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High Heat Baseball 2002 for PlayStation 2 Videos >>
Rating Reviewed By Oscar AlbretsenFrom Mt. Hermon, CA Review Date 03/22/2001 Overall Rating  5 of 5 Rate this review? Summary This latest update of the heralded High Heat Baseball series continues the trends that all of the games have in common. In short, what was great about the last ones, is still great, and what was weak is still weak. But if this game proves anything, it's that the guys at 3DO know how to make a baseball game.The most noticeable difference between this year's and last year's incarnation is that the visuals have been given a major overhaul. And while they are markedly improved, this game will never be mistaken for eye-candy. The player models have been completely reworked, and look much better than the weak models in HH 2001. The bodies still look disproportional, and the joints are still very noticable, but the polygon count is much higher in HH 2002, and the players sport a much smoother and more polished look overall. The faces are still a mess, and closeups of faces make the players look like they've just taken a bite of some bad sushi. Ouch. The stadiums look nice right about until the fences. The backdrops are pathetically pixelized, and the crowd is a blob of colors. One positive thing that can be said about the overall look of this game, however, is that the menus have been redesigned and are quite pleasing to look at, as opposed to the humdrum of last year's menus. That brings us to the gameplay, which, as you would expect, is phenomenal. Thankfully, the game's new look doesn't affect the game's award-winning gameplay in any way, shape, or form. The batter-pitcher confrontations, which are truly the heart of baseball (and also the one aspect of the game that no other baseball series can get quite right) are recreated with stunning accuracy in High Heat 2002. Hitting is a guessing game, trying to outhink the pitcher, and letting 'er rip when you guess correctly. Never has a baseball game come even close to reproducing this the way the High Heat games do. The computer AI is wonderful, and it really does turn hitting into a chess match. Playing High Heat requires you to use more strategy and patience than the more arcade-based games available, but the payoff is that you get the most true to life baseball simulation you'll ever experience. The fielding and pitching are equally as well done. Your fielders control seemlessly, and intuitively. This is one game where you can forget about the old auto-fielding feature. Pitching, like batting, is a game of wits. If you want to be successful, it is important to mix speeds and locations in order to keep the hitter off-balance. Once again, this is realism you won't find anywhere else. As far as features go, I was a bit disappointed that the High Heat series is yet to implement a free agency system yet. The developers of 3DO are obviously avid baseball fans, so it surprises me that they have yet to recognize the significance (whether good or bad) that free-agency has had on baseball. In High Heat, if you draft a good player, you may keep him for his entire career with absolutely no worries, which may be nice, but isn't too realistic. Otherwise, I really have no complaints with what the game features. While the career mode is relatively unchanged, the game features some nice improvements on the field of play, most of which, you won't find anywhere but here. Players can now argue with the umpire on close calls, and be tossed out of games, and even suspended by the league. Rain delays, visits to the mound, and snap throws are also nicely implemented, but perhaps the key new feature is the ability to cutoff throws with the push of a button. In previous games, either you threw home, or two the cutoff man. Here, if you throw home on a base-hit, and know you can't get the runner at the plate, but see that the hitter is trying to stretch his single, you are able to push the action button and cut off the throw midway, which gives you a good chance to pick him off. This feature adds yet another layer of strategy to High Heat's already dense gameplay. One minor complaint I have with this game is its buginess. 3DO has a history of releasing flawed games, and later fixing those issues with a very good patch (this has been the case with the last two HH games). In the case of HH 2002, the game has a tendency to lock up from time to time (particularly if you play more than 10 years into a career). Sometimes players you draft will suddenly sprout into two identical players (and if you release one, the identical twin's stats will be corrupted), and finally, the sound seems to be buggy on some sound cards (it is fine on my sound blaster, but was garbled gibberish on my friend's on-board sound card). But these are pretty minor issues with what is otherwise a stellar game. As far as sound goes, this time around, 3DO elected to use a two man booth in the vein of the Triple Play series. Well, I would be lying if I said there is a big improvement with two people repeating the same phrases ad neaseum as opposed to just one. The sounds on the playing field are all well done, and the crowd reacts