Just like any other sports game MVP Baseball 2005 comes by this year with some minor new features and some helpful gameplay tweaks. Actually this years iteration of the series is the best so far. That's good, because it's the only baseball game to be found on the PC this year. That would mainly be due to 3DO's bankruptcy last year, who developed the hit series High Heat Major League Baseball. Finally EA's own series has been able to stand up to what once was.
One of MVP's best areas this year is the amount of features. There are more features here than you can shake a stick at. Of course the most obvious way to get the game going is the "Play Now" option. Heading into this area will start up a game for you ASAP. All you have to do is just choose your teams between MLB, AAA, AA, or A, and your difficulty levels which are Rookie, Pro, All-Star or MVP. Once you have finished with your options you can quickly head out onto the field for a nice nine inning game. Besides having the ability to start a game up on the fly, MVP Baseball 2005 includes a large number of gameplay modes that are sure to have you hitting homeruns and line drives for hours.
Most of the game modes have remained from the 2004 season, but there are two new ones which we will get to in a moment. The most recognizable mode that has remained is the Exhibition mode. This is more-or-less the same as the "Play Now" function except for the fact that it does have some more detailed options such as being able to choose how many innings there will be. Another mode that is making a comeback is the Homerun Showdown. This is where two batters go head to head to see who can make the most homeruns. Some of the other familiar game modes are the Manager mode, where you simply just manage your team during a game instead of playing, and the scenario editor. It is nice to see these modes making a return in this year's addition, but there is still more that makes this title even better.
MVP Baseball 2005 actually includes two different franchise modes. As if one wasn't enough you now get two ways of running your very own baseball franchise. The first of which made its debut in the 2004 season as the Dynasty mode. However, new to this season is the Owner mode which is a little more in depth than the Dynasty mode. The Owner mode also doesn't last as long, so it should appeal to a wider range of people.
The Dynasty mode allows you to take control of 120 years of a Major League Organization. Upon starting up this franchise, you must first select which team you wish to follow and can then go through the rosters. You can also check out scouting reports and can access your MVP inbox which is basically like an e-mail system giving you updates. No money is dealt with in the Dynasty franchise as that comes in to play in the all new Owner mode.
Gameplay
The Owner franchise differs quite nicely compared to the Dynasty mode. In this mode you are given a set amount of money to construct your own stadium, buy upgrades for it and even to pay your employees. Lasting for 30 years, the Owner mode allows you to customize your very own stadium at the start. Although it really feels more like a set limit of features to choose from rather than truly customizing. The options you can choose for your stadium include things such as the location of the stadium, the name, type of back walls, the color and material of the walls, the color of the seats and whether the ground is made of grass or artificial turf. The only problem is that some set features are really missing here such as the ability to have a dome ceiling over the stadium or even a retractable roof. There just aren't enough options to choose from to really call this customizing a new ballpark.
Once you have chosen your options, however, you are then tasked with choosing your team. After this there is a huge number of things open for you to do, most of which include managing a number of areas. You can hire new staff including scouts, managers and coaches, check out some team management in the form of transactions, rosters and payroll. Some more features include the Owner's box which is where you can set pricing on tickets, concessions, and stores. From here you can also check out team finances, promotional days, and even take a bird's eye view of your new ballpark.
You may well spend most of your time (and money) at the Buy Assets screen. Here you can buy anything from new stores and concession stands to stadium upgrades. The stadium upgrades consist of many different areas. Some upgrades can include better scoreboards, a nice firework show when homeruns are made, or the addition of more levels of stadium seating. You can even add such things as batting cages and arcades for the fans to enjoy, but you better make sure that the fans stay happy which may require you to lower some of your prices while you provide some high quality entertainment.
The Owner mode, however, isn't without its own set of problems. The main problem lies in the amount of money you receive to make all of this happen. You can select how big your budget will be at the beginning, but the max you can get is $5,000,000 to start with. That may seem like a lot of money, but when you are trying to build a brand new stadium complete with attractions and restaurants for the fans, your treasury will deplete quite fast. In fact, it may even take you a few more years until you can earn enough money to buy further upgrades for your ballpark.
Obviously the two franchise modes, in particular the Owner mode, are the main attractions in MVP Baseball 2005 and is no doubt the main area of the game where you will spend most of your time. However, there are still a few other gameplay modes that we haven't even touched on yet. Another new mode in this years edition are the Mini Games. This mode consists primarily of two different types of games. One type is a batting mini game which puts you into a small field with a number of obstacles. You are awarded points depending on how far you hit the ball, which way you hit it, and depending on what type of items you hit with the ball you score higher. The second mini game comes in the form of a timed version and an un-timed version. This one is a pitcher's mini game that has taken on a Tetris feel. You must pitch the ball a certain way depending on the color. If you do it just right squares will be knocked down and more will come in. These mini games can be addictively fun and definitely add a change of pace to the game as well as allowing you to unlock classic baseball players once you reach higher rounds.
