High Heat Baseball 2000

Rating:
Summary: Great Baseball Game!
Review: 3DO's High Heat Baseball is hands down the best baseball game around. Although the new 2001 version is out now (I don't have it), I'll review this one for those who are interested.

The problem with most baseball games is that the batter/pitcher interface is either incredibly difficult (the pitcher having to pinpoint, within a box, exactly where to throw it; and the hitter having to do likewise) or else too easy (where the games all become slugfests). I'm amazed, though, at how realistic HH2000's interface is. The breaking pitches buckle your knees. The difference between fastballs and change-ups are noticeable, but not too ridiculous. For example, if you're thinking fastball and the pitcher throws a change, you'll be out in front. And if you're looking for something offspeed and a fastball is thrown, you'll find your swing a tad slow. In most games, the difference between fastballs and changeups is ridiculous; the change-up is SO slow that you never really have to look for it because you always have time to adjust.

Likewise, the accuracy in pitching is eerily realistic. You can choose a pitch (curve, slider, change, etc.) and location (down and in, up and away) and whether you want the pitch to be thrown for a strike or a ball. The amazing twist, however, is that sometimes your pitcher doesn't do exactly what you've told him to. So, on a 3-2 count, for instance, with the game on the line, you may choose fastball down the middle, but your pitcher will miss. Conversely, sometimes you'll have a batter down 0-2 and want to throw a waste pitch and your pitcher will get too much of the plate. In other words, your pitcher plays like he's human. He'll hit his spots most of the time, but not always.

The graphics are strong (though the players could look better) and all of the parks look authentic and beautiful. I've only played the single player vs. computer mode and I've already played three 162 game seasons. There are some minor glitches. Hard groundballs in the infield will go all the way to the outfield wall sometimes. Flyballs hang in the air just a bit too long, making outs awful plentiful. Lastly, and most frustrating, it's difficult (actually, impossible) to move the cursor off of the player the computer has chosen to a player you wish to control. This is especially frustrating when a blooper is hit into the outfield. The computer will highlight an infielder and you, as the player, know that the ball's going to drop and want to move your outfielder; but since your outfielder cannot be highlighted, he just stands there like a statue; the ball drops, goes to the wall, and your opponent rounds the bases. SUPER FRUSTRATING! Lastly, your outfielder sometimes throw through to a base and sometimes hit the cutoff man. There's no reason or logic behind it; it's all completely random. Thus, you'll catch a ball in the outfield and want to throw to the plate and, alas, you'll throw to the cutoff man instead.

Still, despite the glitches, this is an outstanding and addictive game.

Rating:
Summary: Great Baseball Game!
Review: 3DO's High Heat Baseball is hands down the best baseball game around. Although the new 2001 version is out now (I don't have it), I'll review this one for those who are interested.

The problem with most baseball games is that the batter/pitcher interface is either incredibly difficult (the pitcher having to pinpoint, within a box, exactly where to throw it; and the hitter having to do likewise) or else too easy (where the games all become slugfests). I'm amazed, though, at how realistic HH2000's interface is. The breaking pitches buckle your knees. The difference between fastballs and change-ups are noticeable, but not too ridiculous. For example, if you're thinking fastball and the pitcher throws a change, you'll be out in front. And if you're looking for something offspeed and a fastball is thrown, you'll find your swing a tad slow. In most games, the difference between fastballs and changeups is ridiculous; the change-up is SO slow that you never really have to look for it because you always have time to adjust.

Likewise, the accuracy in pitching is eerily realistic. You can choose a pitch (curve, slider, change, etc.) and location (down and in, up and away) and whether you want the pitch to be thrown for a strike or a ball. The amazing twist, however, is that sometimes your pitcher doesn't do exactly what you've told him to. So, on a 3-2 count, for instance, with the game on the line, you may choose fastball down the middle, but your pitcher will miss. Conversely, sometimes you'll have a batter down 0-2 and want to throw a waste pitch and your pitcher will get too much of the plate. In other words, your pitcher plays like he's human. He'll hit his spots most of the time, but not always.

The graphics are strong (though the players could look better) and all of the parks look authentic and beautiful. I've only played the single player vs. computer mode and I've already played three 162 game seasons. There are some minor glitches. Hard groundballs in the infield will go all the way to the outfield wall sometimes. Flyballs hang in the air just a bit too long, making outs awful plentiful. Lastly, and most frustrating, it's difficult (actually, impossible) to move the cursor off of the player the computer has chosen to a player you wish to control. This is especially frustrating when a blooper is hit into the outfield. The computer will highlight an infielder and you, as the player, know that the ball's going to drop and want to move your outfielder; but since your outfielder cannot be highlighted, he just stands there like a statue; the ball drops, goes to the wall, and your opponent rounds the bases. SUPER FRUSTRATING! Lastly, your outfielder sometimes throw through to a base and sometimes hit the cutoff man. There's no reason or logic behind it; it's all completely random. Thus, you'll catch a ball in the outfield and want to throw to the plate and, alas, you'll throw to the cutoff man instead.

Still, despite the glitches, this is an outstanding and addictive game.

Rating:
Summary: HH 2000
Review: I think that this may be the best PC Baseball game yet! If you are a person who likes realism, then this game is for you. If you like the type of baseball games where you can knock planes out of the sky with your homeruns, then forget it. This game plays like it should, right down to the variable calls made by the home plate umpire. The fielders throw like they do in real life. You won't see any clothesline throws from the right field wall all the way to home plate. Cutoff men are used in this game. I think the only thing that TP 2000 had over this game was that TP 2000 had the actual batters' stances and pitchers' windups for each player. As far as the gameplay goes, this one is a winner.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed Review
Review: To be honest... I think that this game when compared to the others is one of the best (if not the best) games on the market. I mean it has it all: all the teams with all the stadiums (even the new ones like Safeco field and Pacific Bell Park(which isn't even open yet)) with all the players. Plus there's some older, nostagic stadiums like the Polo Grounds and Ebbets field and even some spring training (practice) stadiums. You can do everything you can think of (including move your home stadium and completely change your lineup and rotation). There's also a complete list of free agents and a complete minor league farm system where you can draft and develop players. You can cut, send down, bring up, etc. players anytime (and its fun doing it too). The problem, however, that I experienced was it is a pain to get to work. There are many files and programs which the game needs to work... ones that aren't mentioned anyhere. Also, you have to make sure you have the updated version for all your drivers (audio, video, etc). To be honest, it was a complete hassle to get this game working and is not worth it in the end... epecially since a better game will come out soon anyway. In short, only get this game if you are patient or completely know how to reconfigure your system.