to the action nicely. If this game only had great commentary... Overall, while this game doesn't drastically improve on HH 2001, it is still very worthy of your hard-earned money. The depth and brilliance of the gameplay will keep you more than occupied until HH 2003 hits the shelves (seriously. I was still playing HH 2001 when this game was released). If you consider yourself a baseball fan, or even a casual baseball observer, you more than owe it to yourself to own this game. It will be one purchase you won't regret. Sound Two man commentary adds absolutely nothing. The crowd reactions are accurate and ambient, as are the field effects.Grade: B (would be an A if the commentary was halfway decent). Gameplay Simply outstanding. Everything here is top-notch, from the batter-pitcher confrontations, to the excellent fielding and base running. The High Heat 2002 gameplay is truly unrivaled in any other baseball series, past or present.Grade: A+ Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By DavidFrom Providence, RI Review Date 03/21/2001 Overall Rating 5 of 5 Rate this review? Summary Hello, I am a long time sports gamer going back to the old Larussa games, baseball has been my #1 love though. This is the first year i am playing High Heat, because i have been holding out hopoing and wishing Hardball 7 would come out, i gave up and decided to try High Heat after reading all the reviews, and i have to tell you i was not dissapointed. All the little things that where missing from other games, that make the game feel like your on the field are here. I love stats, gameplay, and realism its all here.Sound The sound gets a four also, from the hecklers to the PA anouncer not bad, except the play by play repeats to often, but Im yet to see a game where it don't. The play by play is clear and on time, if the sounds get to cludded you can tweak them or turn them off.Gameplay The gameplay gets a five, from the batter/pitcher interface to moving your pitcher on the mound really helps you be able to get that feeling of working to strike the computer out, or being struck out. Yes you will actually walk batters, and go deep into the count something missing from lots of games in the past. The AI is very challenging on the higher levels which is very welcome, no more 154-8 seasons. Everything can be tweaked which is a real game players dream.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By GuybrushFrom Bellingham, WA Review Date 03/20/2001 Overall Rating  4 of 5 Rate this review? Summary Like it's predecessor, HH2002 is the only game that feels like true baseball. Triple Play is laughably arcade and unrealistic. And what HH2002 doesn't have in graphics, it more than makes up in gameplay.Sound Top notch music. One of the few games I have that I don't immediately crank down the tunes. The fielding sound effects are decent as are the new announcers. They can get a little redundant, but the color commentary is a welcome edition. The surround effects are well done. Lately, I've got some clips, that just repeating. I'm not sure if it's a bug, or just my machine acting up. Overall though, it's not too shabby.Gameplay The pitcher/batter interface is where this game really shines. You have to mix pitches, employ a strategy and keep and eyes on the elements of the moment. Nothing beats HH2002 statistically. It's a breeze to check basic stats like batting average, e.r.a., and HR, and it's just as easy to manage the more in-depth stats as well. Creating players is easy, and running a custom franchise are very well done. If you're a baseball fan, nothing comes closer.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Summary The game is very well done, true to real baseball. I am just having some technical trouble with it.The announcers seem to talk over one another and the sound gets all garbled up. Also When I try to sub a player it usually locks up my computer. If anyone has any Idea of how to fix this please let me know tommy@launchinteractive.net thanks Overall one of the best baseball games ever Sound I am having some trouble so I really cant be fair here. but from what I can hear they are good.Gameplay very good. true to life yet its fast moving. Hitting takes a little time. But I would imaging after spending a few hours on it it gets easier. the fielding is excellent. for some reason that i cant explain this game just feels like baseball where others leave you lostWould you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Summary wow! This is by far the best baseball game! Period! If you want a TRUE baseball game i definately recommend this one!Sound Pretty good. The commentary is also much improved.Gameplay This is probably one of the biggest parts of the game. Gameplay is by far represented closest to baseball in this game than any other baseball video game. With so many options to tweak it to the way you like it, High Heat 2k2 has great replay value. If you want the runners on the bases faster. Tweak it! If you want the ball to bounce higher from throws. Tweak it! So many options to make the game real..Would you like to Comment? 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3.85 of 5
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