All Star Baseball 2003

All Star Baseball 2003 Description

Baseball is coming to PlayStation 2 again, thanks to Acclaim. The company is one of the few developers and publishers to bring the console version of the 'acclaimed' sport to British shores with any success, and All Star Baseball 2003 looks set to reinforce that winning streak. Placing the disc in the machine, diehard baseball fans are soon greeted with a somewhat enthusiastic introduction piece offering a sneak preview of what is to follow, setting the mood for the game. Eager to get into a real game, players are immediately able to choose from any of 30 Major League teams, complete with official names, uniforms, accurate player statistics for that much needed element of strategy, and a variety of familiar and realistic stadia. The graphical power afforded by the good old Emotion Engine makes Baseball 2003 a well presented game, boasting detailed characters, authentic playing environments and crowds, cracking reflections and smooth motion-captured player movements. But official licenses and smooth visuals are quickly forgotten once you become immersed in an engrossing game of hit-the-ball-or-catch-it. You know the rules by now. Your goal is either to hit the ball as far possible, or stop the batters' attempts by catching the rock hard projectile, or successfully throwing it at the base in front of the batter. It's easier said than done, but the intuitive control method, both for batters and fielders, makes the game less of struggle and more enjoyable. In a nutshell, it's baseball in a console, and that's pretty darn good.