PlayStation 3
Released in 2013 by 2K Sports
Grade: A-
2K’s final trip around the bases is a high-quality effort, playing smooth and full of detailed baseball logic. My only major gripe is its wacky pitching system.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the seventh and last 2K baseball game on PS3, and the last installment, period.
Praises and gripes
It’s hard to talk about 2K baseball without mentioning The Show. Unfortunately for 2K, Sony’s exclusive MLB title is a little better in every meaningful way. It’s got slightly better control, gameplay, graphics, and tactical displays. (See MLB 13: The Show)
In a parallel universe where The Show doesn’t exist, 2K is a must-own for baseball dorks. It’s got what you need from a baseball game, like deep pitching/batting logic, realistic action in the field, a ton of useful options, and a genuine MLB look to it.
The pitching control uses “gestures” on the right thumbstick. A fastball is down then up. A curveball is diagonal then a half-circle around. I like the idea. I like how it tries to replicate grips and motions for different pitches. But if you can stand to play like that for nine innings, good for you. I find it to be a total pain in the ass. The Show’s three-press pitch meter is more intuitive and gives you more control.
Luckily, you can opt for simpler, hold-and-release pitching control. It’s easier but less satisfying. Similarly, the default batting control has you pull the thumbstick back and push it forward, but you can opt to simply press X.
The action and control is fine in the field. The animation is more natural than MLB 2K11, the one substantial improvement I noticed.
The game provides elements of tactical help (like text tipping off the type of pitch) and lots of on-screen stats, presented with 2K’s overly sparkly style. There’s a lot to turn on and turn off to your liking. You can cut out unneeded time between plays, making games move swiftly.
All in all, it’s a good game, borderline great. For Xbox 360 people, it’s an easy choice. Get it, play it, have fun.
But let’s face it, nobody needs to spend time with two baseball sims. If you’re going to sink your teeth into America’s slowest pastime, you’re better off playing The Show.