World Series Baseball

UPC: 010086640168

Platform: Xbox

Publisher: Sega Sports

Developer: Blue Shift, Inc.

Category: Sports

Style(s): Baseball

Synopsis: World Series Baseball makes its Xbox debut with an option to play unlimited seasons as part of the Franchise Mode. Players can also jump right into the action by selecting Quick Start, Exhibition, Playoffs, Season, or Home Run Derby. All teams and players from the start of the 2002 season have been included as well as 25 Cooperstown greats, including Nolan Ryan, Ernie Banks, Reggie Jackson, and more. Older uniforms are also available, and a variety of authentic batting stances and pitching motions have been incorporated for added realism. The game uses the same interface found in World Series Baseball 2K2, which involves aiming a cursor over the strike zone to pitch and to hit. An overlay divided into nine zones graphically depicts the batter's strengths and weaknesses in the strike zone using a series of colored squares. Pitching involves selecting one of nine pitches (based the real-life player's repertoire) and then positioning a cursor over or around the plate. Pitches can be set to precisely hit the mark each time or vary according the control rating of whoever is on the mound. Franchise mode offers players a number of different options. Season length can be adjusted from ten to 162 games, a fantasy draft can be conducted using fixed or random orders, coaches and scouts can be hired, computer trading and injuries can be turned on or off, and league budgets can be set to random, standard, or custom. Allotted budget points are then spent on a five-player management draft, rookie draft, and free agent signings. Each year the coaches will offer recommendations and will help nurture player development so the team can be prepared for retirement, free-agency, and more. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Registration Card

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

The manual fails to cover a number of issues, including the differences between difficult settings, whether or not players can throw to a cutoff man (the computer can), and various other details. More depth is needed. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The graphics are sharp, but not up to Xbox standards. Players generally look like their counterparts (except the mullet-less Randy Johnson), but there are no facial expressions. Stadiums also feature some animation (although the same bird loops around all of the outdoor parks). ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The World Series Baseball series has gone through many ups and downs over the years since its Genesis debut, with different developers changing the way the game looked and played so many times fans were never quite sure what to expect next. Unlike the first Saturn and Dreamcast versions, which were insultingly simplistic, this title is a conscious effort to strike a balance between simulation elements and the fast-paced play of an arcade game. For the most part, it works. Developer Blue Shift has obviously done their homework when designing the batter-pitcher interface, which borrows elements from several past baseball games, including the 16-bit versions of World Series Baseball. While there is really only one legitimate view to hit from (alas, there is no close-up view of the batter's box as in the original), it looks nice and lets you see each batter's trademark stance. An oblong cursor is used to hit the ball, the size of which varies according to the real-life abilities of the batter. The batter's hot and cold zones are represented in a rectangular graphic off to the bottom left or right of the screen, allowing you to see where the weaknesses of a particular hitter are within the strike zone, again based on actual matchups during the 2001 season. That's basically it as far as hitting, but it serves its purpose. You don't really need to move in the batter's box, change stances, or angle a cursor to hit to the opposite side of the field, as the position of contact (left or right) will take care of it automatically. The hitting is basic but not necessarily easy, thanks in part to the relatively small batting cursor and the computer mixing pitches well. This is one of the few baseball games where it actually pays to be a patient hitter, as the computer will routinely throw out of the strike zone looking for easy outs. Unfortunately there is no option to simply time pitches, but players can opt for a larger cursor and a slower rate of throws if batting becomes too difficult. Even on the fastest setting, pitch speeds aren't as zippy as in All-Star Baseball 2003, but the breaking balls are more pronounced. The game doesn't quite feel as balanced in the types of hits seen on the field, even though the numbers of doubles, singles, and triples are generally what you'd expect them to be once the game is over. Unlike games in the MLB series on PlayStation, you don't see a wide variety of plays. Grounders always seem to be right at fielders, minimizing lateral movement on the diamond, fly balls are too easy to haul in because of the outfielders' speed, and line drives just over a fielder's head cannot be caught. The missing jump button takes away a big part of the interaction (especially when watching a home run barely clear the fence). There are no interesting moves, such as outfielder slides, speed bursts (which could have been implemented in a realistic way if the fielders weren't so quick), or an option to make a more aggressive throw at the risk of having it sail errant. All you get out there is a dive button and the option to throw directly to a base -- there's not even a dedicated button to throw to the cutoff man, which further limits your options on defense. While the fielders could be a bit quicker in taking the ball out of the glove and a greater variety of throwing animations would be welcome, the action never feels sluggish or unresponsive. Computer AI is also generally solid, with the most significant issue being the lack of aggressiveness on the base paths, which is perhaps a concession made to the speed of base runners and the relatively slow process making throws. Still, the computer seems afraid to advance at times when it could easily score from second on a base hit or tag third on a fly ball with less than two outs. Computer runners will go halfway on fly balls (although runners can be doubled up on infield flies close to the base), they will keep running on any hit when there are two outs, and will usually tag and advance on flies near the warning track. The computer also isn't afraid to steal a base when the opportunity arises, and will bunt a runner over into scoring position as well. The closer will appear in save situations and the computer will send a battered pitcher to the showers, but there is strangely no official announcement when this happens -- verbally or with a visual cue. There are some other strange things that occasionally happen. Intentionally walking Mike Piazza to face Ken Griffey Jr. when the computer is already up by two runs doesn't seem like a sound strategy. Pitchers never seem to hold runners, and computer infielders never dive for the ball to prevent it from trickling into the outfield. Some rules are overlooked as well, such as if a runner crosses the plate before the third out -- the run doesn't count in this game, as it would in "real" baseball. In general, though, the computer is a worthy opponent who will get its share of hits and take advantage of pitching mistakes. Franchise Mode is the heart and soul of World Series Baseball, and the fantasy draft option is the best way to play. Each athlete is worth a certain number of points based on hitting or pitching ability and length of contract. As in real life, some are overpriced while others are bargains, and it's up to you to decide who offers the best value. Players even use their allotment of points to hire a coaching staff to consult on minor league talent as well as batting and pitching issues. Of course, you get what you pay for in the advice department. A lesser coach could hurt your farm system by overvaluing certain players and encouraging you to get rid of potential gems (each player has a potential rating apart from their actual rating). Those disappointed with the slower pacing of All-Star Baseball 2003 will find World Series Baseball a much easier game to get into, with more depth than initially meets the eye. Some balance issues in the areas of fielding and physics need to be addressed in the next game, which may be a simple matter of including slider bars for each setting as was done in High Heat MLB 2003 for PlayStation 2. Even with the problems, none of which ruin the game, World Series Baseball is a title you find yourself consistently drawn back to, which speaks volumes about its playability. It's far from perfect, but Sega's franchise is finally back on track after a prolonged slump. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Franchise Mode offers limitless replay value, but the Create-Player feature is extremely basic in terms of customization features and will likely disappoint those who enjoyed All-Star Baseball 2003. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

While the crack of the bat needs work and the commentary is dull, the ambience is excellent. The crowd noise really brings you into the game. Many of the taunts are aimed at specific players: "Pizza good. Piazza bad," "Green, you're overpaid!," or "I can hit better than you, Nomar." ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

There are many areas that could be improved upon in later versions, but the basic gameplay is entertaining if you can overlook some of the flaws. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.