Visually, Slugfest is flat out gorgeous! Accurate stadiums, player models, and even player faces look great! There are a multitude of colors and textures added to make the game stick out above the rest. Only MVP compares visually to this beauty in terms of a graphically slick package. Throw in some flaring ball trails, insane special effects, and brilliant presentation and you have a fine looking baseball game. The only problem is, if you played last year's version, you knew this already. The game isn't that distinct visually from last seasons late effort, and it feels as if this game was thrown out the door with only the extra features added in. Is that a bad thing? Not really, but I feel a cash cow franchise brewing here.

Audio is also superb! The color commentary is on par with the best in the business, and throws in touches of humor too boot. Sometimes the humor is overtly silly, but laughs easily outweigh the groans. The music and sound effects really get you jacked for this game. It's like Jolt cola. It just has kick! Much of the game, like the visuals were carried over, but the new play-by-play is at least refreshing, as with most sports games, you know the catch phases are coming even before they get there. Thankfully this is not the case here.

The game plays wonderful, just prepare for high scores, and higher punch counts than a boxing match. The core of the game is baseball. The difference? You have players that get a boost when they catch a groove and catch on fire - literally. You have crazy pitches that will fool even Tony Gwinn. You even have runners who will stretch out a double, by giving the 2nd baseman a one two punch to the gut, and move on to third. All this makes for a great two player, aggression relieving good time, but the single player experience feels left short with the lack of a real career mode. The A.I. is brutally smart and even rookies will be showing their frustrations not only on their opponents, but their controllers as well. If you know what you're getting into and you know this isn't really baseball, you'll have a great time playing this as it does play well.

What is the most disappointing in 20-04 is the lack of real additions. Sure a fun HR derby was added, as well as a custom replay option, but what else? Oh yeah, a create-a-team! If that's what you want to call it. What they mean by it is you take any and all of the best players you want, and make the ultimate franchise. Sure, they did that in real life and called them the Yankees. Unfortunately that's not what I'd expect when I see the create-a-team option. Also, the lack of customization doesn't end there, as there is not a create-a-player this year either. Bummer. The game does offer a nice season mode, but the game lives in 2 player head-to-head, and not really much more. I'm sure I'm not the only one who expected more from this series this year, lord knows they made enough on the last one to appease the fans appetite for options. Maybe next year?

All in all, if you were a fan of the series last year, the few new additions, and roster updates may bring you back for another season. If you've waited 'til now to play Slugfest, move this score up a point as it's the most fun to be had playing a baseball game, arcade or not. For the rest of you who are purists, this game may be a fun two-player rental at best, as the over the top style may crush your ego a bit. Slugfest in the end is a fast paced, fun as hell baseball game that goes beyond the border of reality, but even then, that's not a bad thing.