The licensing wars have yielded the only third-party Major League Baseball title (outside of Sony’s MLB ’06 title on the PS2 and PSP) of the season and in many ways 2K Sports Major League Baseball 2K6 is a deep drive down the line that bends toward the foul pole. There are reasons to think this title will provide some truly terrific baseball moments on the Xbox, but just as you get excited thinking the ball is heading for home-run land, it drifts toward foul territory.

Great ideas are abundant in the title, but flawless execution is not always forthcoming.

Look at it as another baseball analogy … Runner on first, ball hit sharply to the shortstop, who flips it to the second baseman covering the bag. The fielder steps deftly on the bag, avoids the sliding runner and leaps into the air for the relay throw to first, and fumbles the ball in the motion and makes an off-target throw.

Before touting the pluses of the title, let’s address the issues that stop it from being that anticipated and thrilling long ball. First, there is the physics of the game. The ball can appear oversized and doesn’t work off the wall very well. Baserunning is somewhat unintuitive and while tied to the hotkeys, as in controlling the running by selecting the right one, and the D-pad, you may find yourself mashing the A button (which pops up and is supposed to allow the batter or baserunning to use a burst of speed) after rounding first on a drive to the wall, ignoring the right key and not getting that extra base.

The game engine has opted for a stab at true physics in regards to player movements; this means that players won’t change direction really fast. If you start in on a fly ball, and then realize that your path is off, you will have a harder time slowing and changing directions than perhaps finely honed athletes would.

Because so much is connected to the analog sticks, any delay in information translated from your controller to the machine can turn a “should have” into a moment of frustration. Whether it is in fielding and diving for that spectacular catch, or swinging the bat and realizing the perfect timing, the slight delays can be agonizing. Fortunately, though, these moments seem seldom – perhaps it is just that they are not as noticeable most of the time.

Ok, now on to the good stuff …

It all begins with the Inside Edge, a system that allows you to buy scouting reports on the team you are about to play. This includes scouting a pitcher and which pitch he favors and targeted location. It also shows you batter tendencies as well. This gives you … well … an ‘Inside Edge’ when it comes to playing the team defensively or batting.

Knowing pitching locations is a boon. You can set the game to classic batting (hot button to swing), or go with 2K’s Swing Stick, a motion that utilizes the right analog stick to cock the bat, step and swing. This is done by pulling back on the stick and then pushing it forward. Release the stick and you will get a contact hit. Push the stick all the way up and you are going for the home-run power. This does take great timing.  

On the other side of the ball are the Payoff Pitches. In certain moments during the game (Inside Edge information, or just using the right analog stick to set a location), the catcher will set a target and the targeting reticule will flash. Using the hot button to deliver the pitch, you need to time the diminishing reticule to nail the target. If you do so, you will receive a pitching bonus.

Adding a dynamic player morale system to the franchise mode was a solid hit. Now everything you do in the franchise mode may have an impact on the game – from the contract to spot in the lineup to performance. Happy players get a ratings’ boost, while those not so happy take a hit in their ratings. Even arguing a call can give your team a morale boost. The GM mode adds goals to the equation. The 2006 version also comes with the World Baseball Classic tournament.

When it comes to the visuals, they are serviceable, but not much more. EA Sports’ title in 2005 offered players that could be identified easily but that is not the case with the 2K Sports title. There is a similarity in the faces that is not that great. The commentary by Jon Miller and Joe Morgan can be wrong at times, but hearing Jeanne Zelasko during the introduction to the game is a pleasant surprise. Nice job there.  

Overall, this is a title with some sound ideas, and deep game mode options. But to draw from another baseball analogy, the title – for all its strong points – is a bit like a baserunner stumbling enough rounding the bag to not being able to advance that extra base. Major League Baseball 2K6 is a good game; it is just a bit shy of being a great game.

Gameplay: 7.3
There are moments when the controls seem to lag slightly and that can be frustrating, but give props for the Swing Stick and Payoff Pitches. These pull players much deeper into the game. The AI has some small problems when it comes to covering the bags on overthrows and this detracts from the purity of the game.

Graphics: 7.5
The players’ faces have a tendency to look similar but the acrobatics and animation is still solid. Ball physics take a bit of a beating at times when playing up against a wall.

Sound: 6.8
The tag-team of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan do a solid job but the problem occurs within the actually synch on the commentary – you may hear a description of a play that didn’t happen, and Morgan goes through the color commentary, at times, in an extremely lackluster manner.

Difficulty: Medium
You can fine-tune the game to meet your specifications.

Concept: 8.5
The Swing Stick and Payoff Pitches, the Inside Edge – give the development team solid marks to bring more life and strategy into the game.

Multiplayer: 7.6
Supporting Xbox Live is supported through downloadable content, quick match play, leagues, lobbies and tournaments. It is really enjoyable to play against another gamer.

Overall: 7.4
The game has taken some big strides forward but there are a few issues that prevent this from being a home-run ball. Still, baseball is captured in some new ways that bring more life to the game.