The baserunner is leaning toward third, the lead getting bigger and bigger.

Angels’ left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn, hesitates, then spins and fires to the bag. The runner is dead meat, caught napping on the basepaths, and … wait! He’s safe???? There is no way he slid under the tag. This is one of those moments when you expect the manager to charge from the dugout and kick dirt all over the umpire’s shoes, or at least chew on him a mite. The only problem is that this isn’t real-life, this is cyber baseball, and that doesn’t happen.

EASports’ MVP Baseball 2003 is an amazingly graphic trip to the ballparks of the Major League. The game is a real treat for the eyes and the ears, and though it does hit a foul ball or two in gameplay aspects, the program proves that when it comes to PC sports gaming, EASports is definitely a league leader.

MVP Baseball purportedly sports a new look and new game feel, and EASports has really cranked up the heat on the graphics. Players bear the facial features and some of the animations are remarkably similar to their Major League counterparts.

Game features include a new player interface that simplifies the keyboard driven commands and really allows players to take control of the game; the franchise mode has definite goals and salary guides that players must take to heart; picture-in-picture baserunning allows gamers to see the runners on the basepaths through inset frames; an intuitive strike zone that incorporates a batter’s true strengths and weaknesses; player council with Major Leaguers offering advice; and the home run showdown in which players hit for targeted distance.

In addition to utilizing the keyboard, the game can also be configured for a gamepad. However, the keyboard commands for this program are extremely easy to use and should not take users more than 15 minutes to get a good handle on the controls.

But what will amaze gamers are the graphical elements. Ok, Randy Johnson on the cover is terrific. On the load screen ­ well, not so good, but in the game this dominant lefty is amazing to watch.

The pitch is delivered and the batter slaps a dying quail to short right field. The second baseman is on a dead run and at seemingly the last moment, he dives, stretched out and snatches the ball from the air. The movements are so amazingly lifelike that there were times where the overriding sound was a gasp of wonder from the game players. With some games, a replay is just a pause in the gameplay. With MVP 2003, a replay is often a chance to re-experience the superb animation and game rendering. Dynamic lighting, seamless environments that mirror the real fields of the MLB, and wonderful game physics make this program a joy for the eyes.

Of course, there are some graphical setbacks, but those lie in the peripheral elements. For example, the crowds are not the best, and are mostly ineffective in adding to the environment of a big-league game.

The AI is generally solid, with computer controlled teams mostly making the right choices in given situations. But again, there are some breakdowns.

The ball is grounded weakly down the first-base line and the first baseman charges in, fielding the ball about 10 feet down the line and three feet inside fair territory. The player hesitates, then runs horizontally into foul territory, almost as though trying to run to the bag, but unaware of where it was. The runner is safe and the play is ruled a single. That is the second error. If the coding allows for the mistake to be made, then it would seem that the game should be smart to enough to realize the ball was fielded cleanly, with time to get the runner, but an error occurred on the part of the first baseman.

For the wheelers and dealers, and those fans that want to take control of a team, the franchise mode is great fun. Whether making trades, signing free agents, releasing players, managing the team budget, this game is rich with the details of managing.

The home run contest is a head-to-head competition for the first player to reach a certain distance, with bonus points for dingers.

MVP Baseball 2003 is a terrific, joyful game that is amazing to look at, a delight to listen to and exceptionally fun to play. The player interface is so much easier to navigate through, making this game a nice friendly improvement over previous EASports MLB titles. This is a game that PC baseball fans should enjoy.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 8.8
There are some load times, but once into a game, the action is seamless and the game is quite stable.

Graphics: 9.4
This game looks amazing. Some of the players’ heads seem a little big, proportionally for the bodies, but the animation is amazing.

Sound: 9
The play-by-play and musical score are both excellent. The crowd noise is average for the genre.

Difficulty: Medium
The challenge is in making the right substitutes at the right time in order to win a game. The player interface is designed for ease of use, and there are several difficulty levels, as well as assisted options to suit most players’ ability levels

Concept: 9.2
This game has some very solid options, and the player interface is nicely designed. There is a learning curve of 10-15 to get really familiar by the control elements.

Multiplayer: 9
The game is fine for the single player, but this game is supported through EA Online, and taking on another real player is truly where the challenge lays.

Overall: 9.3
Graphically this game slides past the competition to deliver a first-rate experience. This is definitely a big league experience in the genre of baseball games. From outstanding graphics to the excellent soundtrack, EASports has everything here that will appeal to fans. While there are some minor failings, this game is pennant winner.