Major League Baseball 2K9 Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[JMD]

The problem I have with 2k baseball since MLB 2k7 is realism. When you have a competing game that is so much better you really need to step it up and MLB 2k8 and now 2k9 (based on this demo) has not done that. MLB The Show is to 2k baseball what NFL 2k5 in to Madden football. They are the games by which all that follow will be judged. As EA with Madden has not yet been able to capture the excellent game play and realism of NFL 2k5, The MLB 2k series has not been able to capture the game play and realism of MLB The Show.
After playing both demo's, MLB 2k9 and The Show 09 there is just no way I could justify buying 2k9 this year.

[mwjr]

Quote: Originally Posted by JMD

The problem I have with 2k baseball since MLB 2k7 is realism. When you have a competing game that is so much better you really need to step it up and MLB 2k8 and now 2k9 (based on this demo) has not done that. MLB The Show is to 2k baseball what NFL 2k5 in to Madden football. They are the games by which all that follow will be judged. As EA with Madden has not yet been able to capture the excellent game play and realism of NFL 2k5, The MLB 2k series has not been able to capture the game play and realism of MLB The Show. After playing both demo's, MLB 2k9 and The Show 09 there is just no way I could justify buying 2k9 this year.

In their defense it looks like VC has the game moving in the right direction. The game may be good enough to own, but I personally won't make a decision based on this very basic demo. I could very well buy The Show for my PS2 as my baseball fix this year.

[mwjr]

Oh, and I really like how when you're in the field you can see the baserunner's steal rating by holding the LT. Very nice addition.

[tmac55]

As a side note. I have to admit, when I originally played the demo for NBA 2K9, I was not that impressed. I was leaning towards Live 09, but when the actual games came out, NBA 2K9 delivered an improved product in the final product.

This could very well be the case from what i saw in the G4 video. It's possible so I am not jumping to conclusions.

This is all we have on 360 and overall, I can already see improvement over 2K8 and the final product could have some of these ironed out.

[baa7]

Quote: Originally Posted by mwjr

1. Second baseman charges in to field a weakly-hit ground ball. He grabs the ball and I want to try a throw to 3rd base. Now, because of where his momentum is taking him, in order to make this throw the 2nd baseman would have to either (a)stop and swing his body around clockwise so that his feet are planted and he can throw or (b) do a complete 360 and throw to 3rd as he spins. Instead, the 2nd baseman holds his arm out towards 3rd base, like he's pointing a gun, and the ball magically shoots out of his arm, again, as if he were shooting a gun. It was awful.

That's been in the series since 2K5, yes. But in fairness, NHL 09, which many here claim to be GOTY, has funky animations just like that. A skater will be making a cut when you go to shoot. Instead of planting his skates first, the puck will simply and magically take off towards the net, even though the guy is facing the boards with his weight on his back skate.

[callmetaternuts]

Donwloaded the 360 demo last night to try. I rented 2k8 last year before buying "the other game". While 2k9 isnt perfect, it does alot of things right, and corrects alot of 2k8's crappy problems (framerate, meatballs, and overall awful gameplay). I know its a demo but hitting seemed too easy. First pitch i saw with Rollins was deposited over the centerfield wall for a homer. Pitching seemed fun and even if they did take away the meatball, i still dig the motion controlled pitching.

Batting on the other hand just seemed like you pre-loaded and pusehd forward and you would hit almost anything.

Not sure about the dust clouds everywhere. Is Pigpen from Charlie Brown playing?

Overall its a big step forward, but still has some work to do.

[baseball88]

A demo is a demo.

The final product will tell it all. This says it all

[DJ]

Played a couple of games last night and while the game is a definite step-up from 2k8, there's not enough there to warrant a full-price purchase, IMO.

I thought hitting was way too easy. Taking out the step really made a difference as I could react super-late to a pitch and still drive it for either a HR or an extra-base hit.

I do like the re-worked pitching mechanics. Getting rid of the meatball pitch was a big plus.

Fielding was OK; I thought the camera was pulled back too far for some plays in OF but the R-stick throwing works well.