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Rainbow Six 3: BA
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Pub.: Ubisoft
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Dev.:
Ubisoft
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Score: 8.0 |
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High Heat Baseball 2004 Review
by 007
When you stick a cat into a room filled with dogs, do you expect to have them play nice? Of course not, we’d all expect the dogs to pounce on the cat like there was no tomorrow. That’s the situation 3DO’s High Heat Baseball series faces as the developer brings the God of the PC baseball games to the Xbox for the first time. The veteran won’t have a warm welcome as the stiff and large amount of competition could very well show that the PC Baseball king isn’t as royal on the consoles.
Features:
-Download roster updates VIA Xbox Live
-The most realistic and responsive batting and pitching system
-New tuning menu lets you adjust the game to you liking
-Deep franchise mode
-“Two on Two Showdown” adds more selection to the gameplay
-HDTV Compatible
-Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Gameplay:
High Heat Baseball is a series that dominates when it comes down to gameplay. Year after year 3DO succeeds in keeping the title new and fresh to make it worth purchasing over and over again. While the game marks it’s first ever appearance, it will certainly present Xbox gamers with 11 stacked modes of gameplay:
-Home Run Derby
-Fantasy Draft
-Create-A-Player
-Player Editor
-Career
-Franchise
-Exhibition
-All-Star Game
-Playoffs
-Two on Two Showdown
-Batting Practice
Surprisingly, the mode I found myself most addicted to was Two on Two Showdown which lets you select you favorite batter and pitcher and face off against another batter and pitcher. While the concept sounds so simple and unentertaining, it’s actually quite fun and addicting once you settle in and play a few matches.
The in-game gameplay can be misleading at the most odd times. Don’t be surprised if you’re walking around the bases or having another “K” being posted up at least ten times a game. This approach has been used in previous High Heat titles and the trend continues on. The AI can be as sharp as a whip at times but at the same time dull. Becoming a master in the skill levels will also make you a master of the game because it’s so easy to catch onto the computers game you’ll easily have no difficulty winning.
The Franchise mode is something every Baseball gamer looks for in the past few years and HH 2004 continues along with a much more improved franchise mode that pleases very well. The most intriguing area is the computer AI which is accurately smart especially in trades and how players perform to their given stats. Franchise mode offers everything and endless gaming and is certainly a step in the right direction.
Controls:
Baseball games usually come with a more difficult control scheme than any other sports title and because of that, it takes time to fully settle down and feel comfortable enough to feel safe and secure with the way you play. HH 2004 is really no different than any other baseball title when it comes down to the controls. There are many different situations that will require you to be familiar with a different set of controls (Pitching, Batting, Stealing, Infield, and Outfield). HH 2004 is rather more precise and terrible accurate as you’ll need the most perfectly timed swing to result in a good hit. The pitching system includes 27 different pitches and is deep enough to let you throw a no-hitter (Especially with the batting system in the game).
Graphics:
High Heat Baseball 2004 was a series that had a little something of everything going for it in the past years. Now as the series has arrived on the Xbox it’s really nothing the other Baseball titles this year can’t be compared to. There are moments where HH 2004 shines but there simply just isn’t enough done to 2004 version that makes it astounding on the Xbox.
The single game error that HH 2004 makes is single-handedly in the visuals department as they come across much to plain. There is a great interface to the game, but visually is what is really lacking because there’s so much detail that’s missing throughout the game. A definite highlight in the game is the size and structure of the stadiums. Each looks like their real life counterparts and are just beautiful (Just check out Fenway Park). Animations is an area that made this series so demanding and now that Xbox fans have a chance to see what the fuss is all about…it turns out to be not-so spectacular. I must admit there are some certain animations that really catch the eye but you’re honestly going to see the same if you play another baseball title.
Sound:
Dave O'Brien and Chuck Valenches team up to bring you this year’s play by play in HH 2004. While the duo provide a solid throw of quips, comments, and play by play, it’s their depth in calling the game that provides some sort of satisfaction to the gamer because it’ll be games before you realize that you’ve heard the same lines. The crowd is really tremendous as other than cheering, they also get into the action of throwing their taunts at the players on the field. It’s something few Baseball titles do, but it’s definitely a welcome addition.
Overall:
How fun can you have with any baseball title that has depth? As much time that you’re willing to put into it. That’s really the only answer there is because whatever you’re willing to put into High Heat Baseball 2004 is time spent (and hopefully in your case) well. There’s no denying that HH 2004 is a solid baseball title, but there’s only so much that can keep it alive. I really only became fond of the Two on Two Showdown and Franchise mode but I was still looking for some more. Yes, there are 11 different modes of gameplay but they aren’t pushing the limits at all. High Heat Baseball 2004 is evenly weighed out by its weaknesses and because of it you certainly shouldn’t find it one of your best choices for a Baseball title this year.
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| Rating |
| Gameplay: | 9 |
| Graphics: | 7 |
| Sound: | 8 |
| Value: | 8 |
| Tilt: | 8 |
| Overall: 8 |
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