Triple Play 2002

by Electronic Arts Sports

Product Features

• Big leaguers come to life. 3D face scans and new player models.
• Nine innings in no time. Easy-to-use controls and an improved pitching interface speed up the pace of the game.
• Award-winning broadcaster Bob Costas and ESPN's Harold Reynolds call 'em like they see 'em.
• Cinematic animations and film-style presentation heighten the tension and drama of baseball's big moments.
• PlayStation2 - Bonus DVD includes behind-the-scenes footage.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005V3F1
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 19, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,339 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #34 in Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Sports > Baseball

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

You'd be hard pressed to find a better-looking baseball game than Triple Play 2002. If only the same could be said for its gameplay. If easy-playing, action-packed ball games spiced with a liberal dosage of the long ball are what you're seeking, this game won't disappoint.

Graphically, no one can touch the stunning visuals and attention to detail that EA Sports has given to every ballplayer and stadium. Most players' faces accurately resemble their real-life counterparts (albeit with oversized heads), and they come complete with customized batting stances and perfectly rendered uniform detail. The ballparks themselves come alive in breathtaking beauty as a variety of camera angles put you right on the field and in the seats.

But too many inconsistencies and omissions hold this game back from greatness. Most unrealistic is the frequency of home runs and the ease with which you're able to score runs--the novelty wears off pretty fast after swatting long ball after long ball and finding yourself tied 9-9 in the 4th inning. Playing at the rookie, pro, or all-star level does little to stem the outpouring of runs, and does even less to shorten the tedious game pace, perhaps the most unintentionally realistic part of Triple Play 2002. Fielding could use some fine-tuning as well. And when does EA Sports plan to reintroduce injuries to this series?

Game modes still feature fully customizable season options and the home run derby, either one-on-one or tournament (up to eight players). But gone from the derby, strangely, is the option to choose from past legendary players and members of the 500-home-run club.

Calling the action this year is the two-man announcing team of Bob Costas and Harold Reynolds. Costas thankfully keeps things more low-key than his real-life persona, while Reynolds dishes the sass like a pro ("This isn't an eye test--swing the bat!"). --Larry White

Pros:

• Best visuals of any baseball sim
• In-game music builds up dramatic moments
• 8-player home run derby

Cons:

• No injuries
• Unrealistic gameplay
• Slow, uncustomizable game pace
• Player heads are too big for their bodies

Product Description

You'd be hard pressed to find a better-looking baseball game than Triple Play 2002. If only the same could be said for its gameplay. If easy-playing, action-packed ball games spiced with a liberal dosage of the long ball are what you're seeking, this game won't disappoint.

Graphically, no one can touch the stunning visuals and attention to detail that EA Sports has given to every ballplayer and stadium. Most players' faces accurately resemble their real-life counterparts (albeit with oversized heads), and they come complete with customized batting stances and perfectly rendered uniform detail. The ballparks themselves come alive in breathtaking beauty as a variety of camera angles put you right on the field and in the seats.

But too many inconsistencies and omissions hold this game back from greatness. Most unrealistic is the frequency of home runs and the ease with which you're able to score runs--the novelty wears off pretty fast after swatting long ball after long ball and finding yourself tied 9-9 in the 4th inning. Playing at the rookie, pro, or all-star level does little to stem the outpouring of runs, and does even less to shorten the tedious game pace, perhaps the most unintentionally realistic part of Triple Play 2002. Fielding could use some fine-tuning as well. And when does EA Sports plan to reintroduce injuries to this series?

Game modes still feature fully customizable season options and the home run derby, either one-on-one or tournament (up to eight players). But gone from the derby, strangely, is the option to choose from past legendary players and members of the 500-home-run club.

Calling the action this year is the two-man announcing team of Bob Costas and Harold Reynolds. Costas thankfully keeps things more low-key than his real-life persona, while Reynolds dishes the sass like a pro ("This isn't an eye test--swing the bat!"). --Larry White

Pros:

• Best visuals of any

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The best baseball game this year is still poor, March 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Triple Play 2002 (Video Game)

I've played High Heat, All Star and Triple Play for the PS2, and Triple Play is the best of all three. That said, it has some serious shortcomings.
I'll begin with the positives. The stadium graphics in TP are the best of the baseball games, and the fielding is the most fluid. It is fast-paced without being too arcady-not easy to do with a baseball game. The draft continues to be a great feature.
But some of the best features of previous Triple Play editions continue to be neglected in recent years. There are no injuries. Any position player can play all 162 regular season games without fatigue, and thus there is no reward for having a deep roster. Pitchers recover from throwing to full strength after two off days. A 50 win season is highly possible for a good pitcher if you juggle your rotation. Though the fielding is the best of available baseball games, players tend to hold onto the ball when quick throws are necessary-many potential double plays go for naught. The AI is poor. Computer batters will consistently swing at out-of-the-zone pitches, but have no trouble making solid contact on any strike. I have yet to see a called third strike. Stealing bases is too easy. The trade feature is pathetic. Any player for any player is the rule... trade your utility infielder for Ivan Rodriguez. Not even a 'this trade is deemed unfair... proceed anyway?' comes up to give a guilty conscience.
EA should include some of the features from their best sports game (Madden) that make it so much fun. Franchise mode, multiple player trades, and created teams are a few ideas. EA needs to beat the Monkeys they have at the code writing computers, or at least add more of them so that this game takes a step into the NOW of sports simulation. And gives us a baseball game worth playing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Baseball Game (for now), October 9, 2002

By 

M. Schubert (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Triple Play 2002 (Video Game)

This game is why I bought my PS2. The graphics are incredible. The strategies that you can execute in the field and at bat are very lifelike. The movement of the players and the reaction of the ball in different stadiums is so real that its scary.

With that said, there are a few things that bother me about this game:

1) In the game, the home team takes the 3rd base dugout in every stadium. What's up with that?
2) Where are the injuries?? I beamed Mike Piazza in the head, ribs, and back a half-dozen times in this game and he kept coming back for more!
3) Fighting (like in the NHL series) would be nice (see point #2 above).
4) It's pretty easy to score runs, which will make the game kinda boring after a while. I guess if we face facts that it's a computer, we should realize that there will be repeatable scenarios under which you can always score.

I've been a baseball fan all of my life and pros and cons aside - this is a terrific game to play. I think it might cure my offseason blues.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Betrayed by EA sports, yet again...., April 3, 2002

By 

Eric (Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Triple Play 2002 (Video Game)

EA sports has made another lackluster game. With the heinous invention of nba live '02 behind them, the EA production team now creates a lackluster baseball game. I would conisder myself a fan of baseball, but not an avid fan (perhaps, this is why i like the game, im almost ashamed to say) The game itself is decent. The gameplay is average once the difficulty settings are changed, on amateur i scored 28 runs in game !!(pretty amazing huh) Im currently in a season on pro and the games have been pretty true to life...somewhat.
The modes of play are EXTREMELY limited. You only have single, season, and homerun derby (there may be another one that im forgetting). The graphics are decent, however the players faces are hillariously emotionless and the commentating is sometimes annoying and a bit unaccurate. Overall the games deserves 2 and half stars, not three. If your an avid fan of baseball, then you probably wont like this one, perhaps the all-star and high heat are up your alley. In a nutshell this game is for the casual fan.