MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball Review (no fat)

Game Description

Baseball is a very popular sport in the US. Hello, Mr. Obvious. It is just as obvious that, like any other popular sports, baseball is a popular subject of video games. Naming 15 baseball games on the spot will probably not be too hard, even for someone who is not a die-hard baseball fan. Like many others sports in the US, baseball has its share of high school leagues and championships, and many of today's teenage idols jump-started their career in high school. MVP 06 NCAA Baseball is the first attempt to bring college baseball to your screens, and, why not admit it, a pretty successful one

MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball - A promising youngster

As the first major game based on college baseball, MVP 2006 NCAA is a veritable pioneer. To those who are not used to baseball, it may seem a little bit weird to say so, but the truth is, there are major differences between college baseball and professional baseball. College baseball is played with an aluminum bat, and not a wooden one. The first obvious result is that the ball makes a silly sound when it hits the bat. The other consequences are more profound: the ball acts differently, since the bat is lighter. Some things are not allowed in college baseball, because it may injure players. In many ways, it's the ideal introduction for Europeans who don't know the rules. There will be less confusion.

Not everything is changed in college baseball though. So, you will feel like home in the main menu. You can choose a quick exhibition match, or maybe a coach mode, to get used to the new control system. There are batting and pitching mini games, and there are the usual dynasty and tournament modes. Or, you can test your skills in a multiplayer tournament, or in a simple one-on-one exhibition. Either way, there is enough entertainment to be had.

The dynasty mode is where you will probably spend most of your time. In this mode, you will have to lead your team to glory along several seasons, also taking on some management tasks. You will find yourself in the coach seat of a college baseball team, e-mailing college students and visiting campuses, in order to recruit them and to discover the next Joe Di Maggio. No matter what team you pick, there will be enough for you to do. There are many available teams: all the major conference teams made it into the game, but, unfortunately, EA missed the teams from the less important conferences. Division II and III teams have also been omitted, which is quite unfortunate for some.

MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball - On the pitch

The major change on the field, in the video side of the game, is the new control system. Several things have changed in this area, and some of these changes are absolutely welcome.

EA has introduced a new hitting method. It is the Load and Fire hit method, which involves using the analog stick to control the hit. You will need some practice to get used to EA's new idea, but it pays off in the end. It took them some time to make it perfect, but we can definitely say it's a success.

Less successful, however, is the attempt to make the defense more versatile. It is probably why the developers decided that the players should be able to choose the traditional method. The new control system relies on the D-pad to move individual runners, while moving the analog stick up and down makes all the runners retreat or advance. It takes some time to adjust to EA's new idea of how things should happen, and most players will probably feel they had enough changes already, and switch to the old method.

The last of EA's bright ideas was to introduce a new method of throwing. If you hold the stick for too long now, the ball will be thrown too far. This is quite realistic, and it makes multiplayer matches more interesting, as missing a throw was difficult enough in the old versions.

There are some things that didn't change here either though. You will find the same nicely rendered stadiums, of which about 20 are real ones. The game also features a comprehensive editor though, an editor that allows you to change not just the players and teams, but also the stadiums, so that you can recreate the real ones if you're too disturbed by the imaginary stadiums.

MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball - Finishing touches

We are all used to EA Canada delivering us finely polished products, and MVP 06 NCA Baseball is not an exception. You will be especially impressed by the quality of the animation and you'll hardly see two similar moves while you're playing. Consequently, the games seem very dynamic. Ex-college baseball players will almost feel the smell of the grass again, especially as EA paid great attention to the AI. However, the multiplayer mode is not exactly flawless. There is some lag, which, although not so severe as to make the game unplayable, still requires you to adjust the timing of your moves.

The graphics are not necessarily breathtaking, but they can not be considered bad either. The players look well-rendered and everything is done with just the right amount of detail. The camera angles will make everything more delightful, along with a general feeling of TV match, sustained by the TV-like cuts and fades.

MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball - Price

You can find MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball for $29.99US, which is well worth it even if you're not a baseball fan. If you don't know anything about baseball, this might just be your chance to start learning.