REVIEW
MLB
2K12 represents a year in baseball that's about minor polish rather
than major innovation. Certain elements of the evolving formula from
2K10 and 2K11 find great success this year, but overall 2012 marks a
standard year for a good game of baseball.
The
framework first built by 2K10 remains under the hood of 2K12, though
the new title does make progress. Graphically, the MLB 2K12 experience
utilizes higher contrasts, making sunny days brighter and really
showcasing the grizzle of your favorite unshaven athlete. The graphical
changes don't reflect an overhaul, but rather a journey towards creating
the best representation of America's pastime. The animations are
lifelike, and despite a few camera quirks, the overall stadium
experience is a good one. There's still some pixilation on smaller
details, but the grass, bases, and teams stand strong.
While the gameplay engine looks better, the interface throughout the menus feels exactly like last year's outing. The My Player skill sheets (and creation tools), franchise mode layout, and general lead-in to every game makes one ask, "did I buy last year's game by mistake?" There are a few subtle tweaks to the gameplay experience, like a change in color to the strike zone just before the pitcher lets the ball fly (especially useful in multiplayer), and the new color system for pitching, but overall MLB 2K12 looks like MLB 2K11 hooked up with an HDMI cable rather than a component connection (subtly different, but better and crisper)
While the gameplay engine looks better, the interface throughout the menus feels exactly like last year's outing. The My Player skill sheets (and creation tools), franchise mode layout, and general lead-in to every game makes one ask, "did I buy last year's game by mistake?" There are a few subtle tweaks to the gameplay experience, like a change in color to the strike zone just before the pitcher lets the ball fly (especially useful in multiplayer), and the new color system for pitching, but overall MLB 2K12 looks like MLB 2K11 hooked up with an HDMI cable rather than a component connection (subtly different, but better and crisper)
The
announcers are the single best element of MLB 2K12. They were splendid
last year, but this year's game has hundreds of new lines related to
pitching alone. This new audio complements a smarter pitching system, as
the conversation surrounding what the pitcher's throwing provides
astute and interesting observations about what's working and what's not.
This added layer, compounded with tons of new stats comparing batter
and pitcher matchups, and a more complete pitch analysis system, really
showcases pitching as MLB 2K12's better system.
Pitching stands out as an improvement over last year's game. Whereas your catcher might suggest sending fast ball after fast ball over the plate in 2K11, the batters are smarter this year, and they'll catch on to your patterns. This recognition factor makes variation the key to a successful inning. Not only will the batter recognize where your third slider of his at-bat is going, he's probably going to crack a single just to teach you a lesson.
The tendency to switch up pitches also only works against AI opponents. Only the best online players will recognize similar pitches coming into the strike zone and act accordingly. They don't have the statistical calculations necessary to react to repeated pitches the same way the computer does. Thus, online play can still devolve into throwing the same fast balls over and over again the close an inning. Online games get some slight stuttering from lag, but play out smoothly from start to finish. .
Pitching stands out as an improvement over last year's game. Whereas your catcher might suggest sending fast ball after fast ball over the plate in 2K11, the batters are smarter this year, and they'll catch on to your patterns. This recognition factor makes variation the key to a successful inning. Not only will the batter recognize where your third slider of his at-bat is going, he's probably going to crack a single just to teach you a lesson.
The tendency to switch up pitches also only works against AI opponents. Only the best online players will recognize similar pitches coming into the strike zone and act accordingly. They don't have the statistical calculations necessary to react to repeated pitches the same way the computer does. Thus, online play can still devolve into throwing the same fast balls over and over again the close an inning. Online games get some slight stuttering from lag, but play out smoothly from start to finish. .
The
new system encourages playing better baseball -- more realistic
baseball -- rather than teaching you to game the game by finding a trick
that works and performing it over and over again (offline, at least).
If you start throwing too many similar pitches, your options are marked
by yellow, red, and green coloring -- like a traffic light. The shift is
easy to read, and the announcers help add complexity to this new wave
of pitch analysis. The color system carries into online play, but you're
much less likely to get punished by throwing a red-colored pitch.
Batting is as tough and rewarding as ever. Realistic hits send many balls flying into the sky to harmlessly grace an outfielder's glove. Fielding gets an upgrade in the form of variable throw meters. If a player's on his back foot trying to complete a double play, the green zone shrinks maker it a tougher throw. It's a great system that provides a sense of accomplishment.
Batting is as tough and rewarding as ever. Realistic hits send many balls flying into the sky to harmlessly grace an outfielder's glove. Fielding gets an upgrade in the form of variable throw meters. If a player's on his back foot trying to complete a double play, the green zone shrinks maker it a tougher throw. It's a great system that provides a sense of accomplishment.
Franchise
Mode and My Player Mode return this year, bringing arguably the exact
same options as last year. Even though My Player is supposed to be
streamlined to truly create an archetype of player (the base stealer,
the big hitter), point distribution operates almost exactly the same
way, leaving the career of an up-and-comer feeling exactly like last
year's journey. Once drafted, your skill meters suggest what points to
bolster your intended path, but the menu system and skill point
execution in-game feel the same.
The most interesting mode-addition is MLB Today Season, where players can play games alongside their favorite team, and only alongside their favorite team. This is a limited time only event that challenges a player to elevate their team to stardom with few attempts -- less during the playoffs. This level of concrete consequences is a cool addition to the game, though it certainly sets up the game for a "have to buy next year's" mentality, because the season ends in October and an entire game mode becomes obsolete. You also can't sim any element of this mode, making every action entirely your fault.
The most interesting mode-addition is MLB Today Season, where players can play games alongside their favorite team, and only alongside their favorite team. This is a limited time only event that challenges a player to elevate their team to stardom with few attempts -- less during the playoffs. This level of concrete consequences is a cool addition to the game, though it certainly sets up the game for a "have to buy next year's" mentality, because the season ends in October and an entire game mode becomes obsolete. You also can't sim any element of this mode, making every action entirely your fault.
As
baseball is a game of subtleties, MLB 2K12 reflects problems in the
details. For instance, when Melky Cabrera steps up to the plate to lead
off the San Francisco Giant's batting lineup, his routine reflects
broken collision detection. When he taps the bat on the plate, the tip
actually taps through the plate. If you pop a foul ball high and into
the stands, the crowd reaction camera sometimes finds itself stuck under
the bleachers, looking down into an infinite pit and the backside of
the fans' legs -- not the action. The crowd also has the unusual
tendency to leap for fly balls long after they've already disappeared in
the stands.
[center]CLOSING COMMENTS
[center]CLOSING COMMENTS
Baseball, with its intricate physics and extreme difficulty, is a terrifically challenging activity to emulate. Every year, developers get closer to showcasing the sport and its dynamic elements, but there has yet to be the perfect representation of the game. MLB 2K12 doesn't step far enough ahead of its predecessor to warrant a great change in the series, but its small polishes represent more distance traveled on the path towards the perfect game. MLB 2K12 has problems and may feel like a carbon copy to fans who only played a few games of MLB 2K11, but it's still a good game of ball.
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