Review: "MLB '99" a definite player but not quite an all-star

By CNN Interactive Producer Dave Ragals

May 11, 1998
Web posted at: 12:26 PM EDT (1226 GMT)

"MLB '99" takes you out to all the ballparks, including Wrigley Field

(CNN) -- Baseball season is in full swing, and it's not limited to the Boys of Summer. Video game publishers are also stepping up to the plate with their newest baseball offerings. For Sony, it's "MLB '99."

Since the advent of the PlayStation, Sony has made great strides in the sports title market. Its "GameDay," "FaceOff" and "MLB" series have provided serious competition for EA Sports. The end result for the user is more quality titles to choose from -- not a bad position to be in.

"MLB '99" is loaded with many of the same features as its competitors. In the field, you can make diving catches and throw from the knees, while at the plate, you can take a normal swing or aim for another country.

The major differences lie in the game's overall presentation and a handful of features it boasts and a few it lacks.

The graphics are very good. The stadiums look real and the players are pretty sharp. Players also move well -- pitchers have unique wind-ups and baserunners move smoothly. The only glaring flaw is that players magically appear and disappear, especially at the plate. If a batter strikes out -- poof! -- he vanishes into thin air.

Help out your pitcher with a nice diving catch

The game sounds are decent, but they don’t add as much to the game as they could. Vin Scully's play-by-play works well. Team and player names are inserted into sentences seamlessly. But, it’s all a little slow, and the overall effect is that it sometimes takes away from, rather than enhances, the excitement. To Sony's credit, Scully's calls follow the play nicely, and he never says anything meaningless or corny.

The crowd noises are also pretty good. The fans cheer and boo -- although not always at the appropriate moments -- and the stadium organist adds to the atmosphere. But, someone at Sony must really love nachos, because you can hear the nacho vendor hawking his chips and cheese after almost every pitch.

The best part of "MLB '99" is the gameplay, which is pretty realistic. In some titles, you can drive one into the outfield gap and still come away with only a single. Not so with this one. You get what you earn. The players make some nifty-looking moves, and the game’s “camera” follows the action well. Double-plays and home plate collisions look as good as anything out there. From a manager’s standpoint, you have a few options, though not as many as in some other titles.

The controls are also strong. You can make a player do a lot without overwhelming yourself by pressing too many buttons. The game lets you decide how complex you want things to be. If you want, you can try to guess a pitch type or location. While it can help you at the plate, it makes things more complicated. It’s not tough to easy to master the basic controls, and after just a couple of games, you’ll be ready to try some of the more complex options.

"Here's the play at the plate..."

Just about every title lets you create and trade players. Drafts are becoming popular options, too. "MLB" has them all. The added feature for this game is Spring Training Mode, a really nice touch for anyone who’s ever dreamed of making it in the big leagues. After you’ve created a player, you can give him a tryout at Spring Training. If he performs well enough, he makes the team. If not, it’s another season of bus rides. If he continues to light it up, he can make the all-star team. But if his performance drops, it’s back to the minors.

Overall, "MLB '99" is a decent game. It doesn’t have quite as many features as "Triple Play," which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. For some, those things make a game too complicated. For others, they make it more exciting. What it really lacks is a little more flash and excitement, which would make it more addictive, especially if you play a full season.

"MLB '99" is like a good prospect. It has a lot of potential, but it could use a little more developing. Who knows? Maybe after another year, it could be ready to become an all-star.

Related stories:

• EA Sports turns a Triple Play... again - March 20, 1998

Related sites:

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• Playstation Home Page
• CNN/SI - baseball

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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