MLB 2K10
(2K for Xbox 360)
By Mike Delano
In the competitive world of sports games, there hasn’t been a beating in recent memory as total as the one that Sony’s MLB 09: The Show put on 2K’s MLB 2K9 last year in the arena of popular opinion. With The Show further polishing its superlative experience for its 2010 offering, does MLB 2K10 have what it takes to turn the tides this year? No, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own as a solid sports sim. The My Player option adds a twist to the usual franchise creation and management by letting you pump up your own created baller with RPG-like stats as he rises from AA to the big leagues. The commentary is strong, as is the pitching interface and 2K’s continued dedication to up-to-the-moment updates via scrolling tickers and the MLB Today option, which lets you play games as they start in real life during the regular season. Unfortunately, the batting isn’t very satisfying, which saps the on-field action of some of its punch and makes it likely you won’t choose to make many trips to the Home Run Derby. The visuals are clean and serviceable but lack some of the finer details, and who thought it was a good idea to start putting advertisements in achievement boxes? The equivalent of a contact swing, MLB 2K10 gets the job done, just keep your expectations in the infield.
(www.2ksports.com)