The Bigs by 2K Sports Review

The Bigs
PS2
DEVELOPER: Blue Castle Games / Visual Concepts
PUBLISHER: 2K Sports
ESRB RATING: Everyone

Graphics: 3.5/5 How will I say this? The character models are pathetic! Big Play Moments were meant as a "cover-up" of the game's poor graphics. Nevertheless, this game was stretched to its limits on the PS2 graphics-wise. The stadiums look splendid though just like its real-life counterparts. So if you play in Fenway Park, the left field wall, known as Green Monster, will just amaze you by its huge size.

Gameplay: 4/5 This is where the game absolutely shines. If you are used to MLB 07: The Show, prepare for something that is new. The pitching interface is beginner-friendly. You just select the location of the pitch then press the button of the pitch then release the button once the bar reaches the desired level in the meter. Batting-wise, you can use the Swing Stick, much like the Shot Stick of its outstanding basketball counterpart, NBA 2K7. Doing important plays such as striking out your opponent, inducing a double play and the like will net you some points for your Turbo Meter which when filled up, will grant some infinite stat boosts to your team. There's a huge bummer though. And that is there is pitching lag. When you pitch, the game hangs for some time. What's great though is that the game is fast-paced since you only play 5 innings rather than the normal 9 innings. A note to remember: Every play is big. Hence, the name of the game "The Bigs."

Sound 4.5/5: Commentary-wise, it is superb considering the fact that Damon Bruce does a good job helping out Miller and Morgan. Soundtrack-wise, well, Motorhead is featured with its song, Ace From Spades. Also worth mentioning is that Stone Temple Pilots and Primus contributed in the soundtrack also.

Replay 3/5: There is nothing to expect here. It doesn't feature Season and Franchise Modes unlike MLB 07: The Show. Rookie Challenge is just really limited and it just made the game look more pathetic. But then there is the multiplayer option but the problem is that few people play baseball in gaming consoles.

Overall 3.5/5: A game that has its shining moments but still it just needs an improvement. MLB 07: The Show outshines it and in baseball terms, this game struck out.