MLB 2k12 - Impressions Thread (PS3/X360)

[tvman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dungeoncrawler

LOL - my fielder just did a complete circle prior to catching a flyball.

I believe the patched fixed this and you likely don't have throwing meter because it could be on auto-field.

[cbnj06]

Got the game today....8 hours later I returned it. Personally I've very disappointed in this year's game. I know some people on here love it, but personally I've had enough of 2k. I've played it since 2k7 and I really havent seen any major improvements. I shouldn't have to wait weeks or months for a patch to come out just to improve gameplay. The uniforms aren't correct and everything just feels dated. I played The Show today at a friend's house and it was night and day from 2k. Looks like I'm going shopping for a PS3 (I was looking to getting a blu ray player anyways) and getting The Show. But whoever is really impressed and loves this game, I hope you enjoy it and have a lot of fun playing it.

[dodgerblue]

is the patch out for PS3?

[SportsGamingBlake]

Yankees road spring training uniforms look terrible. They are bright blue. I thought I was playing with the kc royals. Cc sabathia looks 6'1" 210 not 6'7" 290. First thought was wow I'm Playing 2k11. Next thought was oh no 2k9 all over again. Looks like 2k9 and 2k11 had a baby! Also running animations look like puke

Needs a few patches, definitely

[acarrero]

Just played my first full game, I was the Marlins hosting the Mets. I used Josh Johnson and won 2-0 on a complete game. Reyes caused havoc going 3-3 with 2 stolen bases. Overall, it was a incredibly realistic game. Don't own a PS3, but the hit variety I saw was far more realistic and greater than any video baseball game I've played before. They got hitting right, IMO. I don't even miss a zone component. A couple of minor animation quirks, but overall it played and looked a lot better than the demo. The feel was 100% simulation. Maybe baseball is an easier sport to make a video game, but I don't think there is another sports video game (on Xbox 360) that simulates the respective sport this well. FIFA has more animations, but if you played a real 90 minute game I'm sure the scoring would be way up. Here you get a full 9 baseball game with realistic stats and realistic baseball moments. The presentation is definitely current generation. The graphics are not bad at all either. I liked how they got the Marlin Park right, including the two fish tanks on each side of the backstop - you can actually see the fish swimming around. Pretty impressive so far.

[dolemint]

Quote: Originally Posted by hitmanagent7

I ****ing hate it. I played 14 shut out innings, so you now what that means they also pitched the same to me. Batting shouldn't be that difficult its ridiculous. So I concluded it the most obvious way hitting every single one of their batters with a fast ball to the dick. **** this game I won't play it, I will stick to 2k11.

That's odd to me since 2k12's hitting is IMO near identical to 2k11. What kind of problems are you having? Striking out a ton or just not getting hits? If it's the latter, try working the count more because you might not be getting quality pitches. If you're striking out a lot, maybe try a new camera angle or use contact swing more often, or lower difficulty until you get the hang of it. Or, a little patience?

[Romain El 82]

I hit Justin Upton twice (neither intention) over a 4-inning stretch with AJ Burnett today in Franchise Mode (I can't throw that damn Knucklecurve, half the time it's a wild pitch, and that's how I hit him) and after the second hit the ump issued a warning and said that the next pitcher who hit a batter would be ejected. Awesome.

[Tomba]

continue to tinker with this and continue to be impressed. The day light progression is so well done this year, it make sit enjoyable to watch all 9 innings...

custom cameras are where it's at

Pitching - 1,5,8 right
Hitting - 2,9 pitch zoom on
Hitting2 - 5,10 pitch zoom off
Fielding - Dynamic 1,1
Baserunning - 10,10

[medlinke]

PROS:

• Menus and UI look fantastic.
• Animations seem slightly better than before, but honestly I never found them that distracting. 2k is just an inferior development shop...don't expect much is the bottom line.
• MLB Today seems pretty cool. I enjoyed the Tigers game from today.
• Had a 15 inning game and watched the lighting go from daytime to dusk with appropriate field lights coming on, shadows, and sky colors changing gradually each inning past the 9th. It was unexpected and a very cool touch.
• The camera angles are easy to adjust and you do end up with a very good broadcast-like camera angle for pitching and batting if you choose.
• The bullpen status reports are a great touch as is the easier visual cues regarding your pitcher's status.
• Batting seems a touch easier on All Star, but only time will tell. As those SABR guys are fond of reminding us mortals...the sample size is too small!
• Some of the signature moves look good. Benoit after getting out of a jam made his fist pump move...not sure if it's "HIS" or if it's just a generic one that managed to look a lot like what Benoit does.
• Pitchers who are beasts in real life...are beasts in the game. It's very gratifying. Talent matters...whereas in the past your timing with the motion controls mattered equally as much.
• Stealing seems a bit improved, but then again...see my comments about sliding below...
• New batter prediction and pitch variability systems seem okay...but the jury is still out on whether or not it actually affects AI batter behavior. I saw mixed results...again...sample size?
• Commentary is great. It feels a lot more like NBA2k12's commentary which was fluid, relevant, and provided A LOT of ancillary details from the game, previous season, and trends. I'm really looking forward to seasonal stats to see how it works.

