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So I came home from work today to find a package at my door from 2K Sports. I had no idea what on Earth it could be- since I knew we were caught up on most 2K Sports releases from their programs that Consolesports.net takes part in. I noticed the package felt like two games in their bubble envelope.
To my surprise, it was the PS2 and Wii versions of the brand new, just released MLB Power Pros. For those who don't know about Konami's "Jikkyo Powerful Pro Baseball", let me enlighten you. What Madden is to sports games in the USA, Powerful Pro Baseball is to the sports fans in Japan. It’s that big. I’ve heard rumors of the game’s accuracy and the very realistic game of baseball that it plays despite it’s cartoony graphics, but to be honest, I’ve never been one to mod a game system to play Japanese imports. So all I could do was read about the Powerful Pro series… which to this point was only in Japan (for the most part) and never included real MLB players.
Until now. In a very impressive partnership between 2K Sports and legendary game-maker Konami, MLB Power Pros was born… with the MLB and MLBPA license.
I really had no expectations going into the game, other than rumors I have heard about how the series looks cartoony, but plays a surprisingly deep simulation of baseball that mixes the best elements of current baseball games with the pick up and play mechanics of the NES classic “Baseball Stars” as well as “Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball”.
Still.. I had my expectations set for “arcade fun”.
I was half right… it is a lot of fun. BIG TIME fun.
But the other part of it was that I felt like I was playing a sim! I’m still in shock about how deep this game is despite the simple mechanics! I took the Yanks versus the BoSox at the House That Ruth Built and started an exhibition game, and the 3D payers do look very cartoony- almost like South Park characters. The players have goatees and correct hair, skin color, dreadlocks, guts, etc. – all represented in a cartoony style that for some reason does not detract from the actual deep baseball you’ll play. I still can’t get over that part! Many of you are obviously thinking I've lost it.. particularly when you see these graphics.. but trust me, there's a lot of real baseball under this hood!  Pitching is cursor based, and the pitchers all have a certain number of pitches (depending on the skill of the pitcher… example: Yanks reliever Mariano Rivera has a great fastball and an awesome cut fastball…that’s it, while starter Andy Pettitte has about 5 pitches). You pick a pitch with the d pad or the L-stick, and hit the pitch button. You then have about a second and a half to place the pitch with the cursor. (Perhaps less time than that...it is a bit challenging at times, and I found myself throwing my fair share of unintentional balls...which I like..).
Batting is 3D locational. YES, locational hitting! You have to move a player specific bat cursor and try to hit the ball in the zone where it crosses the plate. (Note: MLB 2K9, please follow Power Pro’s lead here!) So essentially you have 3D hitting…and the ball physics off the bat are INCREDIBLE. Yes..this game probably has the best “Bat hits ball” physics of any game I’ve played this year (including MLB 2K7 and “The Show”). Don’t believe me.. In my exhibition game on normal difficulty, I beat the Sox 4-2, and had 1 home run by Posada that I had to really work to get with my timing and location of the swing. Folks, this game only looks “arcade”!  And we have injuries. I was thinking about going for a double with Johnny Damon, but thought better of it and dove back to first. Damon hurt his game doing it and he was out for the game! I was seriously impressed!
I also noticed the guys hitting close to their averages, and that HR’s are rare. Basically, your normal swing gives you a bigger bat cursor to hit with. (A cursor as big as the contact area of the bat the players use..) but you can hit “R2” on the PS2 controller to go into power swing mode. In that mode, you get an extremely small contact area the size of the ball..or perhaps smaller (depending on the player’s ability, I’d imagine.) Needless to say, timing your swing in a 3D space, trying to pull for power, and trying to make solid contact with the cursor really brings serious sim elements into it. Mix that with the incredibly awesome hit physics..and damn, this is a GAME!
What’s more, the AI is aggressive. They pinch hit when necessary, pinch run, change pitchers when a guy is struggling… you name it. And keep in mind folks… I played on the default difficulty and got a tight 4-2 game. Wow..I really can’t say enough about this game. Remember, I only tried the PS2 version, and I have yet to try out the Wii version to see how the Wiimote motion sensor could be involved. I read that the season mode has some very serious RPG/sim elements too. Haven’t gotten there yet though, but you can bet I will.
One thing though- no online play in either version. That hurts! It hurts even more because of how awesome the baseball is. I’d be itching to play people at this game online… if only it had online. Man..if only. I can tell you right now, from one game of it- this would be my online hardball game of choice. No question. Still, what a fine baseball game, and – incredibly- after one game I can see that this game is a deep one. Take the old Griffey Jr. games, mix in the best elements of Baseball Stars, World Series Baseball’s hitting, MLB 2K7’s depth.. and throw in incredible hitting physics… and so far, you got yourself a highly recommended MLB baseball game. Wow… And at $29.99 for the PS2 and $39.99 for the Wii, it won’t hurt the wallet. I know I personally am very hopeful that this game gets a foot-hold over here in the States, because I think anyone who gives it a try will be sucked-in and amazed. Again, this is arcade LOOKING baseball. This is not some homerun derby aimed at little kids. Heck, batter power seemed way more realistic than MLB 2K7 to be perfectly honest! Believe me, my 4-2 score against the Sox was no arcade slugfest. I had to work baserunners, work the count, bunt, pinch hit, bat for contact...
All that stuff I'm used to doing in the "The Show" and the MVP series! More to come as I dig into this unexpected gem. Now I can understand why this game is huge in Japan. Three words though...
TRY THIS GAME!!! Previewed by Scott Hemphill "Quietcool72"
Co-Founder, Senior Writer
Consolesports.net
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