Visually All Star Baseball does little wrong. Sure the engine is starting to show it’s age, but by no means is the game ugly. Granted, it would be nice to see new cameras angles and such, but the game of baseball is captured brilliantly nonetheless. The new front end is a joy after last years boring outing. The effect of dirty film, and bobble head selection screens are just the start. Menus are easy to navigate, and details as multiple player stats overlays throughout the game are evident. Not only will you see what the player has done so far in the season, but also in the last 10 games, and lifetime stats that are updated as well. You’ll even know when your player is on a hit streak. This year’s front end is a big improvement easily, and is finally a pleasure to look at.

The player models are represented accurately. Their proportioned bodies aren’t over exaggerated, nor do they have big heads, they plain and simply look like ball players, if only plain and simply. What are captured are all the faces of the MLB, provided a representation that was available from the Players association. If the player has a face in picture form, his face is digitally mapped onto a body. It still isn’t done perfectly mind you, some are mapped quite ugly, but it gets better every year. You definitely can tell the differences of EVERY player in your line up by these little details. Like I said before, it’s not just the All Stars here, its EVERY player that has been allotted from the MLB Players association. What’s more, all the pitching and batting stances are represented here as well, true to form. The details go as far as Barry Bonds earring. It would have been nice to see player’s particular HR celebration, but I’ll get to that later. Other little player touches are things like, the pitcher wearing his jacket on cold and rainy days, the umps asking for check swing appeals, etc. Mind you the images provided aren’t perfect. There are some animation issues that still need to be observed, especially in the collision detection department. The ball still has the infamous vacuum effect that we’ve seen over the last few years, and the ball doesn’t always hit its mark when being caught in the outfield by a fielder. Sometimes it’s on the mark; sometimes it’s way, way off! Hopefully the developers will address this kind of thing one day.

Other disappointments in the player’s animations are the lack of variety in dives and jumping stabs. If I see my shortstop do another over the shoulder jumping catch one more time…I’m going to scream! Also, it seems the transition of animations take longer this year, especially when pulling off double plays, which makes things frustrating in critical situations. These little things are minor bickering, and thankfully don’t hinder game play. The stadiums also look real nice, and continue to be the ONLY LIVE STADIUMS available this year. What I mean is the ball will bounce off the bleachers, walls, scoreboards, etc. None of that ghost ball stuff in this game. You will also see players warming up in the bullpens during game play. The crowds are still flat digitized crowds, but they don’t hurt the look of the game. Next year guys, take a tip from MLB on crowd appearance. Finally my biggest visual gripe is the HR animations and celebrations…or lack there of. Last year was forgivable guys, but this year it’s a sin. It’s a shame when I can brag about the live stadiums, yet the HR’s don’t represent that fact. No Apple rising in Shea, the train stays stationary in Houston, no fireworks, and no nothing, just your guy trotting around the baselines. Whoopee! Next year guys, please get this in there. Make me excited to hit a homerun. Make me want to see the celebrations and not skip over them. I’m begging you. Home Runs are a big part of baseball, and folks expect to get excited. You’re not helping here. Otherwise the game looks great, with little extra animation touches here and there, but more of the same overall. Which is not a bad thing, but should be addressed next season.

Audio doesn’t seem to show the detailed touches as accurately as the visuals. Sure the crowd cheers, chants, and hecklers are there, but they only show up in certain key moments. What’s more, the crowd is excited about the HR’s, as I am when I watch the atrocious celebrations. They cheer, but not all that loudly. Some crowd interaction is nice, like when a pitcher has two outs and an 0-2 count on a batter, the crowd gets loud and in support of the pitcher about to get the win or save. Commentary is pretty good again this year, and while you hear a lot of repeating, you will get new play by play even when your 70 games in your season. I’m still finding new stuff I hear in games I play. Lastly, the game offers real musicians for walk up music. 20 songs are in the game that your batter will come up to at home to get the crowd excited. What’s more, you can edit the music for existing players, or give your create-a-player a style of their own. It would have been nice to see custom soundtracks involved in the Xbox version, but maybe next year? Various umpire sounds are here too, to give the each game a unique feel. All in all, a nice job on sounds especially in Dolby Digital, just middle of the road compared to the rest of the pack.

