Having fallen deeply in love with EASports' Madden NFL 2004, I must confess that I’ve had a long and meaningful affair with MVP Baseball 2004 since it was first introduced to me. Make no mistakes, I still love Madden NFL very much but when I need some baseball in my life it’s MVP Baseball that I turn to to get some baseball loving. The franchise never failed to put a smile on my face, that is until a newer model named MVP Baseball 2005 stepped into my life and now I can’t wipe that bigger smile off my face. Yes, this is a very good year for baseball seeing as how Visual Concepts has its own sexy siren named Major League Baseball 2K5. Who wins this year? Find out below.

Forget the fact that last year MVP Baseball 2004 offered tighter controls, great modes and a really pretty face. The game looked like a no-nonsense baseball simulator but felt fun enough that you really didn’t want to stop playing it. Now the 2K4 game was a sleek and sexy game with all the fixings to give the MVP game a run for its money (2K4 having the advantage price-wise since it retailed at twenty bucks), but like Madden NFL 2005 it lacked the little things that make the sport so amazing. It’s a close race, but there’s a clear winner and this year it’s MVP Baseball 2005. Let’s get to the reasons why it wins. 

First off, Dynasty Mode was a blast to play last year, but this year it just feels more complete. Maybe it’s the fact that you can chose from major and minor league teams (the AA and AAA teams are available from the start) or maybe it’s the full control over your team and the realities of the sport (like injuries and player chemistry). Secondly, the Home Run Showdown still provides some split-screened action as you attempt to out swing your rival. If that wasn’t enough Manager Mode has you playing the role of manager, taking charge of your team and manage the rosters as you see fit. You can even come up with your own scenarios to put yourself in some really tight situations of your own design. If that weren’t enough you can unlock vintage uniforms, bring out the legends or design your own fantasy ballpark. 

New to this year’s game is the Mini-Games mode that acts as Spring Training for your boys of summer, selecting either a few batting or pitching challenges. The challenges serve to improve your favorite team’s hitting and pitching skills so each game goes from easy to harder challenges. The batting mini-games, for example, have you hitting a few balls out into the field filled with ramps and other obstacles for points. Meanwhile the pitching game has you tossing some fastballs into the strike zone to knock down colored squares stacked in a grid. Do well and you increase a player’s stats so chose who you want to send through the training process. It’s just a fun way of improving your favorite players.

Also new to the franchise is Owner Mode, a game mode that has you neck deep in your organization’s dealings with your team, staff and your very own ballpark you design from scratch. The design tools might not offer an incredible number of options but you can design everything from the seat colors to the overall appearance of the diamond. As owner you’re in charge of ticket prices, deciding on what kind of snacks you’d like in the concession stands (pizza or hotdogs) and even decide on your teams schedule. While it sounds like a theme park-styled simulator where you attempt to keep fans happy, it’s gives you insight of what goes on in a MLB organization.

As for the gameplay, last year had more strengths than weaknesses but what few sore spots there were are fixed in this year’s game. For one thing, fielding feels a lot better and you can now perform a number of cool moves like dive/stretches for the ball, make sliding catches and or throw to the cut-off man. You can even attempt to steal a homer if you have a fielder close to the wall - then you can have him climb the wall and attempt to catch it. Pitching is a nice challenge again and with the Pitching Meter you can take control of your fastballs as long as you stay in the green.

Hitting is still great and thanks to a picture-in-picture view of the mounds you know what everyone is up to so if you want your man on second to steal third just keep your eyes open. The new Hitter’s Eye give you a heads-up before the windup to see what type of pitch is headed your way. The ball flashes a certain color for a split second and judging by the color you can tell if a sinking pitch or knuckleball is coming up. You can also move in the batter’s box with the hot and cold zone moving along with you. That ought to keep the likes of Nomo off balance a little. The coolest feature of all, though, comes when you’re given the opportunity to send out your manager to dispute a call from the umpire. Go ahead and give him guff but make sure the pressure you put on the ump doesn’t get you tossed out of the game or the computer will make all managerial decisions. This is a great way to give your team an attribute boost.

