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High Heat Baseball 2002 for PlayStation 2 Videos >>
Summary Well it seems some people would not know a decent game if it bit them in the arse. As someone who is pushing thirty, and who owned an Atari 2600 and 5200, this is the best CONSOLE baseball game out there. It is not borderline 2600, just a great game for Baeseball fans. If you like homeruns, 20 k's in a game, and pretty little graphics, then look elsewhere. This game is for the folks who enjoy, get ready, GAMEPLAY! I played triple play for years, then all star, well after smacking 30 HRS in april with Derek Jeter, i realized these games were for the casual gamer. But alas baseball fans this one is for you.Sound Decent. The play by play is just above average, and the crowd is a bit quiet. The sound of the ball on the bat, and in the glove are dead on. The music rocks while surfing the menus. The sound does lag behind triple play, but is a bit better than All star. If your bying a game for sound alone, go with triple play. After that buy a clue.Gameplay Let me start with the basic mechanics of the game. You can use the camera to see from the batters perspective, or the pitchers. It is quite col to see the pitch break over the plate from the pitchers perspective. Oy yeah, forget hitting 80 hr's in a season. You might get 60 with big Mac, but not with Paul O'neil. Fielding is realistic. Hell, the first time i played Knobloch threw the ball into the dugout. Nuff said. The game keeps good stats, but no franchise hurts a bit. Pitchers get hit more when they screw up, or get tired. The catcher drops the ball on a third strike, you have to throw to first. Sending out the manager to the mound to help get the bullpen ready is a nice touch. Appeals at first and third, and so on. True baseball nirvana.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By Daniel FinkleFrom SomervilleMA Review Date 03/30/2001 Overall Rating  4 of 5 Rate this review? Summary I had been looking forward to both ASB and TPB but after reading many reviews I knew that these were not the games for me. My last hope was HHBB and if you go into it knowing the grapchics are a step down from the other two, then this is the best baseball game availibe on the market.The only thing that I can't answer is: WHY IS THIS HHBB 2002???? At what point did we gain a year? Sound Nothing that is going to make you want to listen, nothing that will make you not want to listen.Gameplay Great! Everything is smooth, the pitching is realistic in the sense that good pitchers throw better pitches consistently, and other's don't. Fielding is nice (despite some strange camera angles). Hitting is easy to do, hard to master.It has every player, even though some guys (Brian Daubach, Ichiro Suzuki) have different names. Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By Jeff SmithFrom Spokane,WA Review Date 03/30/2001 Overall Rating  5 of 5 Rate this review? Summary This is one awesome baseball game. If you are a "true fan" of the game you will not find one better. There are some people here who are clearly not happy with this game because of the graphics. I am the first to agree with them, the graphics are sub-par for the PS2. Yet the gameplay,AI, and options are incredible. Bottom line is this, game companies can either use all the computing power at their disposal on eye candy and great looking cut scene tv style graphics (eg. Triple Play and All Star). Or they can opt to put the power into the gameplay and realism. High Heat chose the later and put all the power into the gameplay and realism and skipped on the "Fluff." Trust me. If you love the game of baseball you will love this game. If you want to see great graphics and presentation then watch a real game on tv or better yet get off the couch, head down to the "yard" and have a dog and beer on me.Sound The sound is good. The play by play gets the job done. The best part of the sound is the crowd. They actually react to what is going on in the game. If the game is a blowout they will even start heading for the parking lot. They boo bad calls and get progressively louder during a rally.Gameplay The gameplay is nearly perfect. The pitching and batting strategy in very realistic and the fielding is great. The fielders transition from fielding to throwing smoothly and realistically. There are 5 difficulty settings. You can preview stadiums in the middle of a game with a very intricate camera system. Unlike ASB you have complete control over instant replays. The game plays like a real game of baseball. It is not homerun "happy" even on the easier levels and scores are very lifelike. There are pass balls and dropped third stikes. You can visit the mound to stall for time to warm up your reliever and you can do double switches. Awesome Baby!!Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By KeithFrom New York CIty Review Date 03/29/2001 Overall Rating 4 of 5 Rate this review? Summary This is yet another video game translation of America's favorite pastime. After PS2 owners have been treated to two incomplete, arcade-heavy titles in ASB and Triple Play, can 3DO deliver a true baseball experience with High Heat 2002? The answer for the most part is a resounding "yes."Sound The sound in this game is strictly utilitarian. It is not bad, nor is it great by any stretch. The play by play is for the most part accurate, but sometimes it will make the wrong call. The sounds of the game however, bats hitting balls, balls hitting gloves, etc. are very well done. The menu music is ok as well. It is a quality package, if not exactly awe inspiring.Gameplay The gameplay is basically perfect for a baseball game. The crowning glory of baseball, the pitcher-batter confrontation, is perfectly recreated in this game. This is due to the incredibly realistic control one has over their pitcher. Unlike in other unrealistic baseball games, in which the player uses a cursor to aim the ball, in High Heat, the pitchers perform true to life. You pick your pitch, choose a part of the hitting zone where you want to throw the ball, and throw. It's remarkably simple, and incredibly realistic-NO pitcher MLB r not can perfectly aim pitches. In this game, if you use a great pitcher, you will be able to embarass hitters by working the corners. By contrast, if you use a mediocre pitcher, it will be hard to work the corners and throw consistent strikes. Just as the pitching interface does away with the flawed cursor system, the hitting system follows suit as well. Hitting is based on some primary factors rather than timing: the hitter's ability, timing, being able to decipher what a quality pitch is to hit, and proper bat placement. This is EXACTLY how hitting in real life is. Theis pitcher-batter influence is fast, true to life, and while there is not a tremendous learning curve involved, a great deal of time is required to master these elements. Fielding is nearly perfect. Infielders react instantly to a ball hit in the infield, and control with remarkable speed and precision. There is no lag whatsoever between the time you field the ball and when you tell the fielder to throw it. Outfielders are just as responsive, and 3DO has been smart enough to add a cut-off man to make fielding as realistic as possible. On the downside, slightly awkward camera angles make fielding fly balls somewhat difficult at times. There are many "little things" which 3DO took into account that make this game great. When you check a swing, from time to time the catcher/umpire will call for a ruling from the 1b or 3b umpire, players argue calls, and can actually be ejected for carrying on, stadiums are extensively mapped for collision detection so the bounces are highly realistic, balls react differently on turf than on grass, certain stadiums are more HR prone than others, and enviornmental conditions come into play. Nothing else on the market brings you as close to playing a game of baseball as this game does.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By Johnathan DinanFrom New York, NY USA Review Date 03/29/2001 Overall Rating 4 of 5 Rate this review? Summary High Heat is here, and for the most part it was worth the wait. Lets get some stuff straight right off the bat though: If you are looking for a pretty game, High Heat 2002 is not for you. If you are looking for a game that plays like real baseball and has most of the gameplay and intricacies that Baseball has to offer (And what High Heat on the PC has offered for several years), then go out and buy this game. If you are on the fence about the graphics still, I would rent it then and let the gameplay hopefully win you over. In closing, this is the only real game of baseball in town, and while it isnt truly next generation or a leap forward in visuals, it is the best representation of a baseball game on any console to date.Sound The sound is decent but could be better. I would love to hear some organ music, music as batters step up to bat, but I can live without it. The play by play is dry and sometimes repetitive, but most sports games suffer from this. The in game sounds like the crack of the bat are good though and give an excellent sense of realism, just like the overall game does. If you want a rock solid baseball simulation that is virtually bug free unlike the others out there, and are tired of stupid batting and pitching cursors, grab this game ASAP.Gameplay The gameplay is just what any High Heat fan would expect, and what any baseball fan should expect from a game. The controls are responsive and there are 2 different control sets you can choose from. The pitching interface is great, depending on how good your pitcher is you can paint the corners all day long, or throw some meatballs every now and then (Just like the real game). There is no lame cursor system to fool around with, aim where you want to throw and most of the time the ball will go there. Hitting and fielding are equally simple and rely timing and keeping your eye on the ball, just like the real thing.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By Jeff DigsFrom Cleveland Review Date 03/29/2001 Overall Rating  2 of 5 Rate this review? Summary Please don't insult me with the "this game is for real baseball fans" in 3 words...this game stinks. Why can't a company make a game that runs smoothly. We are talking about the PS2 here aren't we? The 2nd grade presentation and fonts and the camera that appears to be getting dragged along a bumpy road add up to one thing...NO FUN!I don't have a clue which baseball game to play this year since I have now had all 3 and they each are so laden with flaw that I really don't think I am capable of playing an entire 162 game season. This game takes us back at least 5 to 7 years in terms of what we should expect from graphics and frame rate. I am at a total loss as far as what to do next. Sound The announcers continually are chopping their commentary which appears to be directly related to the frame rate issue. It's like the game is constantly accessing the disc and the words and the frames have the hiccups.Gameplay I was able to "feel" like I actually made a great diving stop in the infield when I put the camera to the very low setting, however judging fly balls in the outfield became difficult on that setting. I like the batting interface, but overall this game gives me the feeling that I played it 10 years ago on the Genesis or Nintendo. I am so disappointed that I have now bought and returned 3 baseball games for my all powerful PS2.