The Major League Baseball season is less than a month away, but diamond fans can’t get a big jump by diving into the console wars.

A major player this season will be Midway’s MLB Slugfest 20-04, a release for the Xbox, PlayStation2 and GameCube. The game sports a host of new features, which bring depth to the title, and graphically, this game is amazing.

For the uninitiated, MLB Slugfest is a little different than most baseball games, and may tend to distance the baseball purist. For you see, what would result in a bench-clearing brawl in real-life is merely commonplace in the Midway title. For example, a batter knocks out a double to the game in right-center field and races the basepaths, sliding into second just before the throw arrives. The shortstop, covering the bag, receives the throw near the bag. Just as he is about to toss the ball to the pitcher, the baserunner pops up and elbows him, dislodged the ball and staggering the fielder. The ball is dropped and the runner easily advances to third.

Woah, that isn’t baseball! Well, actually is it ­ Midway-brand baseball.

But Midway is not content to merely rest on its laurels in terms of sporting some of the more dynamic graphical elements.

New features include:

• Create-A-Team, which enables gamers to create that all-star laden dream team.

• Home Run Derby: This multiplayer skill contest is enjoyable and challenging as the game’s best square off.

• On-fire pitchers: Yep, they can burst into flames if they are having a particularly hot pitching day.

• Customizable instant replay: You can view that spectacular play from a variety of angles with the camera controls.

• New musical soundtrack

• New fantasy stadiums and wacky characters

Graphically the game has been improved as well. This program sports player faces mapped to their likeness, and by using nine motion-captured actors, the game has managed to render out more than 1,500 player animations. The result is that players move realistically. Stadiums look like their real-life counterparts.

The play-by-play is alternately sarcastic, biting and informative. The musical score is very nice as well.

You will be able to unlock fantasy players and teams and the program has a nice mix of arcade-like action and hard-pounding baseball game play. Rosters are the most current available, but that doesn’t prohibit you from switching your roster all around and making up that special team.

The player interface in the game is quite easy to navigate through and players can jump right into the thick of the action in either the quickplay, challenge (stat tracking), season, tournament, or home run derby.

MLB Slugfest 20-04 is a great blend of solid gameplay and sterling graphical elements. Midway has done an excellent job of taking a very good title and improving upon it. While the style of play may not appeal to everyone, there is certainly enough here to give sports fans something to moan, groan, wince and chuckle about.

The version of the game received for review did not have a rating.

Gameplay: 8.8
There are unlockable teams and players, and the in-game action is smooth, though not exactly what baseball purists would call true baseball.

Graphics: 9
The players look like MLB counterparts and the animation is excellent. The stadiums are superbly rendered. Some of the ball physics are a little off ­ as in it seems to die quickly rolling around in the outfield ­ but the game is lush and a treat for the eyes.

Sound: 8.9
The music is excellent, the play-by-play is very well done, and the game sports all the sounds of a real Major League game.

Difficulty: Medium
There are five difficulty settings, and the game does have the challenges expected in playing a sports game. The AI is intuitive.

Concept: 8.8
Turbo-powered players, power-ups, pitchers that burst into flames, Midway sports games have a unique look and this game is no different.

Multiplayer: 8.5
What would a sports game be without the multiplayer option? Tournament mode lets several players compete, or you can just go head-to-head. While the single-player game is quite enjoyable, the multiplayer game is where the most fun is located.

Overall: 9
Midway has done an excellent job with this title. It is a lot of fun to play, and even fun to watch. The animation is exceptional and the game looks amazing.