World Series Baseball 2K2

by Sega

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000059Z7F
• Item Weight: 5 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: August 16, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,123 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

World Series Baseball 2K1 nearly ruined one of the most cherished franchises in sports gaming with its poor gameplay. For the 2K2 edition, Sega turned to Visual Concepts--the developers behind its excellent football, baseball, and hockey titles. The developers only had 10 months to work on the title, and while it's the best baseball game on the Dreamcast to date, it plays like a game that needs more work.

Thankfully, fielding is back in the game (fielding was automatic in 2K1). Unfortunately, the controls can be very tricky. Ground balls hit within a reasonable range of the player often pass him. The only alternative is diving, which leads to spectacular shots of players diving over and past baseballs. The batting and pitching controls are simpler than in last year's version, but could have used more polishing. Hitting is way too arduous (in the video game sense)--even after dozens of game hours, tracking pitches is far more difficult than in other games. Positives include sharp graphics and a plenitude of modes, such as exhibition, season, playoffs, home run derby, franchise, and online. This is currently the only baseball game on a console that supports Internet play, albeit with some lag and bug issues.

Problems aside, this is as good as baseball gets on this platform. If the Dreamcast is your only system and you're itching for a baseball game, then don't hesitate to pick this one up. Gamers with other consoles should consider EA Sports's and Acclaim's baseball titles. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:

• The best baseball game on the Dreamcast
• Excellent graphics
• Internet play

Cons:

• Gameplay could have used a few more months of tweaking
• AI is easily fooled
• Internet play can be buggy

Amazon.com Preview

Baseball fans longed for the release of World Series Baseball 2K1 through most of its inaugural season. When it finally came home after the All-Star break, most were amazed by the detailed, realistic graphics but were disappointed by the game's lack of control and options. Every other game Sega Sports had released had been a sterling example of sports gameplay (see NFL 2K and Virtua Tennis for reference), but WSB 2K1 was a comparative failure. Though it was graphically superior to every other game out there, it didn't provide the well-rounded gaming experience that Acclaim's All-Star Baseball had for the Nintendo 64 or Triple Play Baseball for the PlayStation. Like conditioned Cubs fans, Dreamcast owners looked to next season.

When it comes to game design, Sega habitually learns from and improves upon its mistakes. One of the first things the designers addressed with World Series Baseball 2K2 is fielder control. You'll now be able to move your individual outfielders, catch, and direct your throws per video game baseball tradition. They've also improved the pitching and batting engines, which were sometimes a bit too simplistic in the previous version. Sega is promising to replace the startling lack of in-game commentary with multiple broadcasters, but, as of press time, the company hasn't said who will be signing on (please be Vin Scully, please be Vin Scully). They designers have also put in a franchise mode--a no-brainer for contemporary sports games--with a fantasy draft component.

Sega also knows not to throw out the elements that worked. High-resolution stadiums and player models are returning, as are the amazing motion-captured animation and dynamic uniforms and fields, which means you should see scuffed chalk lines and grass stains as the game wears on. Patching 2K1's obvious holes would have been enough for some, but they've also added a wealth of other features, too. There's a spring-training mode for the grapefruit fans, as well as a home run derby for those chicks--and dudes--who dig the long ball. And for you armchair managers, how would you like to store different starting lineups for your team on your VMU, juggle your bullpen staff, and even create and train new players?

But what about that one feature that fans have pined for since baseball on the Dreamcast was first announced? Yes friends, World Series Baseball 2K2 will have online head-to-head play and chat. It will be like a virtual road trip without jet lag or double-bunked hotel rooms!

There are so many promising features tied to this game that if it were just about any other company developing the game, we'd be afraid they couldn't come through. However, we've played Sega's other sports games, so we have a lot of faith in this one. --Porter B. Hall

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't listen to the naysayers, the game is a rousing success, August 29, 2001

By 

punkviper (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: World Series Baseball 2K2 (Video Game)

