Major League Baseball 2K6 (PlayStation 2, 2006)

I rented this game the other day due to the argument that it was a bad game.
What I found surprised me.
1. The graphics are not up to what I was used to. The players lack definition and style. I almost think they spent so much time analyzing the players they forgot to make them look human. (Hope this does get better in the future.)
2. The Hit Stick made for some fun AB’s. I was used to the concept from EA Sports College Baseball game, but I did have to adjust my play with the changes. And I believe there was an option to turn it off if you did not like it.
3. The Pitching was in my opinion the most fun I have ever had in a game. The way you can manipulate the catcher, make pay of pitches, and build on success in game by improvements to the pitcher in game all make me feel like they did do some good. The way the catcher works the batter helping you to get the outs on the players you own scouting reports on is cool in itself. Stress placed on the pitcher in jams made for fun baseball as well. No other game I have played made me feel like I was really there trying to just throw that strike with 2 outs and bases juiced. The pitches aim jerks all over the strike zone when he gets raddled.
4. The coach can hype up his team by arguing and the pitching coach can really calm down a pitcher who is struggling or in a bind. The options to fire and hire different coaches and staff just gave it that much more of a Madden like effect of running your own ball club.
5. On the down side I didn’t really agree with how they rated some of the players with skills. It seemed to be very unforgiving and although I know many players are below average some of the local hero’s ratings were poor overall.
6. The fielding is hard to get down. Maybe it was because I was going from using the right Analog stick to the buttons again but the throws seemed sluggish and the movement in the outfield seemed slow except when using speed burst. The player AI seems shaky on ground balls and base coverage. But maybe I just need to play it more to get that right.
7. The scouting reports on the players are information overload but helpful at times.
8. Overall I enjoyed it. Having been a closing pitcher in High School I loved the changes made to make you feel like you are in a tough spot.
9. I say rent it, give the game a chance, sure the graphics are not up to standard but maybe they will work on that next year. Look at the good things in this game, the thrill of not being able to dominate every game against the computer because the pitcher and the batters seem more human and less robotic.