I still thank the Gaming Gods for EA Sports finally striking up that deal with Microsoft to finally include Xbox Live support and as much as I, as well as thousands of sports gaming fans out there, appreciate this inclusion of online multiplayer action it just isn’t executed as beautifully as MLB 2K5. For starters, the game runs into a few framerate issues so you can expect some stutters and slowdowns especially during pitches and often during baserunning. This could have been tolerated but it pops up too often and that becomes a tad, well, annoying. I’ve seen the same problems in the PS2 version using a Dial-Up connection but this is Broadband we’re talking about. Still, there’s downloadable content to look forward to and its still fun playing this game against others.

As for the game’s visuals, the Xbox gets tighter graphics and sharper detail than both the PS2 and GameCube ... yet not by very much. This is really one attractive-looking game with sharp details in everything from the stadiums and the neatly rendered fans to the hundreds of players with their uniforms that crinkle when they move or flex a muscle. The faces, last year’s biggest graphical complaint, has been done to perfection this year so everyone looks exactly like they’re suppose to and that’s quite a feat. The player animations now offer more realistic movements and you just have to love the picture-in-picture base coverage or the neat effects like the replays of your best pitches. In short, you might want to wear a bib because you’ll be drooling over these graphics. 

All the sounds you’d expect from a baseball game are present and accounted for, and they’re done just right again this year. The stadiums feel as though they’re bursting to life with fans and the music that comes from the PA system just screams live baseball. You’ll hear other players in the dugout and even the umpire bark out “Yer out!” When A-Rod slams one to first you’ll hear that satisfying pop of the ball and his bat hitting the dirt as he sprints for first base. Even the play-by-play and color commentary from the likes of Duane Kuiper and the always insightful Mike Krukow are really good and never gets old or repetitive. Just about the only thing you can toss out is the soundtrack from unknown artists like The Donots or The Bravery. I really don’t mind listening to breakthrough artists, but the rock is so run of the mill it just seems like it rolled off an assembly line. It’s too bad the Custom Soundtrack feature wasn’t included.

MVP Baseball 2005 is yet another reason Xbox gamers will not get to see the outside world for quite awhile. As far as baseball simulator’s go, this one is deep and there are enough modes to keep players busy but it’s also one of the most enjoyable sports games you’ll play this year. Really, this one outshines MLB 2K5 in every aspect except for the Xbox Live multiplayer mode so if you can only buy one ballgame this year make it MVP Baseball 2005.

Gameplay: 9.5
The game still feels right at home on the Xbox and with some new additions to the gameplay, as well as tightening up of some of last year’s very few weak spots, there’s no denying that this is the deepest game and most entertaining franchise out there. Play ball indeed.

Graphics: 9.5
One of the most visually pleasing baseball games, MVP Baseball 2005 won’t fail to make jaws drop. The stadiums are just so accurate that it’ll feel like you’re watching a game on television. This year the player’s faces are a bit more animated and a lot more precise so Manny Ramirez looks like the real Manny Ramirez. There is even more player animations.

Sound: 8.7
The stadium sounds are amazing this year and you’ll love the cheering fans, the PA announcements and the vendors shouting out “Hotdogs!” It’s all that we’ve come to expect from an actual ballgame and to top it all off the color and play-by-play are really excellent. My only gripe is with the soundtrack that’s just a bit disappointing. Too bad you can’t use your own tunes.

Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty level will give you enough challenge in the game’s Pro setting so expect the computer-controlled opponents to really hustle out there on the field and rob your homeruns by climbing the fence. Play the All-Star difficulty level and watch the opposing team come up with some brilliant plays.

Concept: 9.5
Dynasty Mode is now a dream come true and Owner Mode is just too cool for school. Add the Mini Games mode and this becomes a baseball game with a lot to do. There are also plenty of teams, from the major to the minor leagues plus retro uniforms and legendary players of the golden age of baseball. MVP Baseball 2005, you complete me.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Three cheers for EA Sports finally going online with Microsoft’s blessings and three more for the content download that’s always appreciated. Jeers, though, for the stutter during pitching or baserunning that just gets too annoying when it happens too often in one inning. MLB 2K5 is the clear-cut winner in the online multiplayer department.

Overall: 9.3
Grab some snacks and your favorite beverage because MVP Baseball 2005 will keep you glued to your couch for a very long time. With great modes, gorgeous graphics and near perfect controls this one will no doubt be the franchise we turn to when we want a baseball game true to the sport itself.