Guest Blackston Report post Posted February 5, 2002 Well, as we are starting to get into the winter months, I am beginning to really look at the next batch of baseball games coming out. I personally thought that High Heat was the best playing baseball game that came out last year. Triple Play was the nicest looking game (though it blew ass), and ASB was just an all around good game. High Heat 2003: High Heat 2002's main problems were it's almost Super Nintendo level graphics. 3DO may suck at alot of things, but they can definately put out a good playing baseball engine, barring that abysmal Sammy Sosa softball game. From looking at the shots that are coming out now, the graphics engine has been massively tweaked. The graphics are still getting blown out by the shots of ASB and TP, but they are a definate improvement. The game is also lacking many of the new features that fans of ASB are currently enjoying. The pitcher-batter interface is unchanged from the 2002 version, which is just awesome news for fans of HH 2002, like me. This is my personal most-wanted baseball game for the next season. All Star Baseball 2003: The 2002 edition marked the first time that Acclaim's hugely successful baseball series moved onto a non-Nintendo console, and it was a huge hit on the PS2. The game does a great job of mixing jaw-dropping graphics with phenominal gameplay. The pitcher-batter interface again uses the curser this year, which takes a bit of getting used to. Personally, I had some major issues in last year's edition when the power zones of some of the big name hitters (McGuire, Sosa etc.) were nearly as big as the entire strike zone. This led to many more home runs then there really probably should be. I hope that they work with this a bit, as it really is a fairly annoying problem. ASB 2003 is jampacked with new options and features too. I believe (don't quote me on this) that ASB 2003 will be the first console baseball game to ever feature a franchise mode, which is just a crucial feature in most new sports games nowadays. Another neat feature is create-a-team mode. Yes, it is possible to create an expansion team, and go through a season with them (but inexplicably, not the franchise mode). Triple Play 2003: Please, don't buy this game. Buy one of the two games above. Please. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted February 5, 2002 The franchise mode seals the deal for me. I'll be getting All Star Baseball. I got the game last year...and have to agree about the power curser...I've hit so many homeruns with Moises Alou that it's just not fun anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JAMES900 Report post Posted February 6, 2002 Yeah that franchise mode sounds good it may be the clincher for my cash. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FakeRazor Report post Posted February 8, 2002 I'm hoping World Series Baseball 2K3 is an improvement on the previous two games. If so, that's what I'll be buying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thevertex Report post Posted February 14, 2002 Really looking forward to that.... Why hasn't EA put one already in Triple Play? I remember having franchise mode in Madden like 4 years ago, it probably was in earlier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BADBATZ Report post Posted February 14, 2002 Eh, I'll just import the latest version of Konami's Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball whenever I get a PS2. While ASB's ability to create and maintain a Memphis team is sorta attractive, I haven't seen a North American released baseball game these days to have big-headed players, Monster Rancher style training of players, mini-games to win more ability points, and other wacky japanese features. There's even japanese baseball games out there (although the names escape me) with dating sims for the players and full on Rollercoaster Tycoon-style management of the home stadium. That's all I really want in a baseball game anyways. Oh yeah, and for those that doubt the greatness of the series, one of the n64 versions had an RPG built in where you use your team to rescue humans from alien invaders and battle them. Any arguments against the series, now and forever, are hereby invalid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Blackston Report post Posted February 15, 2002 I just got High Heat 2003 today, and I will put a post in here telling ya'all more about it when I actually get to put some quality time into it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nbatts40 Report post Posted February 17, 2002 i think it's going to be asb 2003 for me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Blackston Report post Posted February 18, 2002 I've just finished playing a few games to get a good hang of High Heat, and I've got nothing but good things to say about it. The graphics are much-improved over High Heat 2002, and though they don't hold a candle to the graphics that ASB 2002 had, they do a fine enough job immersing me into the game. The pitcher-batter interface is just splendid IMO. The pitcher picks the type of pitch that he wants to throw, and approximately where he wants to put it. However, if the pitcher starts to get shellacked, his control can go to shit, and he will start missing the strike zone even with straight fast balls down the pipe. As a batter, you can choose the type of pitch that you think the pitcher is going to throw, and you can choose where you want to swing the bat. This is very important when it comes to where the ball actually comes off of the bat. I have found that the game is not homer heavy in the slightest, at least not if you set the game all the way to it's highest setting on simulation. I play as the Reds, and I am ten games into the season, and I've got 3 homeruns. Griffey has got none. Fielding is a snap, compared to the first game. In the first game, I often found that the outfielder would go into the animations to catch the ball, only to find the ball land about 5 feet behind him (I HATE that). That is not the case anymore, as the camera zooms in on popups, greatly reducing the chance of human error. In HH 2003, it is possible for two pitchers to have dominant games, virtually shutting out the offense of the other teams. This is a phenominan that is virtually impossible to recreate in Triple Play or All Star Baseball. I think that it is FUN to throw a three-hitter with my ace pitcher, and lose the game 1-0. I wholeheartedly recommend High Heat baseball 2003 to any fans of the sport, that give out results that are not unlike something that you would see in real life If you are looking for jaw-dropping graphics, and lots of high-powered offense, High Heat would not satate you at all. 4.5/5 Highly recommend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted February 20, 2002 Damn....I saw High Heat at Best Buy yesterday and resisted temptation of buying it...knowing that a franchise mode is on All Star Baseball. But I would love to pitch some 3 hitters. Looks like I may have to break the bank for both... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