Game play is the essential to all sports games, whether it’s baseball, football, soccer, etc. If you can’t control the game, you can’t play the game. This being said, All Star is one of the best playing baseball games I’ve played in recent memory. Sure there are hiccups here and there, like the aforementioned double play issue, but all the fundamentals are present. You have dropped third strikes, broken bats, player ejections, passed balls, errors, ground rule doubles, etc, etc, etc. The batting and pitching interfaced has been embraced and disgraced by critics alike. I for one think Acclaim has found a formula. The game can be set up for as easy or difficult as you like. Can’t hit the ball (like some people have trouble with. that I can’t figure out why. Do you practice at all?) Try easy batting, or rookie level. Can’t catch that ball in the outfield? Put the game on assisted or auto fielding. Hate that batting cursor option? Utilize one of four battle styles, cursor, classic cursor, easy or the new zone batting, which allows timed batting, along with choosing a direction the ball is thrown, i.e. High Heat. If you’re like me and want the real experience, turn off pitching aids so you can see where the pitch is heading. If you are at bat, you will accumulated more walks, and if you are pitching, you’ll know when you are heading out of the strike zone when you feel the “rumble” of the joy pad.

The addition of A.I. sliders would have been nice, but I feel the game plays wonderfully. The computer A.I. is smart and will advance runners accordingly, walk intentionally to the right batters, etc. The scores are so varied; you will never feel like you play the same game twice. You once again have the wonderful option of warming up pitchers, complete with mound visits that give you all the details you need to know whether or not to pull your pitcher or leave him in. You see not only your ball/strike ratio, but the number of pitches thrown, and the players who are up at bat, on base and on deck, complete with ratings in batting and running. Fixed also this year is the pitching fatigue, as you will finally get to complete games for 9 innings. Thankfully Acclaim kept in the emotional factor, if your player is getting hammered, it affects his fatigue level. Just like real baseball. Fielding can be a pain in the butt sometimes, as the game incorporates a lock on level. If your player isn’t in that level, you may not catch that ball. Also, the future throw idea is great, but seems a bit more random than last years. All in all the game feels more like baseball in the end, complete with accurate stats.

All Star Baseball was deep last year, and the game just got deeper. The franchise mode has been expanded with more options and stat layouts than I’ve got time for. You also have other modes that will keep you busy between your franchise games. For starters you finally have in game saves. Late for work and in extra innings, save and come back later. Also, All Star is the ONLY game to allow for co-op play not only in exhibition but franchise as well. What’s more you can even separate who controls what players and at what skill level. Does one of you want rookie with easy batting, but the other is at All Star level? Simple, just set it up for each player’s ratings and you can play co-op as well as different skill levels. On top of all that you have many modes to choose from. Legends teams are back, Negro Leagues, a new Scenario Mode, a cool pick up game, complete with players wearing blue jeans and caps, and the return of the trivia game. Throw in some cool videos of Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken and more talking baseball, and you have a fans dream. The Xbox version has already offered updated to the rosters from Xbox Live, so wanting those last minute trades are at your fingertips. Omitted at the last moment, unfortunately was online play. Why? Ran out of time would be my guess, and that my friends would have been the icing on the cake, if that feature were implemented.

If you can’t tell, my love for this series grows each year, as Acclaim has seemed to capture the essence of baseball more completely than anyone else. Sure some games look better, utilize some of the gripes I’ve mentioned, but none give the whole package as All Star Baseball. This game is for purist. A note for P.J. Snavely: how about making me happy next year with those HR celebrations, please? Email me pal.