MVP 07 NCAA Baseball - Student Review
Score: 90% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Canada Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Sports (Baseball)
Graphics & Sound: MVP 07 NCAA Baseball is the most recent installment in the NCAA series. It is a good game to add to the baseball series. This game may have a few problems, but what games don't? The graphics in the game are eye-popping. From the detail of the 33 college stadiums to the look of the players and their unique stances, the graphics are sure to satisfy. The motion of the players is outstanding. I enjoy watching the players in the field diving and scrambling after the loose ball. You can see how far the players are able to stretch to obtain the ball. The stadiums are up-to-date with the real college stadiums. For example, at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, you can see the LSU football field and other buildings in the background. Sounds of the game are pretty fair, but realistic. You can hear all the sounds on the field such as the ping off the aluminum bat, the catching of the ball in the gloves, and the music played from the stadium. You can also hear sounds off the field like the chanting from the crowd. The only bad thing sound-wise is how the announcers repeat the few lines that they have.
Gameplay: Like all the other MVP baseball games, MVP 07 NCAA Baseball has many game modes as well. The game modes include Exhibition, Dynasty Mode, Tournament, Coach Mode, Online Mode, and Mini-Games. The Mini-Games are made up of batting and pitching scenarios. Batting consists of classical batting and home run showdown. Rocket and Socket and Classical are what come up when you choose the pitching mini-game. The Rocket and Socket mini-game is where you play as a pitcher. As the pitcher, you must decide which pitch to use and the destination of that pitch. You must decide quickly, because the game has a time limit and you must score the recommended points needed to advance to the next level. The Dynasty Mode is similar to Season Mode where you pick your favorite team to play as. The teams are categorized by their conferences. They did a great job by putting in 152 college teams out of 16 conferences. During this mode, you play your season, complete team goals, and recruit new high school players. MVP 07 NCAA Baseball has online gameplay which allows you to play with or against people around the globe. The online play keeps your stats updated. It is fun to play against real people, but it may lag if you have a bad Internet connection.
Difficulty: MVP 07 NCAA Baseball comes with difficulties ranging from freshman to senior. It takes time to figure out which setting is for you. I recommend starting off at the default skill level. If you need any assistance, you could activate the Auto Fielding and/or Auto Base Running. As for me, I enjoy a good challenge.
Game Mechanics: MVP 07 NCAA Baseball has great new types of controls, where you use the analog sticks. You can choose whether you want to use contact or power hitting options. Contact allows you to get a better hit on the ball, but doesn't travel as far. The power option gives more power for distance, but it reduces your chance to get a good hit. If you don't like or are unable to get used to the analog stick, you could switch to the classic controls. The classic control is how all the previous MVP baseball games were played. With all the new technology used in this game comes a new pitching and batting style. To pitch or bat, one must no longer use the (X) button; instead, you use the right analog stick. By simply pulling back on the stick and pushing forward, you are able to control how you pitch the ball or swing the bat. When you are pitching the ball, you must first choose the type of pitch you would like to throw. Once you have chosen your pitch, you use the left analog stick to control the destination of the pitch. Finally, you will pull back until the bar reaches the green area. Then, you push it back up with the right analog stick. With this tiny motion of the thumb, you are able to throw an 80-90 mph ball. Batting has the same basics as pitching. All you have to do is wait for the pitcher to release the ball. At that moment, you must pull back on the right analog stick, and then push forward to knock the cover off the ball. MVP 07 NCAA Baseball is a great game to buy if you're a fan of college baseball. The A.I. provides you with a good challenge. If you are tired of playing the computer, then the Online Mode is for you. Considering the game only cost $30, the graphics look great and the game is worth every penny. I am looking forward to the future version of this game series.
-Nick Delatte
Crackdown - Student Review Anarchy Online: Lost Eden - Student Review