Rating: Summary: 3DO runs another franchise into the ground Review: A longtime fan of the High Heat Baseball series for the PC, I had the misfortune of purchasing the most recent edition, and am incredibly disappointed. I knew there would be trouble from the get-go when I found out that there is no mouse support. How can you release a product for the PC without mouse support?As I explored the game, I discovered that most of the things I loved about the series had been removed, or hobbled at best. What I enjoyed most was "owning" a baseball team, making roster decisions, drafting minor leaguers, etc., and just managing - not playing - actual games. The lack of a mouse-driven interface makes this clumsy at best, and many options have simply been done away with entirely. The deep statistical spreadsheets which I probably spent too much time mulling over are gone. Eventually, it became evident that this is a port of the console version. This is not a bad thing in and of itself, of course. But the High Heat series began on the PC, and had to be pared down for the console versions that were released. Why then take an essentially incomplete console version and use that as your new template? I could go on, but suffice to say that I can find nothing positive to say about the game, and am telling everybody I know who might even remotely consider buying it not to. Another awful product from a company that clearly doesn't care about PC gaming anymore.
Rating: Summary: Unbelievable but rather expensive Review: For many years, I searched for a decent computer baseball game. I can still remember back in the day, playing Tony LaRussa Baseball. A few years ago, I found out about the Triple Play series, and played that for a while. But although Triple Play has some cool features, it really doesn't represent the game very well (e.g. Ron Coomer getting bunt hits, Brad Fullmer hitting 90 homeruns). So I moved over to the High Heat series. High Heat Baseball 2003 was spectacular when it came out. It seemed to do well in every aspect of the game. My main complaint was that the audience looked so [...] and the stadium graphics were OK but not great. This years edition is a different story. Stadium graphics are stunning, the crowd is arguably the best that you can find in any sports game (a very emotional crowd that changes moods all the time). Although the gameplay was great last year, 3DO raised the bar even more this year. There are hundreds of different pitches, 2 new modes (2 on 2 showdown and franchise), and smoothly designed plays. However, I am quite dissapointed in the fact that 3DO didn't get around to getting different play-by-play announcers. Not that the ones in the game are terrible, but they aren't great either and I was hoping very much to get some better ones. All in all, it seems like the game could have easily come out as a[n] upgrade of HH 2003. But I'll settle for what they have now. It's a bit expensive but it is an excellent baseball game. I doubt any of the major upcoming sluggers will be able to beat it.
Rating: Summary: Console Port Review: Have bought every installment of High Heat, and have loved it. This version is simply terrible. If I wanted a console port, I would not buy a pc version. The lack of mouse support made the totally unintuitive menues even more difficult. Two out of the 3 games I played crashed and one was the only fun game, that was in extra innings. The player graphics look like arcade models and really do not look realistic. Some of the player animations are entertaining. For some reason, the game would not take the pitching imputs from my sidewinder, often requiring more than five attempts (yes my sidewinder was calibrated and works fine with other games). This interrupt the game play and is very frustrating. This has happened in past HH versions, but seems worse in this one. I felt angry and insulted that I was given a console game in the guise of a pc game. I am sad that they have ruined an outstanding franchise, again.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely terrible Review: I had heard nothing but great things about the High Heat series and though I read that the interface was poor, I thought it wouldn't matter since I had never played before. Well, I was wrong. I played probably 4 games and gave up. This game is absolutely terrible and if 3DO doesn't fix things for next year, they're going to be in a mess of trouble. This is just sad.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely terrible Review: I had heard nothing but great things about the High Heat series and though I read that the interface was poor, I thought it wouldn't matter since I had never played before. Well, I was wrong. I played probably 4 games and gave up. This game is absolutely terrible and if 3DO doesn't fix things for next year, they're going to be in a mess of trouble. This is just sad.
Rating: Summary: One step forward, about 6 steps backwards Review: I love the High Heat series. Every March I get the new version, excited to try the new features. To sum it up, Graphics are much better, sound is great, budget looks good. BUT many cons, playability is deplorable. This game doesnt recognize the mouse, there is no manage only mode, no one pitch mode, no online play, no hh2003 convertor, no stat spreadsheat. I played for three innings, and my team was 11 for 16. To arcade like even though I tuned it to be more geared for simulation. The menus are sloppy, and very difficult with no mouse support. Maybe MVP Baseball will be decent. This will be the last time I buy a HH game unless significant improvements are made. Every single aspect of the older versions that I loved is completely gone. All they had to do to keep me happy was use last years version, fix the bugs, the financial aspect would be great, maybe improve the graphics. (alhough I didnt mind them) But Stay away from this game
Rating: Summary: So So Review: I loved HH 2003. I played it for hours. I wanted new rosters, so I purchased HH 2004. Immediately, the gameplay felt awkward. I tried playing a few more games, but the entire game seemed so awkward compared to HH 2003. I guess the graphics look a little better in 2004, for example there seems to be more transparency etc... If you like HH baseball, and you don't care about the rosters, keep using HH 2003.
Rating: Summary: High Heat 2004 Gone to the Dark Side Review: I must agree with most of the other user reviews criticizing High Heat 2004. Incredibly, THERE IS NO MOUSE SUPPORT for this supposed PC Game! Whoever made the decision to sell out High Heat PC users this way should be fired immediately! Not only is there no mouse support but the menu interface is a complete nightmare! It's literaly an ordeal just trying to set up and start a game! I will never understand why a company will take a very good PC product and just tear it down for game consoles! 3DO has sold PC users out for game consoles! Just like NBA Live 2003, High Heat 2004 has gone over to the dark side! It's no wonder that there is no demo. Five minutes with this intolerable interface would convince any PC User not to bother. The graphics are better and the game is still fun to play but the terrible interface and many missing features ruin it. The sound and color commentary have improved little, if at all. I think it's time to send a message to companies like EAsports and 3D0 who sell out PC Users for consoles! If I wanted to play a Playstation game, I would buy a Playstation!
Rating: Summary: Do you notice, the bad reviews here are repeated? Review: It looks like so many people are trashing this game here. However, upon closer inspection, it looks like a couple of people repeat posting. Why did they do that? To make a perfectly good game look like garbage? 3DO did not run a franchise into the ground! While offering up very little new to the 2003 season, this program still has more defined and easier controls. Graphics that are much nicer to look at. And an interface that is streamlined. Better team picks and organization. Really cool sky effects. And, i have yet to find a game stopping glitch (as i did in 2002). So, overall, a lot of fun. Well worth the purchase.
Rating: Summary: What went wrong..? Review: Like most of the other reviewers, I have looked forward to the early-Spring releases of what HAD BEEN my favorite baseball sim/game, the ol' reliable High Heat Baseball. I'm not sure what 3DO was thinking, or even if they were, but this game is simply unacceptable on many counts. The lack of mouse support, as everyone has noted, stinks. The game is no longer smooth (in fact, I think that they have become steadily worse since the last Sammy Sosa edition in 2001). The reduction in mode-of-play options was not met with favor; simply put, this is the worst baseball game I have played on a computer. I have long had distaste for EA Sports baseball games, but I can't help but think that even EA would not release such an unpolished and dated game. Once you get past the decent visual stadium graphics, there is no gameplay value. I am sadly disappointed.
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