Baseball has arrived on the first next-gen video game system with 2K Sports' MLB 2K6. The videogame comes in at a next-gen price of $60, making it actually $20 more than the current gen versions. Right away you have to wonder how much next-gen this game is to have the current gen versions be $10 under the average game price for current gen titles but not being discounted on the Xbox 360. MLB 2K6 is a good game to hold gamers over but there needs to be more to make it worth the $60 price tag.
After playing the game for a while there is one thing in particular that sticks out. It seems a lot like they wanted to push the game out in time for the beginning of baseball season. The game has gone through many changes from previous years' versions but they probably should've focused just on a few this year. The one area that is expected to be improved over previous versions of a game is the graphics. And when you have a next-gen version of a game, it is expected that we should be seeing a good amount of difference and know that we are playing a next-gen title. The graphics look decent but are not up to Xbox 360 standards and look more like standard Xbox. The main thing that I liked with the graphics is in regard to the shadows and sun brightness throughout a game. This is something I really noticed at Wrigley Field. You'll notice the shadows from the stadium moving over the field as the day progresses as well as the light changing with the sunset. The amount of jaggies seen throughout the game really makes you question if this is an Xbox 360 title.
Taking a page out of golf videogames, the thumbstick now acts as your swing. Getting used to this will take some time but I found it to be nice and different from the usually button tapping. If you don't want to bother learning it this way or if you get annoyed with it, you have the option of switching over to the 'classic' batting controls. In fact, there are a lot of settings to play around with to make the game how you want it. Customization is always a great way to give customers what they want so this is a great thing for everyone.
Something that isn't new but needs something modified to make it better is the base running. Just like before, you can only choose one of the runners at a time and then press the corresponding button as fast as you can to make them run faster. This makes things hard when you have 2 outs or even 1 out with bases loaded. You might want to focus on getting the runner on third to home, but that means the others will run slower and leaves the possibility of a double play open to turn the second and third outs. It is nice that you are able to control a runner rather than a batter if you'd like to, however.
You basically have two career modes in MLB 2K6. The franchise mode puts you into a team of your choosing. You have the ability to trade, set rosters, play the games, and do the other basic things. There's also a GM career mode that has you do these things but gives you certain goals to reach depending on the team you are on. These goals for the Cubs included getting rid of Ryan Dempster because his contract was too much and he wasn't worth it. There is another one that had me negotiate with Mark Prior to get him to re-sign his contract. In this mode you are able to go to a different team that has an opening if you want.
In addition to simulating a game instead of playing it on your schedule if you are short on time, you can also manage a game. At first, this was a bit boring because you are just presented with a matchup screen of the pitcher and batter pictures with a diagram of the field. With this you are given choices for your batter/pitcher. You are given a good amount of choices, at least. You can even make selections for your base runners and attempt to steal a base. I was actually expecting a view of the field and watching the AI act out your commands. This, however, is a nice and quick way to go through a couple of games. As a batter you can hit for contact, hit for home run, hit and run, bunt for hit, bunt for sac or pinch hit. This is a nice list of options for not being able to actually control them.
Having collisions on the field while trying to catch a ball is finally implemented. I haven't actually seen the AI actually collide, though, which makes it less interesting for me. This certainly adds to the realism of the game rather than seeing three guys go after a ball and run through each other. In MLB 2K6 you will need to call off other out-fields by pressing X.
Another nice addition is purchasing Inside Edge reports to get the scoop on other players on the opposing teams. Purchasing a report on some of the big hitters can really help your pitching. Your catcher will help you out by suggesting a location and pitch type like they would in real life. These reports may be neglected when you first get into the game but really add to the experience and help your team win more games. This is a nice feature that provides a bit more depth to the game.
MLB 2K6 features a good amount of modes besides the career modes with exhibition play, home run derby and World Baseball Classic. Considering there are some new things in this year's title, like the hitting method, a tutorial mode would have been very helpful. And what is with the current-gen graphics on a next-gen title? If you are able to hold out for the next Xbox 360 baseball game, MLB 2K6 is not worth the $60 price tag. The game can be enjoyable but isn't worth the price that they put it out for. This is especially true since some of the things feel rushed to make it out in time for the start of baseball season.
