“Load and
Fire.” Those words could be heard (if only in our heads) for miles in a
heated, one-shot-and-you’re-dead game of Gears of War. You can’t step onto the
battlefield with two empty barrels. Attempt to load at the wrong time and
you’ll wind up cremated – before your heart stops beating.
For MVP 07
NCAA Baseball, the words “Load and Fire” hold a similar meaning. Though it’s
purely symbolic – you won’t face physical incineration, just embarrassment –
players will go through a few motions that simulate the act of swinging a bat.
Inevitably, this led to the creation of the analog stick-heavy Load and Fire
swing mechanics.
Introduced
last year with inspiration from Tiger Woods and other EA franchises, players
“load” the bat by pulling down on the analog stick, and “fire” by pushing up
in one smooth and continuous motion. Tilt the stick to direct the angle of
your swing (and hopefully the ball’s direction); hold the “load” position for
a less potent shot. The idea of hitting the ball without every ounce of
enthusiasm you can muster might not sound too appealing. But if enthusiasm is
what your opponent is expecting, might it be effective to throw them an
intentionally bad surprise? It just might.
(And if it
wasn’t intentional, who’s the wiser? A clumsy magician never reveals his
secrets.)
The success
of Load and Fire batting has given way to Rock and Fire pitching, a new attack
style that goes back to the theory that everything is better in analog. That
isn’t always the case – sometimes it’s better to just press a button.
Fortunately for every baseball fan on the planet, this is one of those times
where the theory rings true.
Rock On
Four balls,
three outs, two analog sticks, and one quintessential goal. Under the Rock and
Fire pitching system, players use both analog sticks to control the speed,
height, and angle of every pitch. You start by moving the left stick, which
decides the ball’s angle. Next, with the left stick held into place (read: no
moving your left thumb!), you pull down on the right stick. This immediately
triggers the pitch meter. Watch it closely. The ball must cross the white line
and enter into the “fire” area before you should make your next move. Once the
ball is in position, push the right stick up and toward the direction of the
left stick. In other words, if you’re holding the left stick to the left, you
need to angle the right stick left as well. The goal is to line up both sticks
– designated on screen by two ball icons – to create the perfect pitch.
This new
system looks very intimidating. I’m used to pressing buttons – now the game is
telling me I have to use both analog sticks? What gives!?
But like all
other games that have successfully entered the realm of analog control, MVP 07
makes it easy to let go of the past. I was surprised by how natural and
intuitive Rock and Fire pitching felt after only a few minutes of play. It’s
not as innovative as Load and Fire batting, but it is worth much more than a
footnote in gaming history. MVP 07 will undoubtedly be the game EA Canada uses
as a starting point for where the series should go in the next generation.
Dynasty a
la Mode
Few EA
sports series can escape the wrath of Dynasty. Unable to breakaway safely, MVP
07 is another game to get tangled in its web. The result is another fun and
lengthy (but not groundbreaking) season mode that gives you the standard list
of Dynasty features: team management, calendar layout, simulate games, etc.
MVP 07 also
contains a coach mode that lets you play through a game with nothing but
orders. It’s entirely menu-based, with minimal visual detail (you get one 2D
map that shows player positions).
Gameplay
mechanics – including pitching, batting, fielding, running, and injury – may
be tuned pre-game. If changing the injury frequency or bullpen fatigue rate
doesn’t sound too exciting, that’s because it’s not a new and shocking
feature. MVP 07 is a solid, great-playing sports game with an excellent new
pitching scheme. But its newness ends there. All other features have been
experienced before (to some degree).
Creationism
MVP 07’s
Creation Zone is a nice idea, but doesn’t have a whole lot of depth. Team
creation elements are limited to the replacement of an existing team (you
create a “new” team by taking the rosters of another). The Create-A-Player
option is decent but isn’t as deep (nor does it have as many realistic
touches) as Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Lastly there’s the ballpark creator, which
doesn’t go into detail further than fence and field expansion.
Double-A,
But Not A+?
MVP 07 makes
a better effort than most of the current-gen sports titles. But if you strip
away the pitching mechanics, what else do you have except a slightly upgraded
version of last year’s game? It’s still great fun, and it retails for half of
what you’d pay for a next-gen sports game. Still, at $30 annually, can’t we
expect more than one new feature a year?
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Gameplay: 7.9
Super-swingin’
fun. MVP 07 tweaks last year’s game with a great new pitching system. The
gameplay is top-notch (main modes include exhibition, multiplayer, and
Dynasty), while mini-games add an extra boost of competitive fun.
Graphics: 8.0
As the only
version of MVP 07 in existence, the developers were free to extrapolate a
wealth of beauty from the six-year-old PlayStation 2. Animations are generally
accurate and realistic, individual player detail is fairly high, and the
presentation is very rewarding.
Sound: 8.0
Great, lively
commentary that really pulls you into the game. The soundtrack is lacking,
consisting (mostly) of themes from each team. Music aside, MVP 07 is a great
example of what a baseball game should sound like.
Difficulty: Medium
Opponent AI isn’t
overwhelming, but do expect an above-average learning process. The new
mechanics can be grasped quickly, but to master them is a big undertaking.
Concept: 7.6
MVP 06 + updated
stats and the all-new Rock and Fire pitching.
Multiplayer: 8.0
The multiplayer
competitions are equally as compelling as the rest of the experience – and
even more so if your competition actually knows what it’s doing.
Overall: 7.9
PlayStation 2’s
last great exclusive sports game? Whether there are more around the corner or
not doesn’t matter. EA Canada has produced a high-quality gaming experience
for a console that was running low on sports-related entertainment. It’s not a
must-own for everyone, but the new pitching system should get your
attention, if only for a rental. The MSRP ($29.99) can’t hurt either.
