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Major League Baseball 2K6 Review: Should You Buy?

Major League Baseball Coverart

Major League Baseball 2K6 Review: Should You Buy?

Developed by Kush Games, Major League Baseball 2K6 is an interactive baseball game. Released in 2006 for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, and GameCube. Experience Major League Baseball in its purest form. As next generation graphics create true-to-life player models, breathtaking diamond details, and stunningly accurate stadium accuracy.  An all-new physics engine brings running, throwing, fielding, tag outs, and player-to-player collision animations to life with more detail and variation than ever before.

Realistic Feel of Major League Baseball 2K6

Major League Baseball Screenshot
Play with the best on the field of Major League Baseball 2K6.

Major League Baseball 2K6, makes a very playable portable baseball game. It may not have the same “broadcast quality” features of the console versions but the core of the gameplay is very much intact. The AI plays a very convincing game with plenty of realistic nuances that makes the scores, plays and number of walks, fouls and homeruns appear randomly natural. The controls are responsive and offer plenty of variation for batting, catching and throwing. 

The Inside Edge is an in-game tutorial of sorts that gives hints and tips after each pitch whether players are pitching or batting. It takes into account the other players’ stats and scouting data and will give predictions as to what kind of pitches to expect or what kind of pitches to throw. It’s well implemented into the gameplay and doesn’t act like a cheat device; it gives players the same relative information that would be available to all Major League teams.

Get Your Head in the Game

Major League Baseball screenshot
Never miss a hit with help from the onscreen centering system.

The number of modes in this game are outrageous. There are 10 single-player modes alone, with two multiplayer modes that include Exhibitions and Home Run Derby. The single-player modes include Quick Games, Season, Manager Showdown, Home Run Derby, Home Run Derby Career, World Baseball Classic, Playoffs, Situation, Franchise and GM Career.

There are a variety of stats and even a minor league roster which will assist in making draft decisions. Players can be traded, contracts are negotiated and because of the built-in fatigue system, players can schedule time off for star players so they can be in peak form when needed.

Major League Baseball 2K6 Controls

Major League Baseball screenshot
Realistic graphics make players feel like they are actually in the game.

Choose the swing with the analog stick and then press the X button at the perfect time to execute the hack. Players can hit flies, grounders, bunts and hopefully homeruns if they get the right pitch and the timing of the controls down. Players can increase the speed of base runners and fielders by mashing the action button. If attempting to catch the ball, pressing the X button will execute a dramatic dive or wall climbing animation. All of the animations are very smooth, even the transition animations.

Pitching may at first appear to be a more complex affair but that’s just the nature of the interface. It gives the player a lot of control which makes for a more strategic game. Use the nub to aim and press a button to select a pitch and hold it down. While holding it, the targeting circle will expand, indicating a greater power level. The circle will then shrink into a crosshair. Tap the button one more time, preferable when the circle is at its smallest as this will increase the accuracy of the pitch.

Final Thoughts

The learning curve in this game is not very steep at all. Players will get plenty of practice just by playing through the various modes but there is an excellent feature that acts as a coach with psychic abilities. Major League Baseball 2K6 is a great game as far as the gameplay mechanics go but it really skimps on the razzle and dazzle. If this sounds like something a player can dive into then this is the game to check out.

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