High Heat Major League Baseball 2004
Amazon.com Review
The High Heat series has always been one of opposites. Each game in the series has played splendid, realistic baseball–but the graphics never look as excellent as the competition. High Heat sports meeting always hit the shelves before the competition’s sports meeting, but they’re always plagued with stability issues and other bugs. High Heat sports meeting are always the best baseball game of the year in terms of realism, but they always sell the worst. Each year hardcore baseball fans hope and pray that developer 3DO will get it right, and each year 3DO improves just enough to keep hope alive (the High Heat series is kind of like the Red Sox). The excellent news is that the 2004 edition of High Heat Baseball is no exception to the above. The terrible news is that, on the PC at least, the 2004 edition is no exception to the above.
As usual High Heat Major League Baseball 2004 isn’t quite as pretty as most of the competition, but the game does have a nostalgic look that’s quite stylish–kind of like the difference between now-torn down County Stadium and the new Miller Park that replaced it in Milwaukee. A major area of improvement is in player animation. The players aren’t stiff anymore; they go like human beings. A bit of graphics sheen was useful to the stadiums too, and while not the best, High Heat is finally a excellent looking game. Unfortunately, audio is merely okay. The conundrum isn’t limited to dry and dull commentary. High Heat 2004 pretty much has the same soundtrack as High Heat 2003 and, the music often does not match action on the field.
High Heat 2040 adds some 30 new pitches to the game, and the pitcher/batter interface so crucial to this game’s success (it’s the best in the affair and it feels like real baseball) is still in place and looking excellent. High Heat plays a solid game of baseball that just feels right.–Andrew S. Bub
Pros:
- Excellent looks, splendid gameplay
- Best pitcher/batter duel available in a baseball game
Cons:
- Terrible commentary
Amazon.com Product Description
Whether you’re a casual fan or a hard-core baseball junkie, chances are High Heat Baseball 2004 is for you. You’ll notice the charming new graphics and character animations, as well as an abundance of game modes and options. The new Career and Franchise modes let you take your team owing to an unlimited number of seasons. You can choose to manage team budgets and player contracts, or make other financial decisions. If you’re just nervous to play ball, dive right into the action with the Two-on-Two Confrontation or Home-Run Derby modes.
Features
- Eleven game modes: Home-Run Derby, Fantasy Draft, Make-a-Player, Player Editor, Career, Franchise, Exhibition, All-Star Game, Playoffs, Two-on-Two Confrontation, and Batting Practice
- Extra players list and roster customization
- Unrestricted multiseason play
Game Intelligence
- TruPlay AI improves the series’ batting, fielding, pitching, managing, and base running
- Multiplayer, unbalanced, and CPU player trading with advanced trade accept/deny logic
- Extensive tuning menu lets players adjust nearly every quality of the game to their liking
Graphics/Audio
- New graphics engine with enhanced stadium lighting
- Audio includes hecklers, vendors, stadium announcer, interactive crowds, and a two-man broadcast team
Authenticity
- 27 pitch types compiled from detailed scouting reports
- Wide-ranging team financial aspect includes player contracts and a free-agent system
- Complete minor league system with rookie draft
Animation
- New animation system with hundreds of new animations, such as umpire arguments, player ejections, dropped third strikes, and catcher snap throws
- More signature pitcher and batter animations than in previous edition
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The gameplay is horrible, the graphics are horrible and the by and large game is horrible. For example, when you pitch, you can’t even choose where the ball goes. all you choose is the general section of the plate and whether it is a ball or a strike. When you bat it is basically the same thing, you just choose a general area and it swings there.
This game is the worst fifty dollars i have spent in my life. Don’t buy this game
Rating: 1 / 5
This is by far the worst baseball game in years. I had high hopes after reading a recommendation in this site, but I should have known better than to believe a review written about a game one month before it was even released.
I have yet to find anything I like about this game. The graphics are very average. I remember baseball sports meeting with better graphics on my Sega gamesystem many years ago. The gameplay is very choppy and too “cartoonish.” Curveballs start way above the hitters heads and drop down into teh strike zone.
The game is way too simple to play and unrealistic. The first game I played I was the KC Royals and lit Randy Johnson up for 12 runs in the first two innings. Yeah, that’s realistic. The other thing that upset me was that they brought in the closer to relieve in the 3rd Inning.
If you are just looking for a game that you can score a lot of runs and maybe have a small fun, this is the game for you. If you want a game that is somewhat realistic, don’t even dissipate your time.
As for me, tomorrow I go out and sell this game and buy All Star Baseball 2004 on February 28 and hope for better results.
Rating: 1 / 5
this years version has got brilliant graphics. And the catchers for the cpu can in fact throw you out trying to steal unlike all star baseball. The double plays look realistic too. In all star baseball your 2 baseman just stands their and does not even jump to turn the double play and gets hit in the leg for not jumping and it is really irritating. I also remember from all star baseball they have batters with fielding gloves on!!!!! High heat may have some bugs but their not that terrible. You usually don’t even notice them at least I don’t. They have real batting stances it’s a splendid buy. I just got the last copy at the store i went too. I also like how you can change your innings to no matter what you want. Unlike in all star baseball. IF YOU LIKE BASEBALL BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 5 / 5
This game will not load on a groundbreaking new PS2. The game company (3DO) told me to send my PS2 to Sony for repair or cleaning. It’s a month ancient! My 35 other sports meeting all load and play.
I did get the game to load once, by propping the game console up at a 45 degree angle. After playing the game, it promptly froze while I was viewing the game stats. It then would not reload!
The company agreed to ‘check’ my disc, if I would send it to them. I am paying the postage and insurance. So far this game has caused me not anything but aggravation! DO NOT BUY IT!!
Rating: 1 / 5
I reflect this game is the worst baseball game i have ever played. Allstar baseball 2004 blows it out of the water. I am buying World series Baseball 2k3 to see how that compairs to high heat.
Rating: 2 / 5