The pitching is fun and it's a blast to strike out hitters. Batting takes some time, but if you leave your batting cursor in the middle of the strike zone, and then chase it when the pitch arrives, you can get a hit most of the time. Hitting is definitely a challenge, as it should be. Stealing a base is easy and rewarding, even though the manual doesn't tell you how. You have to select the runner on the d-pad, and then hit b as the pitcher begins his delivery. The only issue I have with control is that on the basepaths, the runners aren't very responsive and you can't get out of a pickle. The wii motions are fun, though they keep you from playing more than 3-4 games in a row, which is probably a good thing.

Sure the graphics aren't much, but the game plays quickly. Since it's hard to hit and the pitchers are difficult in pro mode, it's real rewarding when you win.

Some bugs you'll get used to:
-Playing in franchise mode, you have to set your lineups in the general screen, because changing them in the actual pregame selection does nothing.
-The 2008 stats are missing. Very ridiculous, but playing franchise, you make you're own stats anyway.

I say its worth picking up once everyone else sells theirs back. Enjoy.

I was super-excited to get my hands on my first baseball game for the Wii, and ran out and got MLB 2k9. Unfortunately, this one isn't that great. First of all, the graphics are pretty weak. Right from the first screen, the clarity of the team logos are all pixelated and dirty, even on an HD TV. The intuitiveness of the menu system is terrible. It's almost like you're working backwards from the exhibition screen to access some of the other features of the game.

As far as gameplay, the pitching is really fun - you can even hold out your arm for an intentional walk! However, the hitting is really tough. There's no way of telling what pitch is coming (some games have a color system or something, but this one doesn't), so it's tough to get a bat on anything. You sort of flail around with the controller. The running and fielding are pretty weird too, though with a bit more time I think it could be mastered.

A couple of little complaints: you can't access full screens of stats. Instead you can only see a few lines and sections of stats at a time. This gets annoying when you're looking for a player or a certain stat. Next, the announcers couldn't sound more bored and computer-like. Also, you have to change your set lineups (vs. RHP and LHP, DH, no DH) before starting a game - there isn't a simple lineup card you can swap around. Finally, in the first game of my season, I already had 2 injuries: Carlos Zambrano got hit in the head with a line drive, and Ryan Theriot jumped for a grounder and pulled his groin or something. I don't mind injuries, but come on, it's Opening Day!!

All in all, the game felt EXACTLY like the 2k Jeter offering for ps2 a while back - what in like 2005 or something?? It even has the same music. And I'm disappointed. I could see if they went easy on the ps2 version for this year, but for the Wii???? [...]

The prior comments are all spot on. Player stats are wrong, menu system is not intuitive and I will add that the instructions that come with the game are incomplete. It seems like many corners were cut in the development of this game. I am pretty disappointed.

Many other reviewers think this game is very hard and frustrating. this is true but let yourself get used to the controls and you'll find that this game isn't to bad at all. The graphics are better than 2k8 which i think we are all happy to hear but hitting is still very difficult, especially when you are facing guys with 12 to 6 curve balls because it looks like a fastball untill it is right near the plate. After a few try though i got the hang of it. overall this is a good game just give it a try.

If your looking for a game that you can play day one well this game is not for you. However, if your like me and like a challenge, this is a great game. Hitting is very difficult at first. You will strike out a lot and that can be frustrating. But pitching is relatively easy and you should be in the game due to that. As you learn to hit the game becomes more fun. The better pitchers in the game like real life will give you a rough time but that good (gives the game an authentic feel).

Bad graphics and no online, 2K Sports is giving Wii owners the shaft. The pitching control is fun, but not worth $50. Wait a few months until the game goes down to $19.99 or just get 2K8 for $10 used.

I went out and bought this game the day it was released. I was a big fan on 2k8 for the wii and was expecting a similar but improved product. What I got was a great disappointment.

Hitting is nearly impossible in this game. You have to predict what box the ball is going to be pitched to, then line everything up. I don't understand what was wrong with swinging the wii remote like you did for 2k8

Pitching is easily but yet not. The breaking pitches break too much and end up bouncing and getting past the catcher. If you want a curveball down and in you need to aim it up and in so it will break and end up being down. That doesn't make sense to me.

None of the players statistics are correct. I don't understand how 2k sports can release a game and completely overlook the accuarcy of the statistics. Jason Bartlett of the Rays hit 37 home runs last year according to 2k9.

All in all if you are looking for a baseball game for the wii I recommend getting MLB 2k8. Don't be like me and waste your money on this product only to be disappointed in its quality.