If talk around the "Gamersphere" (I'm trying to get that coined. Spread it around) is to be believed, then 2K Sports' Major League Baseball 2K12 is slated to be the final entry in the series. And for some it's just as well, as 2K's series has been somewhat consistent in its ability to net mixed reviews from critics since it first appeared back in 2005.

A fact that 2K seems to acknowledge, and judging from the sound of what the company has been saying lately, they've been hard at work rectifying things in MLB 2K12, attempting to fix what didn't work in previous entries and improving upon what did. 

So what's different this year? Apparently, not the graphics. With a budget similar to that used for last year's MLB 2K11, 2K chose to invest in improving gameplay over a graphical overhaul. Sure, there will be new player models, faces, and new animations, but those who panned 2K11's graphics may not be pleased about the lack of true visual progress made this year.

Okay, so people are probably going to diss the graphics. That aside, the real improvements in 2K12 are in its gameplay, especially where pitching and fielding are concerned. Let's start with pitching. Whereas before players could mostly rely on twitch reflexes to land strike after strike, this time around a little strategy is required to keep batters from running. To start off, each pitcher in the game's roster is ruled by his real-world habits, meaning that if one pitcher's has a particular tendency to use a particular type of pitch, it will be reflected in-game. However, if that pitch is used more than the real pitcher would, then batters will catch on, making it easier for them to land a hit. The same logic applies to where the ball is thrown, as indicated by black spots in the game's strike zone display. Batters can see these black spots, so they'll know where the pitcher tends to aim. In short, relying on one kind of pitch and location is the fastest way to defeat.

Fielding in MLB 2K12 has also seen a welcome refinement. Last year's game used a fielding meter, which prioritized timing over a simple button press and caused many players to throw the ball over the first-baseman's head due to bad timing. This time around, the meter is variable, meaning as long as an infielder can set his feet, the problematic red area of the meter will not show up, thus ensuring that, whatever happens, the ball will at least not fly over anyone. That's not to say the problem's gone though. If an infielder can't set his feet, the risks from MLB 2K11 may show up once more (you've been warned).

Online multiplayer and improved commentary from analysts Steve Phillips, Gary Thorne, and John Kruk round out the overall package that promises to provide a deeper baseball experience than the predecessors that came before it. But will gamers be happy with the result? On March 6, the world will find out when Major League Baseball 2K12 arrives in stores for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 (and 2, seriously), Windows PC, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PSP (as you can guess, 2K plans to leave virtually no stone unturned as far as systems go).

[View MLB 2K12 images / screenshots +]
[Watch MLB 2K12 videos / trailers +]
[View more MLB 2K12 articles (news, previews, reviews) +]
[View MLB 2K12 cheats / guides +]

User Comments (0)