Lastly, there are two more gameplay modes that we have not yet mentioned (we did say there were a lot of features in this title!). The two last modes are the Manager and Scenario Editor modes. Both of these modes have come back from the 2004 season. The Manager mode allows you to be, well, the manager. You are capable of controlling the strategy of the game while leaving the real gameplay up to the players on the field. The Scenario Editor mode does exactly what it sounds like. You can create any scenario you can think of and then you can play it out. All these different gameplay modes are sure to please any baseball fan and definitely heighten the value of MVP Baseball 2005 .
But what would a sports game be without online play? That's right, this years MVP Baseball has that too. After creating an account and having to download an updated roster patch, you can finally head out online. Online play consists of tournaments and ladders where points and tokens are awarded for your skills in the game. It is also lag-free which is a huge plus.
Besides the different type of gameplay modes in MVP Baseball 2005 , there are also some minor improvements within the gameplay itself that really do make a difference. Once such improvement is the Hitter's Eye. This handy little feature gives the offensive batter a way to "read" the pitches that are thrown at him. The ball changes a specific color only for a split second after it leaves the pitcher's glove. Depending on what color it is, you should be able to determine what type of a pitch is coming towards you. It does work quite well, and should provide a helping hand to anyone who needs it. On the other hand, if you would rather "read" the ball without any type of aid, then you can simply turn this option off. Another new feature making its debut this year is the Pitch/Swing Analysis Replay. In other words, when you are up to bat and you miss the ball, a small window will popup in the lower portion of the screen showing you your timing and swing location.
The technology front of MVP Baseball 2005 is also superb. Graphics are gorgeous and you can even notice the dirt staying on the player's uniforms after a slide into home base. Some new animations have also been added which add some more realism to the game. It really does look like the batter is embarrassed after striking out on a perfect pitch. The sound effects, while being detailed with the roar of the fans and the voiceovers of the announcers, seem to suffer in the music department. Normally EA does a great job with the music in their sports and driving games, but the music in this title just does not seem to fit the atmosphere at times. It also seems like there is a very limited number of songs.
Conclusion
In the end, MVP Baseball 2005 should naturally appeal to all baseball fans and even those who are not huge fans of the sport. There is plenty of gameplay here on offer with its large variety of different modes and mini games. The slight graphical updates and minor new features also bring this new entry into the series a step closer to realism. Sure, there are a few things that we can pick at such as the low budget Owner mode where you need to constantly micromanage everything to make a dollar, but our gripes are quite small and should in now way keep you from enjoying this great title.
One of MVP's best areas this year is the amount of features. There are more features here than you can shake a stick at. Of course the most obvious way to get the game going is the "Play Now" option. Heading into this area will start up a game for you ASAP. All you have to do is just choose your teams between MLB, AAA, AA, or A, and your difficulty levels which are Rookie, Pro, All-Star or MVP. Once you have finished with your options you can quickly head out onto the field for a nice nine inning game. Besides having the ability to start a game up on the fly, MVP Baseball 2005 includes a large number of gameplay modes that are sure to have you hitting homeruns and line drives for hours.
Most of the game modes have remained from the 2004 season, but there are two new ones which we will get to in a moment. The most recognizable mode that has remained is the Exhibition mode. This is more-or-less the same as the "Play Now" function except for the fact that it does have some more detailed options such as being able to choose how many innings there will be. Another mode that is making a comeback is the Homerun Showdown. This is where two batters go head to head to see who can make the most homeruns. Some of the other familiar game modes are the Manager mode, where you simply just manage your team during a game instead of playing, and the scenario editor. It is nice to see these modes making a return in this year's addition, but there is still more that makes this title even better.
MVP Baseball 2005 actually includes two different franchise modes. As if one wasn't enough you now get two ways of running your very own baseball franchise. The first of which made its debut in the 2004 season as the Dynasty mode. However, new to this season is the Owner mode which is a little more in depth than the Dynasty mode. The Owner mode also doesn't last as long, so it should appeal to a wider range of people.
The Dynasty mode allows you to take control of 120 years of a Major League Organization. Upon starting up this franchise, you must first select which team you wish to follow and can then go through the rosters. You can also check out scouting reports and can access your MVP inbox which is basically like an e-mail system giving you updates. No money is dealt with in the Dynasty franchise as that comes in to play in the all new Owner mode.
Gameplay
The Owner franchise differs quite nicely compared to the Dynasty mode. In this mode you are given a set amount of money to construct your own stadium, buy upgrades for it and even to pay your employees. Lasting for 30 years, the Owner mode allows you to customize your very own stadium at the start. Although it really feels more like a set limit of features to choose from rather than truly customizing. The options you can choose for your stadium include things such as the location of the stadium, the name, type of back walls, the color and material of the walls, the color of the seats and whether the ground is made of grass or artificial turf. The only problem is that some set features are really missing here such as the ability to have a dome ceiling over the stadium or even a retractable roof. There just aren't enough options to choose from to really call this customizing a new ballpark.