Rarely have I heard so much bellyaching and crybaby whining as I have over this game. Coming after what was possibly THE MOST BOTCHED Sega Sports game in history, we should be happy the thing was even released, let alone being remotely playable. It is not perfect, but if you know anything about console baseball games, there has never been a perfect baseball game. World Series 2K2 comes glancingly close though. First off, to answer some questions and comments posed by others: 1) The red/blue/clear boxes are areas of the strike zone that the hitter hits well/poorly in. 2) The defense is NOT difficult, and most often the computer will start your player in the correct direction. If you screw up from there, blame youself. 3) Yes, the outfielders sometimes don't turn around to make the catch, big freakin deal! They still make the catch! 4) The fielders are slow? Then why can I usually beat the runner to first base with any one of my infielders? I personally like a ball to fall in the gap in the outfield once in a while, it's called realism. 5) The faces of the players are far from perfect (Derek Bell's moustache being a particularly gruesome offender), but the players are otherwise animated and rendered exceedingly well. 6) The stadiums look amazing, the crowds are 2D but they always have been so deal with it. 7) I don't believe people complain about their trades getting vetoed. How many times did gamers kvetch about "I shouldn't be able to assemble an all-star roster by swindling every team in the league!" but now we have people moaning that "Waaah, I can't build my ultimate dream-team, waaaah!" Go take a nap! My issues with the game: 1) I don't see much difference in fielding from player to player. Everyone seems to have the same general range, fielding ability, and speed. 2) Sadly, too many homeruns. Though this has always been a problem with console baseball games, the developers/publishers think gamers would rather see more homeruns than less. 3) Visual Concepts and the other development teams thought it would be a hoot to see THEIR names in the game. Which is why the Mets' left-fielder isn't Benny Agbayani, it's John Brooks. And there's some joker named Larry Peacock in the Pirates bullpen. Just check the back of the game manual and you will see that 1 player from every MLB team has been replaced with a member of the game development team. Ridiculous? Yes, but I deal with it and so should you. Apart from that, I really have no grave issues with the game. Pitching is tremendously intuitive, hitting is all in the timing, fielding is not nearly the chore that the inept think it is, the menus are clear as day if you aren't a moron, substitutions are easy, strikeouts are an art-form that you will get better at with time, the graphics are silky smooth and oh so nice, home run derby is fun, and don't forget the franchise mode. People, this game had TEN MONTHS in development. Which ain't much, in gaming time. They had to SCRAP the previous incarnation, and start over. I think they did a tremendous job, and trust me, I'm usually the first person to jump down a baseball game's throat when it disappoints. Don't be a follower by jumping on the anti-WS2K2 bandwagon. Judge for yourself, and let yourself enjoy all the game has to offer, it is after all, undisputedly the BEST baseball game available for the Dreamcast.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Played it Today, July 11, 2001

By 

Todd Keister (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Series Baseball 2K2 (Video Game)

Well, went to All-Star Fanfest today and they had about 15 WSB 2K2 stands to actually PLAY the game! I own 2K1 and I am very disappointed. 2K2 was fun to play and I am going to be preordering it very soon. They have drastically improved the gameplay and the added cool things. I was disappointed because they used a burned disk from SEGA and it was very buggy. However, they had season mode in which you have minor leagues and can call up people! VERY COOL. Home Run Derby, and online stuff. They have new players ICHIRO! and the stadiums PNC PARK. and you can play defense and commit errors. Anyhow things Im dissapointed in are the bugs but they will be gone and the fact that some of the players stances dont look like they do in 2K1. It is not as graphically inhanced as 2K1, but over all I am impressed and very very excited for the August 1 release date.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realism & Great Game Play, August 28, 2001

By 

Weak Hitting Catcher (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Series Baseball 2K2 (Video Game)

I got my copy about a week ago and I have been playing it non-stop. Right now, I have played about 20 games through the Season set using the fantasy draft option. Very cool. Basically like being part of a fantasy baseball league except you actually get to play the games. Pitching is awesome. An earlier reviewer noted how realistic the pitching is and it truly is. For example, the computer version of Kim, the Korean reliever for the Diamondbacks, has a corresponding submarine delivery to the actual Kim. The batting stances are spot on as well. Guys with funky stances like Gary Sheffield and Vladamir Guerrero are perfectly recreated. Batting is quite a bit tougher to learn than pitching (unless you are playing Rookie level). I have been having the most fun pitching. It is great sending brush back pitches and plunking guys. After I hit a two-run homer off another pitcher, the CPU sent my next guy up a brush back pitch, too. While these realistic touches are great, it is the game play that seals the deal. Whether playing against the CPU or a friend, the pitching, batting, fielding, etc. are excellent. If you pick the Fantasy Draft option, make sure to do whatever you can to pick up Pedro Martinez. The guy is unhittable in the game. He does not pick up many strikeouts, but nobody has scored on Pedro yet...at least through the first five games. Try to avoid Tim Hudson...despite his great numbers, all four times I have sent him out there Hudson got absolutely shelled....methinks the makers are not A's fans. This is a great game and Dreamcast finally has a solid baseball game to match its already solid basketball, football, tennis and hockey (and skateboarding, although that is not a traditional sport) games. Dreamcast is easily the best console if you love sports games.