When 2K Sports brought us MLB Power Pros last year, it marked the first time that the franchise had made its way to North America. Sure, Japanese gamers have been enjoying the Power Pros series for quite some time now but it definitely came as a surprise. With simple controls and a throwback presentation, the game received critical acclaim and resulted in a sequel for us for 2008.
Gameplay
We mentioned that the game features simplistic controls and really anyone can pick this up for a quick go. It's possible to simply use the Wii remote but we went for the nunchuck and Wii remote combo. When you're up to bat you simply move the joystick to position your swing and hitting the A-button will do the trick. Pressing the trigger allows you to bunt while the C button allows you to toggle between a heavy swing or a light one. Defense is pretty straight forward while pitching resembles other 2K baseball games minus the waggle controls or any analog stick mechanics. You just have to choose your pitch, chose the location and unload.
Veterans of last year's Power Pros title will be familiar with all of the different game modes and features available in the game. Though you can jump into a season and just play it out, you'll can also take the role of a manager which gives you the options of going over trades, free agent signings and salaries. Success Mode also returns in which you'll take an existing player or one that you create through the ranks of the minor leagues in search of the big MLB contract. You'll also deal with outside factors on your way to the top. Either way you go, you'll find some of the most ridiculous amount of stat tracking that you've ever seen in a game. Truly amazing. The big addition to this year's game is the MLB Life mode. It's more or less similar to the sim-style game of Success Mode but this time you'll have to deal with issues such as building relationships, buying homes and cars and all of those little things that the pros deal with outside of the stadium. You'll follow your player through 20 years of his life. So not only do you get over 75 hours of gameplay through MLB Life but you add to that the amount of gameplay hours from Success Mode , Manager mode and your Season mode and you have a baseball game that will easily last you for months and months. For those looking for some Wii waggle, there are some mini-games of sorts such as the homerun derby which does give you the option of swinging the remote.
Sadly there is still no online play which is a bummer and no Wii24Connect so you can't update your rosters unless you make the trades yourselves.
Graphics & Sound
If graphics are the most important thing to you in a game then perhaps you need a smack to the face or maybe you should just stop reading. MLB Power Pros 2008 is nowhere near its big brother MLB 2K9 in the graphical department but it doesn't have to be. Remember the good old days of playing RBI Baseball for the NES? Well picture the franchise alive and well and being released on the Wii (or PS2). The game definitely looks old school with a sort of Japanese flavor. The character models don't have any limbs. In fact, there hands and feet aren't in anyway connected to their bodies which deserves a chuckle. Hell, their faces are confined to eyes and eyebrows only but somehow it works. 2K doesn't try to hide the fact that it's graphically inferior to other baseball titles out there but the Power Pros series has never been about that. Look back at other titles and you'll see the same thing. On the other hand, the stadiums do look pretty good and are identical replicas of their real life counterparts.
The game is thankfully also presented in widescreen so you don't have to be forced to see the action in a 4:3 aspect ratio.
As far as the sound in concerned, the game features some play by play commentating that fits the bill. The crowds are lively and the sounds of the game such as hitting the ball are spot on.
Fun Factor
The game is all about playing baseball with a no-nonsense approach. Sure you can add some waggle to parts of the game but controlling the game like playing baseball titles of old is nostalgia that's welcome. Playing through the season is always fun but those other modes are a breath of fresh air. Join up with another player and going through 9 innings is a blast. Homerun derbies were fun to play too and you'll find other little games to play to keep you entertained.
Lasting Appeal
In general, a sports game lacking an online mode usually means that it won't spend as much time inside your system as ones that do. That's not the case with Power Pros 2008. You're looking at over 100 hours of gameplay which is unheard of for a baseball game. That's without taking into account that you can keep playing various seasons so unless you hate the sport, there's plenty of reasons to go back to play this one time and time again.
The 411
MLB Power Pros 2008 is a game made for nostalgic players and those looking for something different. The game may be just an update to last year's edition and we'd love to see some additions to next year's offering that takes better of advantage of the Nintendo Wii hardware. Some added waggle play would be appreciated as well as more of a graphical punch. We don't expect a full overhaul as we like the old school graphics but we know it can look better without changing its overall look. Still this year's game includes a ton of features, game modes and hours upon hours of gameplay that just begs to be played. Fans of the game should do themselves a favor and pick this one up not just for it's fun and heavy stat driven offerings but as a reminder that baseball doesn't have to be a complicated splendor to enjoy – in fact the less complicated, the better.
Graphics
7.0
Purposely old school but with the Wii's power, it could have been improved.
Gameplay
9.0
Easy to play with a ton of features and incredible amounts of stats.
Sound
7.0
Your basic sounds of the game.
Lasting Appeal
9.5
No online mode but a ton of game modes with over 100 hours of gameplay.
Fun Factor
8.5
Fun to play either by yourself or with another friend. MLB Life and Success Modes add something fresh to the genre.
We mentioned that the game features simplistic controls and really anyone can pick this up for a quick go. It's possible to simply use the Wii remote but we went for the nunchuck and Wii remote combo. When you're up to bat you simply move the joystick to position your swing and hitting the A-button will do the trick. Pressing the trigger allows you to bunt while the C button allows you to toggle between a heavy swing or a light one. Defense is pretty straight forward while pitching resembles other 2K baseball games minus the waggle controls or any analog stick mechanics. You just have to choose your pitch, chose the location and unload. 
If graphics are the most important thing to you in a game then perhaps you need a smack to the face or maybe you should just stop reading. MLB Power Pros 2008 is nowhere near its big brother MLB 2K9 in the graphical department but it doesn't have to be. Remember the good old days of playing RBI Baseball for the NES? Well picture the franchise alive and well and being released on the Wii (or PS2). The game definitely looks old school with a sort of Japanese flavor. The character models don't have any limbs. In fact, there hands and feet aren't in anyway connected to their bodies which deserves a chuckle. Hell, their faces are confined to eyes and eyebrows only but somehow it works. 2K doesn't try to hide the fact that it's graphically inferior to other baseball titles out there but the Power Pros series has never been about that. Look back at other titles and you'll see the same thing. On the other hand, the stadiums do look pretty good and are identical replicas of their real life counterparts.
Lasting Appeal
