MVP 07 NCAA Baseball (PS2) Review
Posted by Damian Sarcuni on 02.28.2007
Three different control schemes just to swing the freakin’ bat? Sweet!
I cannot tell a lie. It’s been years since I seriously sat down with any EA Sports brand game and really attempted to figure out the schemes and nuances behind it. As I booted up my copy of MVP 07 NCAA Baseball and heard the familiar “EA Sports: It’s in the game” mantra, I felt a comforting wave of relief. For a moment there, I truly believed that the flimsy nine page instruction booklet the game came with would actually be unnecessary, and I’d be able to get through this one on my wits alone.
Sweet llamas of the Bahamas, what a fool I was.
Since when did EA Sports begin packing their games with more options than one gamer could ever possibly handle? I couldn’t believe the amount of menus there were to go through just to play a simple pick up exhibition game. Nearly everything about the game is customizable, from the grain of the wood in your bat to atmospheric content of the clouds in the sky. This game doesn’t just cross the line between sports game and simulation, it repaints the line with crude oil and kerosene then sets in on fire while laughing manically.
The funny thing about MVP 07 is that there isn’t much here in the way of stats, which is what EA Sports games are known for. Yes, there’s a full compliment of all your favorite college teams in every United States conference from state to state, and each team is graded on their last season showing in every aspect of the sport, determining their overall skill. However, there are no actual names here, just jersey numbers and made up monikers. So rather than focus on the true to excitement of a major league this game doesn’t have access too, MVP 07 makes up for it by giving the player a near infinite number of options you do, and don’t, need.
Graphics
Since MVP 07 uses non-descript players and locations anyway, you can’t really blame the game for its lack of detail. The players do have vague distinction in their faces and uniforms, but it’s just enough to stifle any complaints about everyone looking the same. There really isn’t much to look at on the fields either. We’re dealing with bleachers and students here, not stadiums and fanatics. Everything in the graphics is toned down to a bare minimum, but it’s completely intentional.
MVP 07 does use its lack of detail wisely. Since there isn’t much to look at besides the game itself, there are plenty of on the spot replays, excellent camera angles, and realistic player motion that makes this look like a true ESPN taping right even sitting just a few feet away from your screen. To keep it simple, as the game is: there’s a lot of nothing here, but it’s an ok nothing.
Gameplay
EA Sports really throws gamers into the deep end with MVP 07. There are 3 different modes of control just to do something as simple as swinging a bat or throwing a pitch. The default control scheme is somewhat experimental and focuses on the PS2’s analog control to do pretty much everything (the other buttons are used to set up special maneuvers or manipulate various menus). It’s all very bold and risqué, and quite often it can be frustrating. For example, when at bat, there’s really no given way to determine when to actually swing at the ball, and the instruction booklet recommends using special EA modes that aren’t made readily available even in the options screens.
However, on those occasions when the analog scheme does work properly, the game starts to feel borderline realistic and fun. It feels good to pull back your pitch juuuust enough to get the right amount of power into your slider and past your opponent’s hottest strike zone. Fielding controls are pretty simple as well, again using the analog sticks to pretty much do everything (left to run, right to choose which base to throw to). If there was a tutorial mode buried somewhere in those dozens of menus, I’d give the gameplay a much higher score. Gamers are expected to know how to work these controls right out of the box and though it makes sense given the nature of a college baseball game, the controls aren’t always so effective even after you’ve made the painstaking efforts to figure them out.
In classic EA fashion, there are also coaching and simulation modes which allow you to go through entire virtual seasons. Die hard baseball fanatics will just love this, as you can spend an entire day just watching the hilarity as the Seton Hall Pirates are given EA Sports super bats while those poor saps over at UCLA have to deal with those dinky little pro-grade sluggers. So even if the arcade style swinging and realistic fielding don’t appeal to you, the countless simulations might.
Sound
Voice acting has come a long way since EA began incorporating it into their sports games, so I knew I would have to do a spot check on that right away. While the game does feature full ESPN broadcast integration that makes it’s seem all the more realistic, the voices are too context sensitive. They become repetitive and sudden breaks and changes in vocal tone are too noticeable, which is unforgivable this late in the PS2’s career.
The game’s soundtrack is an interesting mix to say the least. Initial game menus are loaded with big band covers of all your favorite Yankee Doodle style marching anthems; even including “I’ve Been Working’ on the Railroad”. Other game menus and replays use the standard ESPN epic sports themes which fit well and add to the realism of the overall game. The soundtrack in general doesn’t dominate the game much, and sets the perfect mood for the product of NCAA baseball this game is schilling.
Apart from the voices and music, the sound throughout the game is very good. Though the crowd often sounds much larger than it could realistically be, most of the sound effects give the feeling that you are actually there at that college field, possibly right in the dugout, checking out the game. It’s just one more pleasurable perk that adds to the overall experience.
Lasting Appeal
From a pure arcade sports standpoint, MVP 07 is only fun for so long. Yes there’s a new fangled analog control system to play around with all over the field, and you can coach your favorite team to the championships through a well fought season, but even these features begin to lose their appeal after a few plays through dynasty mode.
The real lasting appeal in MVP 07 is in the simulation element. As I’ve said several times, nearly everything about those first 9 innings is customizable and hardcore baseball fans will have seeing how just the slightest change in condition or lineup can affect an entire game. Even pure major league fan boys will be interested in this simply to have a few goes of adding a “what if” element that most MLB games won’t allow. MVP 07 doesn’t even need a college name attached to it…this is a baseball scenario simulator, plain and simple.
Fun Factor
While complicated, frustrating, and lacking in big time major league appeal, you can’t help but love MVP 07. I view this game as sort of an experiment for things to come in EA Games’ baseball series future, and with a lack of season to follow, players can enjoy a much more even challenge than the big name stadium style games where one team absolutely dominates the others (because that team won the world series last year, after all). If the arcade analog play doesn’t appeal to you, waste some time and amuse yourself with the huge variety of options throughout the game. There may be more appeal in that aspect than in the main game itself.
The 411
MVP 07 NCAA Baseball is a sports simulator in an arcade game’s body. Bringing analog control to every aspect of the game is a fresh new idea, but even more interesting are the mountains of options available that make each game different. What MVP 07 lacks in stats and names is made up for with simulated conditions and realistic gameplay. It’s only a matter of time before this series shows up on the Nintendo Wii and takes its arcade style to the next level. Until then, enjoy the simulation elements that make for a pretty good ball game overall.
Graphics
7.0
Good old non-descript players and fields, with good motion.
Gameplay
7.8
Frustrating, complicated, and strangely fun.
Sound
6.8
Voice recordings are flawed, soundtrack is VERY different.