Once you have chosen your options, however, you are then tasked with choosing your team. After this there is a huge number of things open for you to do, most of which include managing a number of areas. You can hire new staff including scouts, managers and coaches, check out some team management in the form of transactions, rosters and payroll. Some more features include the Owner's box which is where you can set pricing on tickets, concessions, and stores. From here you can also check out team finances, promotional days, and even take a bird's eye view of your new ballpark.
You may well spend most of your time (and money) at the Buy Assets screen. Here you can buy anything from new stores and concession stands to stadium upgrades. The stadium upgrades consist of many different areas. Some upgrades can include better scoreboards, a nice firework show when homeruns are made, or the addition of more levels of stadium seating. You can even add such things as batting cages and arcades for the fans to enjoy, but you better make sure that the fans stay happy which may require you to lower some of your prices while you provide some high quality entertainment.
The Owner mode, however, isn't without its own set of problems. The main problem lies in the amount of money you receive to make all of this happen. You can select how big your budget will be at the beginning, but the max you can get is $5,000,000 to start with. That may seem like a lot of money, but when you are trying to build a brand new stadium complete with attractions and restaurants for the fans, your treasury will deplete quite fast. In fact, it may even take you a few more years until you can earn enough money to buy further upgrades for your ballpark.
Obviously the two franchise modes, in particular the Owner mode, are the main attractions in MVP Baseball 2005 and is no doubt the main area of the game where you will spend most of your time. However, there are still a few other gameplay modes that we haven't even touched on yet. Another new mode in this years edition are the Mini Games. This mode consists primarily of two different types of games. One type is a batting mini game which puts you into a small field with a number of obstacles. You are awarded points depending on how far you hit the ball, which way you hit it, and depending on what type of items you hit with the ball you score higher. The second mini game comes in the form of a timed version and an un-timed version. This one is a pitcher's mini game that has taken on a Tetris feel. You must pitch the ball a certain way depending on the color. If you do it just right squares will be knocked down and more will come in. These mini games can be addictively fun and definitely add a change of pace to the game as well as allowing you to unlock classic baseball players once you reach higher rounds.
Lastly, there are two more gameplay modes that we have not yet mentioned (we did say there were a lot of features in this title!). The two last modes are the Manager and Scenario Editor modes. Both of these modes have come back from the 2004 season. The Manager mode allows you to be, well, the manager. You are capable of controlling the strategy of the game while leaving the real gameplay up to the players on the field. The Scenario Editor mode does exactly what it sounds like. You can create any scenario you can think of and then you can play it out. All these different gameplay modes are sure to please any baseball fan and definitely heighten the value of MVP Baseball 2005 .
But what would a sports game be without online play? That's right, this years MVP Baseball has that too. After creating an account and having to download an updated roster patch, you can finally head out online. Online play consists of tournaments and ladders where points and tokens are awarded for your skills in the game. It is also lag-free which is a huge plus.
Besides the different type of gameplay modes in MVP Baseball 2005 , there are also some minor improvements within the gameplay itself that really do make a difference. Once such improvement is the Hitter's Eye. This handy little feature gives the offensive batter a way to "read" the pitches that are thrown at him. The ball changes a specific color only for a split second after it leaves the pitcher's glove. Depending on what color it is, you should be able to determine what type of a pitch is coming towards you. It does work quite well, and should provide a helping hand to anyone who needs it. On the other hand, if you would rather "read" the ball without any type of aid, then you can simply turn this option off. Another new feature making its debut this year is the Pitch/Swing Analysis Replay. In other words, when you are up to bat and you miss the ball, a small window will popup in the lower portion of the screen showing you your timing and swing location.
The technology front of MVP Baseball 2005 is also superb. Graphics are gorgeous and you can even notice the dirt staying on the player's uniforms after a slide into home base. Some new animations have also been added which add some more realism to the game. It really does look like the batter is embarrassed after striking out on a perfect pitch. The sound effects, while being detailed with the roar of the fans and the voiceovers of the announcers, seem to suffer in the music department. Normally EA does a great job with the music in their sports and driving games, but the music in this title just does not seem to fit the atmosphere at times. It also seems like there is a very limited number of songs.
Conclusion
In the end, MVP Baseball 2005 should naturally appeal to all baseball fans and even those who are not huge fans of the sport. There is plenty of gameplay here on offer with its large variety of different modes and mini games. The slight graphical updates and minor new features also bring this new entry into the series a step closer to realism. Sure, there are a few things that we can pick at such as the low budget Owner mode where you need to constantly micromanage everything to make a dollar, but our gripes are quite small and should in now way keep you from enjoying this great title.