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Summary First of all HH 2002 will not win any awards for graphics or in the Eye candy Dept.It is about someone finally finally made a good baseball game for the PS2.This game is for you if your a true fan of the game of baseball.(REAL BASEBALL)Not triple play softball.I cant really diss EA sports because they make some of there games are good,except baseball!!If you are a real real baseball fan this is something that you need to getSound Sound it gets the job done.Nothing flashy direct and to the pointGameplay The gameplay is good it takes a while to get use to in the beginning.This is a game that you cant just open and start playing it,It is suggested that you read the instructions take about 20-30 before you start playing.The pitching is good very simple the hitting is good.the fielding takes a bit of time to get use to.Buttons used in fielding are different then the normal baseball game.Hitting simple and direct to the point.Yes there is solid A.I in the game.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By derek schmittFrom memphis,tennessee Review Date 03/29/2001 Overall Rating 4 of 5 Rate this review? Summary don`t throw your ball and glove away in the closet yet and hope that somebody will get a ball game right next year! they did and after buying,and taking back triple play,then asb2002 it is safe to say that i can throw away my ebx reciept and finally, and i do mean finally enjoy some baseball! this ball game has graphics that quite aren`t that great, but they are decient however, but we absolutely have a winner in the game play dept.Sound not to bad here either in the sound dept., but not terrific.like the graphics-solid.Gameplay overall, the gameplay seems to be solid and hey, that`s first and foremost me when it comes to a baseball game. like in ice hockey-game play is where it`s at! the controls feel really comfortable and the players have great a.i. the options screen has plenty to offer-change camera angles,pitchers-hitting,innings,etc. you should be happy with what they`ve done here.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Rating Reviewed By BrianFrom New York, NY USA Review Date 03/29/2001 Overall Rating 4 of 5 Rate this review? Summary A bit dissapointing compared to the PC version of High Heat 2K1. The pitching control is great, but the batting doesn't have the best feel to it. The fielding is OK.... but I do not like the throwing controls. The graphics are a bit shabby, but the GFX to any High Heat game weren't that great either.Sound The play by play gets a little repeatitive, but what sports game doesn't......I didn't really notice anything horrible about the sound... Gameplay The pitching control is great. Easy to understand, and pitches like a major leauge game. The batting takes some time getting used to, it is easy, but it takes some timing to be able to hit the ball good. I do not like the throwing control....X=home O= First Triangle= Second Square= Third It takes time getting used to that throwing method.... The fielding is a little wacky... your players will somtimes move too fast and miss the ball...... Decent control overall.... Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. Summary I was REALLY disappointed by HH and this year's outing.First off, the game would not display fully at a 32 bit color rendering and I have a voodoo 5500 agp card.That really ticked me.It worked fine at 16 bit color.But who wants seconds when one has a top notched video card? The game was rushed with bugs included.The opening video flickers and runs like a oltime 16 mmm film.I am a Indians fan and native of Ohio.None of the players even resembled their cartoon images.Maybe their stances and approach at the plate.Another letdown.The action in the game played well, but other features were dull.Sound The crowd sound was very good, but I can't seem to get a true SURROUND stero effect like in TP BB on my PS2. It sounds mono? What a bummer.The play by play announcing was dull compared to triple play and alot of phrases were repetative.Other than that it was decent.Gameplay One of the outstanding features of HH is the "guess pitch" choice.This makes for a more realistic game.But all you have to do is just wait on that type of pitch and boom "it's outta here".It gets simple after awhile.Fielding is quick and easy.No hesitation, like in TP baseball on the PS2.You hit the C button and boom it's there.I like that.I also liked the fact that you can make more doubles, even triples.Why? Because the outfeilders don't have rifle arms and the physics of the game make the outfeild deeper than most BB sims such as TP BB.If you set it on the "rookie level" you'll score 20 runs the 1st inning.You have to find a "balanced" setting.If you set it to high, like all star, you'll be swinging at the air and get trounced.All in all the gameplay is still the BEST of all baseball sims.And yes, it has better gameplay than TP or All Star Baseball 2002.I've tried them all.Believe me,I'm a baseball video freak.You know what I mean.Would you like to Comment? Join VideoGameReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member. 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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