MLB 2K10

Review by Zelemont for MLB 2K10
Rating:
I own MLB2K8 on the wii and can honestly say it has been one of my favorites on the system. The batting and pitching mechanics are more effective and accurate (not to mention fun!) than any other baseball platform I have played, and the franchise and season modes are addictive and have kept me entertained for more time than I would like to admit despite lackluster graphics, so-so announcers, and occasional glitches.

Because I had finally found a baseball game that I enjoyed thoroughly, I was beyond excited for the MLB 2K9. This is the year that just about every other team sports game on the Wii was coming out with online mode, so it seemed obvious to me that MLB would be no exception. I was also looking forward to an upgrade in the graphic design and a lot of fixed bugs along with new, accurate rosters for my White Sox. What I got was a confusing mix of Sox staples and minor league players who were taking the empty spots after trades. I thought “ok, I will just update the rosters online since that is certainly a feature now.” I was wrong. No roster updates, no online play, no graphic upgrades, nada. Just an outdated roster update, new announcers, and cosmetic menu changes to make it look like the game had actually been changed. I took this back to the video store 10 minutes later and traded it for Call of Duty, explaining to the clerk that I already had this game from ’08 so it wasn’t worth even $4 to me.

2010 was the year, I thought. Reviews for MLB 2K9 were abysmal as people who actually bought the game before renting were even more disappointed than me. Certainly 2K would take note and give us something new.

Well, before renting the game I saw that the “Wii Online” logo was absent so I already knew I was not going to get my #1 wish, an MLB game I can play online like all other game systems have been doing for YEARS.

THERE ARE STILL NO ROSTER UPDATES!

The graphics have actually somehow managed to become WORSE than 2K8, with the ridiculous ghost effect behind players. Once again, a stupid cosmetic change to convince consumers they have made a new game. The characters still look nothing like the real-life players, the glitches are actually more noticeable, and the announcers are just unbearably bland and annoying. I would rather have Gilbert Gottfreid announce a game, honestly.

Wii still has so much potential, and with Wii MotionPlus I am finally seeing why I am so loyal to the system, yet there is still a large gap between what consumers want (and COULD have) and what they get when it comes to sports games. In 2K11, these guys need give us what we DESERVE as fans of baseball, Wii, and even 2K.

I still have another night with MLB2K10 before I take it back to the video store and never, ever play it again. I have not even finished the first game I started because after watching my team play, it is frustrating to play a game that can’t get half of the active players correct because they are unwilling to adapt.

Review by John P. Anderson for MLB 2K10
Rating:
For many baseball video game fans, MVP ’06 was and will be the gold standard…yet we’re left with the Show & 2k. After switching back and forth each year from one to the other, I decided to try 2k10 for the Wii. I had last year’s 2k10, and lost interest after a month or so.

So far, this game has been about as fun as I could have expected. I was scared at first that there wasn’t a franchise, but it just took a few clicks to find it.

The gameplay is actually much quicker than the version on other systems. It’s possible to play a game in 30 minutes again, instead of the 1hr marathons I’ve been experiencing every years since MVP became obsolete.

The Wii controls take a little getting used to, but really aren’t that difficult once you get used to it. I’m flicking my wrists to swing without even knowing it, and I’m sure it burns a few more calories.

All in all, if you own a Wii, this is better than most licensed sports games released, and probably as much fun or slightly more fun than last years 2k9 game on the PS console.

Review by DogBone for MLB 2K10

Rating:

This game could be great. It isn’t, but it could be.

Pros:
Controls take some learning, but become second-nature rather quickly.

Cons:
Poor PS1-quality graphics; fielding the ball and base running are way too difficult; too many glitches (outs not recorded, fragmented graphics, announcers make random calls not pertaining to game action, to name a few); no online play, no online roster updates (something other games have had for years); I still can’t quite figure out why a check-swing requires players to press a+b, as if checking your swing is a strategic move, instead of actually checking your swing with the Wii remote (perhaps Wii MotionPlus would help on 2K11).

Even with all those cons, it IS quite fun to play. I know that the Wii isn’t as powerful as the PS3 and XBox360, but it’s gotta be more capable than this game may lead one to believe. A few tweaks, some online options, and a graphics upgrade, and 2K11 could be a great baseball game.

Review by Eric Newsom for MLB 2K10
Rating:
My wife and I bought a Wii, and I was excited to have a baseball game that I could actually sort-of swing a bat while playing. So I shelled out $50 for this game, which, as other folks have noted, is underwhelming. In addition to points that other folks have already made, I have a few additional frustrations.

First, the graphics are buggy. For instance, if you play as the Astros and hit a homer in Minute Maid, the celebration train disappears into nothingness. It’s surreal. Second, the franchise mode stinks. The computer “optimizes” line-ups constantly so that you can’t make switches in your pitching rotation or call-ups without the game going haywire. And when a player is injured and sent to the DL, the computer takes you to a screen called “Roster” that only allows you to drop players from the roster. You know, that’s how real baseball deals with the DL. Third, and this only becomes apparent after playing a handful of games, the music doesn’t seem to be set to randomize. This game has made me hate Social Distortion.

I wish I’d played the game more before the return period was over at the store from which I bought it.

Review by Nicholas Walls for MLB 2K10
Rating:
I played them all and this is the best. The wii controls work 100%. And pitching is fun too. Once you get your timing down you’ll be hitting dingers left and right. To be honest fo a minute I bought the wii for my wife and after 2 years of dust I wanted to give the 360 some rest and buy a wii game. Im so happy i did. Now the 360 has got some dust. The one thing that could be better is the lack of online play. The graphics are as good as a wii game could be(not perfect buy better then cartoon characters). The replay value is very high like after you come home from watching a game. Its the best baseball game out. The bigs graphics are bad and play the same animations after every home run. And the other baseball games mechanics are too difficult or just not fun. Hope for online play next year. Play the best and forget the rest