CONS:

• Dive. Playing online you can stretch a double to a triple every time because of the lag and because if you make your runner dive when the 3B comes out to tag, he'll miss every time. This is gamebreaking for online...
• Online lag is not bad enough to call the whole thing off, but also noticeable enough where there are far too many extra base hits because you're not getting a decent jump or the throw meter stutters.
• The blue on the Tigers unis is not right. I also noticed that colors again appear to be strange in many cases.
• Youk's stance makes him look like his shoulder is totally out of socket...it's even more awkward looking than in real life if that's possible...
• The player models are very hit or miss, but when they're on they look good...when they're off...you wonder who the heck they're trying to model...Check out Miguel Cabrerra.
• There appears to be a little different lag this year with regards to the hit stick.
• You have to wait for your pitcher animation to come to a stop to begin you pitching motion control. I hate this because it just eats up time. Maybe there's a way to change that...but it's truly annoying while you're waiting for the pitcher to come to a rest.
• Offline base stealing seems decent...online it's screwed from lag. Again, it doesn't seem laggy, but your player behaviors in the same situations as offline don't provide the same reaction times, etc. It's off just enough where it causes problems...kinda like hearing your own voice at a 2 second delay.
• Team ratings all seem pretty inflated.
• Stadium details are spotty at best.
• No 3d like NBA2k12 featured which is kind of a bummer.
• Baserunning controls are still an overly complicated mess in my opinion. Sometimes the triggers do things, sometimes the bumpers, sometimes the right stick.
• Pitch ratings going up or down really doesn't seem to do anything. It's not been noticeable. I had Verlander's Fastball up and it affected the velocity a bit, but did nothing to make it lights out for the AI batters even when nibbling the edges.
• Animations are just idiotic again. Have the OF glide into position, not act like they're stroking out to get on some imaginary dot. The collision movement system in the NBA series should be a model for how this might work...those guys move more realistic in many ways...perhaps a field trip to learn from the developers???
• Still the same inning bumper music from 2k7 or so. It's classic at this point, but it's also kind of annoying and low quality compared to the nicer 2k Beats selections that could be used to give it a better stadium feel.
• MLB License is poorly exploited in this game. No partnerships with MLB Advanced Media to bring MLB Tonight style wrapups from around the league or provide commentary over top of the highlight reels from the games. Heck...NFL 2k5 had that!!! Was the technology lost to the ancients or is this yet another example of how 2k Sports is lazy.

Overall it's serviceable. It's not some major upgrade to the franchise though. It barely moves it forward. It feels lazy, calculated, and just plain tired. I mean the graphics alone in this game are bar none the worst in AAA sports titles for a current generation system. Even the blocky NHL2k12 players look better... I get the distinct impression that this truly is 2k Sports waving the white flag. Flavorless, talentless, and unimpressive...but ultimately necessary for 360 owners who want baseball... *sigh*

[buckeyedawgtribe]

Before I give my impression I want to say this..In order to take advantage of the best thing this game has to offer I would highly recommend having a 5.1 surround sound or better. If this is out of your reach then please pick up a $70 pair of turtle beach x12's..The commentary in this baseball is as good as it gets..

As far as the picture..Its 2K..I think we all agree it looks great sometimes and then there are the points of the game where you feel like you just saw your sister naked. If your TV has a sports option use this and tweak the settings slightly from that option if possible toning down the briightness (reds) a tad..I did this and liked the results..

ok here we go...Hands down this is the first 2K I have truly loved since 2K7. In its time 2K7 was the best game on the market. I remember the first time i popped in 2K7 and I was like wow this is beautiful..2K12 brought that back momentarily until yeah you know some shoddy player faces and such not to mention the other game is graphically superior now and has been probably since 08.

The batting and pitching interface is wonderful. The pitching is the best a baseball game has to offer and the hitting is the most solid I have since since MVP baseball. I miss how the uniforms used to flail in the wind like 2K7 as 2K12 still has that kind of painted on uniform thing not horrible but kind of last gen.

I like the INDIANS players face models in this game. Chris Perez looks a little on the thin side but that is my only gripe so far. The Baseball itself still looks like a wiffle ball in this game and I cant really put my finger on it as to why.

I did not play 2K11 but there is a noticeable graphical upgrade from 2K10. I think anyone that has been hanging on to 2K7 and updating the rosters would be mistaken not to give this game a chance. I honestly think if you are like me and did not jump at 2K11 last year I would make the plunge this year.. The DEMO was terrible and I dont know why 2K would even release what is not a true rendition of the real game. The 3MB patch fixed some minor issues with framerate..The MLB season mode is cool and unlike prior years games I actually am digging being in spring training.

I give this game a 7.75. Some players just look wrong either their face or overall size. Upgrade your sound and tweak your picture..ENJOY and take a deep breath its a winner..