MLB Power Pros

Rating: E

Score 9.0/10

What would happen if MLB players looked more like dolls than humans? This game is the answer. This game is available for Playstation 2 and Nintendo Wii.

When you first load up the game, you’ll notice something: The extreme amount of modes. There are about 15 modes in this game – everything from home run derby to classic exhibitions mode.

There’s also a sims-like mode, where you play in your favorite team and slowly get better. It’s definitely the best mode. Your first create a character, then use him/her throughout the game on your favourite team.

The text isn’t that spread out. You’ll read a book’s worth of text at the beginning, but will never get talked to again. You could talk to some of your “friends” but it’ll cut into your training time. You can also goof off and play video games or golf, but that will cut into your training time as well. Sometimes, going out with friends or playing games will cost you money. Saving money will be an important thing to do; you’ll need a lot of it to buy some necessary items later on. You also spend money to train faster.

After all the training is done, and you spend some money, you should either rest up for the big game, or have an energy drink. Once in the stadium, you’re at the core of the game, the baseball! Either you’ll be pitching or batting, depending on your best qualities. Batting is easy – just hit the ball around the circle marker and watch it fly! At the touch of a button, the circle decreases size, but becomes a much more powerful hit.

For pitching, you simply pick a throw (fastball, charge-up, knuckleball, the works) and choose where your pitch will land. After the game, the coach talks to you. He will tell you that you were horrible (ouch!), tell you that you were OK, tell you that you were amazing (yay!). This decreases or increases his trust in you, respectively. You then go back to train and it repeats. It’s repetitive but it’s fun while it lasts.

There are a lot of little details non-MLB fans will miss, such as special pitches and batting positions only notable pros do. It doesn’t nearly have the pure un-cut detail and game MLB 2K8 had, but it’s still worth checking out.